ContinuousWave   Whaler   Moderated Discussion Areas   ContinuousWave: The Whaler GAM or General Area   Help Charging Battery    search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author	Topic:   Help Charging Battery
fjjpal	posted 05-24-2003 01:11 AM ET (US)         I have a Battery made by Interstate Batteries. The label says Marine/RV Cranking 24M-RD 400CCA 500MCA ? My charger is a Sports Power 15/2/100 The first setting gives you a choice between "Regular Automatic" or "Deep Cell Automatic" Does "Cranking" mean it is a "Deep Cell"? The second setting gives you 4 choices: 15AMP 6V Manual 2AMP 12V Automatic 15AMP 12V Automatic 100Amp 12 V Engine Start What kind of battery do I have and how do I set up the charger to match properly? Thanks Frank
simonmeridew	posted 05-24-2003 06:42 AM ET (US)             fjjpal It sounds to me that you have what I would consider a nice "heavy duty" (opposite of fragile) starter type battery, size 24. Heavy duty means physically robust and able to withstand the pounding and such that an off road vehicle or boat might subject. Not what I would consider deep cycle. The marine designation means that there are marine cranking amps listed in the specs, ie 500 MCA which are measured at room temperature as opposed to Cold Cranking Amps, CCA, which are measured at 0 degrees I think. The colder the battery the less amps it is capable of delivering. Your charger is a nice automatic/manual charger well suited to charge this battery. I think I would use the "regular automatic" setting for the most part when charging this battery. It provides a tapering charge NOT a destructive over charge and will shut off, or perhaps even provide a trickle charge after the battery is initially fully charged which will "balance" the cells. the 6Volt manual is self explanatory the 2AMP 12 Volt automatic provides a nice slow charge which is probably best for your battery physically but might take two vacation days to fully charge the battery. Life is only so long. The 100AMP 12 volt should only be used "momentarily" when you're trying to start the motor when you have problems(or issues)like a dead or low battery or a hard cranking motor that you want to get started. Don't charge a dead battery at 100 AMPS because the sulfation that occurs on the plates of the discarged battery, instead of gradually disolving into the electrolyte as the charge developes, will break off the plates, fall to the bottom of the case and short out the cells. Some batteries are made so this won't happen as readily, don't know about yours. Best not to use 100 amps to charge. To recap charge on 12 volt 15 Amp automatic for a couple of hours and you're good to go. Others may give differing opinions. simonmeridew
fjjpal	posted 05-24-2003 12:05 PM ET (US)             Thank you very much Simon. The first number 24 on the label of the battery just indicates the size of the battery not the voltage, right? I thought it meant I had a 24 volt battery. I do not, it is a 12 volt, right? Thanks again.
simonmeridew	posted 05-24-2003 12:37 PM ET (US)             You are correct: 12 volt battery. simonmeridew

Hop to: ContinuousWave: The Whaler GAM or General AreaContinuousWave: Whaler MarketplaceContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/ModsContinuousWave: Whaler PerformanceContinuousWave: Cetacea CommentsContinuousWave: Small Boat ElectricalContinuousWave: Trips and RendezvousContinuousWave: Post-Classic WhalersMETA-Discussion