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 > Charging 6V & 12V Batteries...?

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Nashville Traveler

Nashville, TN

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Posted: 02/10/08 02:18pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Checking with the Voltmeter, how many Amps should indicate fully charged 6V and 12V Batteries?

Your assistance in helping me out on this question is much appreciated.


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frankandvicki

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Posted: 02/10/08 02:28pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Can't help with Amps as it depends on the Battery/load. You should read about 12.7 volts new after 24 hours of rest and air temps of 65 degrees. If colder then 65 you will read less. There have been charts posted on the forum that will help you with this info. Do a search on battery condition and you should find the charts.
Frank O.


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Steve and Bev

Southern Mississippi

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Posted: 02/10/08 02:46pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Do NOT set your meter to amps (current) and measure across the battery. The little tink you may hear will be the fuse in the meter giving up its life to hopefully protect the meter, and possibly your fingers. You want to set it to DC Volts, with the lowest range above 12. If an analog meter, be sure the red is on positive, etc. Doesn't matter if it's a digital meter, it'll just read negative volts. Always be careful when messing with the batteries. They only have 6 or 12 volts of potential, but a whonkus amount of current capacity ready to jump out on you.

Sorry, don't mean to sound preachy, and you may have already known this. But on the slight chance that you did intend to say amps instead of volts, I hoped to save you some grief.


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smkettner

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Posted: 02/10/08 03:20pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Two six volt in series will measure exactly the same as 12 volt.


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jenks60

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Posted: 02/10/08 04:08pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

12 volt side of life.


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wa8yxm

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Posted: 02/10/08 04:32pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Fully charged with a PROPER converter/charger operating amps = zero, or right close to it.

Now if you meant VOLTS I refer you up-thread to the other answers.


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Nashville Traveler

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Posted: 02/10/08 08:04pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Thank you all for the info.

Golden_HVAC

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Posted: 02/11/08 02:53am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Hi,

If your charger is putting out about 13.5 - 13.9 volts, and the amperage out is less than 5 or 6 amps, the batteries are fairly full. Yes you can still keep stuffing more amperage into the batteries, but much of that energy will be used to heat the battery and convert the water into gas.

If the charger is putting out 14.4 volts and over 20 amps, then the battery is in the "Acceptance" mode, where it it charging quickly. Usually good chargers will do this to quickly refill the batteries, and that allows minimum generator run time, and maximum charge rates.

When the charger goes from 40 amps at 14.4 volts (about 600 watts) down to only 10 amps at 13.5 volt float voltage, the wattage at that point is 135 watts, so might as well turn off the generator at that point.

Fred.


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