REFLECTOR: Over Charging Help !!

[Ron Brown]

I have a regular ole car battery, low maintenance Duralast (5-6 year warranty) from the local Autozone Auto parts store.

It is 4 years old this month.  It is still holding a charge and cranking fine - but I am going to get a new one next week because of the upcoming Texas trip.  My EIS says my voltage is running between 14.2 & 14.5.  Everything I have read says this is the normal charging voltage for a wet cell battery.  Gel Cells take a bit less.

Boiling is generally normal during charging - of course if your voltage regulator or battery charger continues charging past 100%, then the boiling results in drying up the water/acid - which is not good.

Ronnie

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Dibble 
  To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list 
  Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 10:12 AM
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Over Charging Help !!


  I think even 14.2 v, which is what my system is at, is not good for the battery.  I'm barely going to get 2 years out of my Interstate SLA.  A charger puts out 14 v and when my battery is fully charged, I can hear it percolating with a charger on it.  Is there a way where after 20 minutes after starting I can flip a switch and reduce the voltage to the battery to 12.5 v and keep the rest of the system at 14.2? 
  John 

  Ron Brown wrote: 

    It sounds like the voltage regulator is not working correctly.  You shouldn't see more than about 14.2 - 14.6 volts when it is charging correctly.  Voltage this high (16-17 volts) will overcharge and damage your battery.  When the battery opens up, the voltage may go even higher and start wiping out your electronics and avionics - not good! Ronnie


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