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Forum Index : Solar : 2nd hand battery levels

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bobt
Newbie

Joined: 26/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 17
Posted: 08:28am 15 Jun 2010
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gday everone,

I brought two 2nd hand rechargable batteries
both 135 amp each,only cost $130 each

when i got them home, i used my multimeter
and both were showing 12.44 volts each,

what voltage should i charge the batteries
up to 12.7 or further to 13.1 volts?,

thanks bob
 
VK4AYQ
Guru

Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539
Posted: 09:42am 15 Jun 2010
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Hi Bob

Without more information it is a bit hard to be precise, the best thing is do a Google on the battery make and model number as most have a site with precise recommendations for the battery,failing that the battery type will have a general recommendation that we can help with when we know the type eg SLA, Gel etc.

All the best

Bob
Foolin Around
 
Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333
Posted: 10:03am 15 Jun 2010
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If they are wet lead acid (standard car battery style) then charge with at least 13.8 to 14.2 volts.

Once you take them off the charger and let them rest for a while they will settle back to their resting voltage normally somewhere below 13 volts like 12.8v.
This all depends on the condition of the battery and 12.44 volts might be what they come back to rest at, being s/hand batteries and part shot.

One would hope they sit a little higher than 12.44v though

Pete.
Sometimes it just works
 
bobt
Newbie

Joined: 26/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 17
Posted: 06:26am 16 Jun 2010
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G'day everyone,

Downwind, i charged up the batteries today, both wouldnt charge over 12.9volts
thats oks, but the final recharge levels for both batteries
were
battery 1= 12.66volts

battery 2= 12.72 volts

It was cloudy all day today, No sun in gippsland so, the amp meter was
reading only around 1 amp most of the day for re-charging.

both batteries were lead and were used from 4wd vehciles and the batteries
name is power 2000

I did manage to get the big computer and monitor and lamp running through
battery number 1 , i only tested for about a min, but the amps went down quickly.

i havent tested anything with battery number 2 yet,

I would like to run the batteries in parrell, however since both batteries have
different voltages, it maynot work properly as they are both 2nd hand.

One of the local boys in jaycar will make up some leads for me to join both
batteries in parrell using 8 guage wire, very nice of them, i have to pay
of course, but not a problem.

thanks downwind for your help about the volts.
cheers
bob
 
powerednut

Senior Member

Joined: 09/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 221
Posted: 06:50am 16 Jun 2010
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I'd expect it would take more than a day (5-6hrs@1amp) to charge a pair of batteries like that. Power2000 batteries are automotive batteries, so don't expect great performance from them for running things like computers.
If you've got mains power I'd stick a car charger on them one at a time and run them up to full charge (see downwind's post).
 
Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333
Posted: 08:51am 16 Jun 2010
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Hi Bob,

Good to see they came up in charge a little.

As Powerednut said they will need a lot more charge than you have given to bring them up to full capacity
They will be likely to sit there sucking up a Amp or so for some time before they reach full charge
It would be good to stick them on a mains charger if you can.

I do kinder think you have been taken with these on price.
You could have bought a new deep cycle battery for what you paid for the pair of unknowns, and at least had a good one to start with, even though the total amps would have been less, but more than likely would have given better service.

I have a theory that no one gets rid of good batteries, and when they do, they normally have been sitting around for some time unused which is the worst thing you can do with a battery in my view.

I can only hope for your sake they come up in charge and deliver some decent amps output.

Why pay for someone to make your cables, just buy the wire and a few battery terminals and do it yourself. Its not rocket science.

Good luck.

Pete.
Sometimes it just works
 
jamesbrush
Newbie

Joined: 01/07/2010
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5
Posted: 12:38pm 01 Jul 2010
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I also want to sell 4 batteries of 135 amp.
If any one wish to buy these then feel free to contact regarding these.

would be glad to see any reply regarding these.
SAP Training London
 
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