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Doug

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Joined: 11/05/2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 41

Posted: 10:29pm 20 Jan 2015

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Hey all.

I was lucky to be given a dozen old Sonnenschein solar block 12V 100 AH deep cycle gell batteries. They've been sitting in storage for about three years and are all in various states of charge ranging form 12v to dead flat. I know nothing about gell batteries so I was wondering if someone could tell me whats involved in the way of care,maintenance and charging.

Cheers Doug

May The Power Be With You

VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 11:45pm 20 Jan 2015

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Hi Doug

Give them a trickle charge for a few days and check your standing voltages again to see if they are responding I would suggest matching voltages on them and putting a desulphator on them a pair at a time work on the worst ones first, do not despair they may take several months to respond, If the 0 volt ones are not taking charge after 24 hours you may have to give then a tickle with higher voltage to get them conducting.

Check on the spec at the makers web site for float voltage should be around 13.8 to 14 volts, do not hold above this voltage as it can cause bubbles to form in the gell.

Use an old type battery charger "unregulated" and monitor the voltages manually, when they are holding at 13 volts resting do a discharge with a 8 amp load on each battery for 2 hours and note the voltage before disconnecting the load, you may have to repeat this for 10 or more times.

Do you know the age of the batteries? If more than 7 or 8 years old you may need to add a bit of water as they do tend to dry out

All the best

Bob

Foolin Around

Georgen
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Joined: 13/09/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 462

Posted: 04:36pm 21 Jan 2015

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I have little knowledge of the matter, so please do not take my comment as of good value.

However, I would break somehow to the top of cells to re-hydrate them a bit.

Glass Mat and probably Gel batteries despite that are maintenance free, can work up side down and few other things,
but they have valve and any gas pressure build up is vented to atmosphere and gas it is just about 100% moist.

My AGM 17Ah 12V battery has little bit of liquid above, it shouldn't, but it didn't kill it either.

Should I remove my post or it has little point to consider?

George

Georgen
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Joined: 13/09/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 462

Posted: 04:42pm 21 Jan 2015

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Little picture from pamphlet

And after breaking in and gradually topping up with water

George

VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 06:33pm 21 Jan 2015

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Hi George

I drill a 3/16 hole into the top and fill with a hypodermic minus the needle then I can put a piece of 3/16 O ring in the hole with a bit of locktight to reseal thw only thing with old Gell cells is when the gell dries out it is very slow to re hydrate SLA are no problem but still need the desulphation as the cells sulphate up due to the higher concentration of electrolyte as the water evaporates out.

All the best

Bob

Foolin Around

Doug

Regular Member

Joined: 11/05/2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 41

Posted: 07:51pm 21 Jan 2015

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Thanks for that gentlemen. Heres a pic of the batteries I have. Under the round caps is a screw in plug. And yes the gell doesnt look like gell anymore. It looks more like lumps of ice so ill try slowly adding water to try and re hydrate it. Ive actually had one driving a 12v water pump watering my veggie garden for about a week now. The pump draws about 7 amps and runs for about 20 min every night and the battery is topped up by a 10 watt solar cell each day. All appears to be going as expected. Ill get the rest out of storage shortly and start sorting them out. I have a 6 amp charger and also a diesel ute with an 80 amp alternator if I need a bit more oomph, ha ah. Thank you once again.

Doug

May The Power Be With You

yahoo2

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Joined: 05/04/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1166

Posted: 04:20am 22 Jan 2015

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6 amp is waaaay to much to hook to a single battery until you are sure they are taking a charge.

you really should hook at least 5 of them together in parallel if you use a 6 amp charger. I would hook all of them together and connect the charger for at least two to three weeks.

I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...

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