Low Battery voltage - help needed

H

haunting_your_thoughts

Banned
Oct 23, 2008
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I have 4 Trace batteries that I bought in November of 2008. They all were maintained well along with proper water levels. I am also using a Trace CRII 1.5KW 24v inverter. They were all working great, and their voltage as of 3 weeks ago (when my batteries were fully drained) was around 6.4 each. Lately due to low street voltage, and lack of electricity, my batteries discharged a few times.

Yesterday, my batteries discharged once again to to long periods without electricity. I checked the voltage, and they were as follows: 5.90, 5.88, 5.88, 5.78. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I can do to bring them back to normal? Should I try getting the Battery Viagra, or pure EDTA? If yes, What is the procedure that should be followed?

location: My 4 Batteries are located 1 feet away from my landlord's 4 batteries which are 3 years old and 1 of them has a low voltage of 3.78, while the other 3 of his batteries are around 6.15, but they are all leaking battery fluids from the top. Could his battery fumes affect my batteries?

Please help. Thank you.
 
cobraboy

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
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A fully charged 6v battery should be around 6.3-6.45v. I don't see how a fully drained 6v battery could be 6.4v.

The question is how long will your inverter work with the batteries you have after a full chargE? And have you ever done an equalized cycle.

Might want to try some of the battery "viagra" going around if you're that concerned...
 
E

EmaxxDR

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Mar 14, 2010
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www.emaxx.us
From what you are describing in your post, it sounds like your batteries are ok. I would suspect a problem with the Trace inverter. I will send you a PM with more information.
 
A

AZB

Platinum
Jan 2, 2002
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Batteries should be treated with edta once every year when they are new then after every few months when they are @ 2 yr mark. This is how I do it: take one plastic cup and add 1 table spoon (for each hole on the battery) or maybe a tea spoon (if the batteries are not that old) and dissolve in pure water, then pour the water evenly in all the holes of the battery (comes down to one tea spoon or a table spoon in each hole). Shake the batteries and clean the terminals that are full of corrosion. This is how I do it: take off the terminal cables and dip them in water pot with vinegar for 30 minutes. This will take off all the corrosion and you are good to go. make sure connect the batteries exactly the way they were. make a diagram to make sure before you disconnect them.
You are set to go and now you owe me a beer. oh wait, I don't drink. so the info is free :)
AZB
 
E

el forastero

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Oct 25, 2009
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and after cleaning, you can delay the corrosion returning to the terminal posts by wiping Vaseline over them, and inside the clamps before reconnection.
 
M

milo

New member
Jan 27, 2005
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Possible help

Last night my inversor had the light on that said low battery, thus no lights, as it was not working. After about an hour in the dark, I turned the inversor unit on and off to re-set. Thankfully it worked again, lights returned and fan ran on inversor all night. Maybe something to try.
 
O

Olly

Bronze
Mar 12, 2007
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HYT -
This is a useful table that gives you some idea of the state of charge of the batteries.

State of Charge 12 Volt battery 24 Volt Battery Volts per Cell
100% 12.7 25.44 2.12
90% 12.5 24.96 2.08
80% 12.42 24.84 2.07
70% 12.32 24.6 2.05
60% 12.20 24.36 2.03
50% 12.06 24.12 2.01
40% 11.9 23.76 1.98
30% 11.75 23.52 1.96
20% 11.58 23.16 1.93
10% 11.31 22.68 1.89
0 10.5 21.0 1.75

Based on the numbers in the OP you were down to about 20% charge left with one battery significantly lower voltage. This one at least should be treated with EDTA as it has lost its some of its capacity.

There is also another possible fix. Crank up the charging rate - on the trace invertors this can be done by changing the DIP switch setting on the side.

Put is up to 40 amps and your batteries will charge a bit quicker.

HTH

Olly
 
cobraboy

cobraboy

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Jul 24, 2004
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Olly said:
HYT -
This is a useful table that gives you some idea of the state of charge of the batteries.

State of Charge 12 Volt battery 24 Volt Battery Volts per Cell
100% 12.7 25.44 2.12
90% 12.5 24.96 2.08
80% 12.42 24.84 2.07
70% 12.32 24.6 2.05
60% 12.20 24.36 2.03
50% 12.06 24.12 2.01
40% 11.9 23.76 1.98
30% 11.75 23.52 1.96
20% 11.58 23.16 1.93
10% 11.31 22.68 1.89
0 10.5 21.0 1.75

Based on the numbers in the OP you were down to about 20% charge left with one battery significantly lower voltage. This one at least should be treated with EDTA as it has lost its some of its capacity.

There is also another possible fix. Crank up the charging rate - on the trace invertors this can be done by changing the DIP switch setting on the side.

Put is up to 40 amps and your batteries will charge a bit quicker.

HTH

Olly
Click to expand...
I thought the OP's numbers were of a discharged battery, not a battery that won't accept more charge.
 
O

Olly

Bronze
Mar 12, 2007
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Hi Windguy,
You make some good points.
High charging rates will affect battery life but over a period of months rather than hours unless they are extremely high. If you only get a couple of hours electricity then it is a good option to get as much charge in the batteries as possible in a shorter time.

Most invertors seem to cut out at about 22.5 volts on the batteries under load which leaves a little left in them. Leaving them nearly discharged is not good but again it is a matter of weeks rather than hours before the Sulfating becomes a problem.

Hopefully the Edenorte will be back by then!

Olly
 
cobraboy

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
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Batteries need a full charge to remain healthy and extend their lives. They also need an occasional equalization charge to remove sulfides off the lead plates.

If your edenortee power is so poor the batteries discharge and rarely fully recharge before discharging again there is no magic that will help.
 
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