Battery, dud or goer

Hightower · 20 July 2007, 18:08

How do I check if a 12v battery is OK, I don't have a specific graverty do da. I have a multi-meter tho.

Biggles · 20 July 2007, 18:16

Andy,

I suppose you've dismissed taking it to Halfords. They do it for free.

Nick.

Hightower · 20 July 2007, 18:38

Thought I'd ask here first. It's a "new" battery and the little green blob isn't showing. I took delivery of it yesterday and put it on charge. Seemed to charge OK, but still no green blob. Any suggestions?

Erin · 20 July 2007, 19:23

My green blob never showed in the three years I had the battery on the boat. Worked absolutely fine tho.

K

Biggles · 20 July 2007, 19:32

Don't you get the coloured blob when its knackered ?

Nos4r2 · 20 July 2007, 19:54

You should get the green blob when it's OK. It'll go black if it's discharged (it's not an indicator of it being knackered)

Tap it fairly hard in the area of the blob with your finger.

If that doesn't work,the thing with the green blob should be screw in like a cell cap at a guess.Take it out. The green blob is a plastic bead. Make sure it can move. They get stuck.

Hightower · 20 July 2007, 20:07

OK, I did take it out and give it a tap and yes it did look rather sticky in the bottom.

V's read 12.99 so I guess that's a healthy voltage

I'll leave some positive feedback now.

ashbypower · 20 July 2007, 20:25

As a rough guide:- A reading of 12.66 volts indicates a fully charged battery; 12.45 volts is 75% charged, 12.24 volts is 50% charged, and 12.06 volts is 25% charged. These values are for a battery off load and only a general indication. To fully check the battery's condition you would need to do a full load test.

jyasaki · 20 July 2007, 21:31

If you can get the battery out, take it to a garage and have them do a load test on it. Rechargeables often will take and show a full charge, but the voltage diminishes rapidly as current is drawn from it. Mostly a symptom of sulfation not allowing lead to acid exposure, I think.

jky

al40 · 21 July 2007, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

OK, I did take it out and give it a tap and yes it did look rather sticky in the bottom.

V's read 12.99 so I guess that's a healthy voltage

I'll leave some positive feedback now.

I got an energy 85AH leisure battery from eBAY (one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-85AH-CARAV...QQcmdZViewItem)
that I also couldn't see the green dot. The rest voltage was 12.68V (just dug out emails). When I contacted the seller he told me they were really difficult to see and sure enough when I looked at it under a better light the green dot was visible. Voltage sounds fine for your battery.

Hightower · 21 July 2007, 17:55

I bought my Squadron Energy SFL 85ah battery off ebay too. After reading the posts about sticking BALLS I'm much more comfortable that it is OK.

alystra · 21 July 2007, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by al40

I got an energy 85AH leisure battery from eBAY (one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-85AH-CARAV...QQcmdZViewItem)
that I also couldn't see the green dot. The rest voltage was 12.68V (just dug out emails). When I contacted the seller he told me they were really difficult to see and sure enough when I looked at it under a better light the green dot was visible. Voltage sounds fine for your battery.

He says he can't post anything to Scotland 'cos the couriers can't lift them or something.

Or is he just talking about north of Glasgow/Edinburgh? I'm not in the market for one just yet, but those seemed ideal.

al40 · 24 July 2007, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by alystra

He says he can't post anything to Scotland 'cos the couriers can't lift them or something.

Or is he just talking about north of Glasgow/Edinburgh? I'm not in the market for one just yet, but those seemed ideal.

Certainly shipped no probs to me in Glasgow (next day service). Helpful guy when I dealt with him.

Hightower · 24 July 2007, 20:19

I went with these guys, very prompt delivery.

Battery

bedajim · 25 July 2007, 05:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I went with these guys, very prompt delivery.

Battery

You can buy direct from Energy batteries not sure if its any cheaper

http://www.energy-batteries.com/

Hugh Jardon · 25 July 2007, 09:47

13 volts 100%
12.8 is 75%
12.5 is 50%
12.2 is 25%
12 or less is 0% on maint free batteries

just read that off the new batteries i have had delivered today

al40 · 25 July 2007, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I went with these guys, very prompt delivery.

Battery

That seems a really good buy - just a few quid more for a fully sealed maint free unit! Wish they had been about when I bought mine

Downhilldai · 25 July 2007, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

13 volts 100%
12.8 is 75%
12.5 is 50%
12.2 is 25%
12 or less is 0% on maint free batteries

just read that off the new batteries i have had delivered today

Why are you buying new batteries? Are they for the boat?

Hugh Jardon · 25 July 2007, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Why are you buying new batteries? Are they for the boat?

i needed new batts for a couple of the bikes, one of them is quite small compared to the matchbox

Downhilldai · 25 July 2007, 22:06

Yes but with bike batts, the smaller they get, the more they cost.