Brand new batteries low SG

[benjammin5150]

Hi everyone, this is a great forum I hope you can help me with a battery concern. I have 2 Trojan SCS150 12v 100ah Deep Cycle batteries I bought brand new in october. When I got them home the voltate read 12.5 on both batteries so I connected them in parallel and fully charged them with a 3 stage charger. The resting voltage, no charge no load, after 12 hours was 12.8v. The specific gravity was 1.225-1.235 on all cells. The electrolyte levels are where they should be and it looks clear and clean. Ive read you have to break in the batteries by shallow cycling them 50-100 times. I started cycling them using a 8-10 amp load to 80% DoD. I noticed the voltage would sag to around 12.1v almost immediately, which seems like an excessive drop for such a small load. Also, they seemed to only have about 50-75% capacity. After a couple cycles the resting voltage increased to 13.1 and it sags to about 12.3 with the same 10 amp load. Ive cycled them about ten times so far and capacity doesnt seem to be increasing. I equalized them at 15.5v for 3 hours stopping every hour to check SG, then once for 2 hours straight. At resting voltage(12 hours)SG hasnt risen at all... its still 1.225-1.235. Ive read that new electrolyte needs time to properly mix...is this true? I know new flooded batteries wont deliver 100% capacity right away and Im hoping thats all this is. Would really like to hear what you think. thank you.

 

[itsmoked]

I've never heard of all this break-in stuff before on LA batteries! Mixing??!! Cripes. As soon as you charge once any mixing will be done. But then it's probably completely mixed when it's added.

Cycling batteries is how you wear them out. I wouldn't do it.

I'd check your measurements to make sure your instruments aren't lying to you.
I'd confirm the temperatures are correct because LA battery performance is more connected to temperature than anything else.
I'd contact Trojan, an excellent company, and put your questions directly to THEM since you have your numbers in-hand.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com