Deep cycle battery problem

[Jerryh3]

Ok, so I bought a group 31 deep cycle battery a few months ago that I haven't got around to installing. I throw it on the charger every few weeks to keep it full. I now think I messed it up by charging at too low of a rate when charging. My battery charger(Schumacher XCS15) is coming up with a fault code(The battery was unable to reach the ?full charged? voltage.). I tried draining it down to around 11.0 Volts and charging it again, but it still came up with that code. Is there any way to salvage this thing or should I try to take it back for a warranty exchange?

 

[j_martin]

Re: Deep cycle battery problem

Charging at a low rate shouldn't hurt the battery in any way. You may have a dead cell or leaky cell separator in that battery.

Schumacher chargers can wig out on you. Try another one. Don't deeply discharge the battery. It is not needed and can be harmful.

If another charger won't top it off, take it back for warranty. I'd take it back and have them charge and load test it anyway, just to see if the battery is OK.

 

[Jerryh3]

Re: Deep cycle battery problem

Charging at a low rate shouldn't hurt the battery in any way. You may have a dead cell or leaky cell separator in that battery.

Schumacher chargers can wig out on you. Try another one. Don't deeply discharge the battery. It is not needed and can be harmful.

If another charger won't top it off, take it back for warranty. I'd take it back and have them charge and load test it anyway, just to see if the battery is OK.

Ok, I'll try another charger. It's measuring 12.7 volts at rest so I'm sure it's not that big of a deal. I bought it from Bass Pro so they would probably just look at me funny if I tried to explain what was wrong.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Deep cycle battery problem

sounds like a dead cell

 

[j_martin]

Re: Deep cycle battery problem

You don't have the instrumentation to determine the condition of the battery.

Take it back. Bass Pro will test it or get it tested at a local battery shop.

They will top off the charge, then do a discharge test on it. That will bring to light any internal battery problems, and clear that idea off the slate if there is none.

You either need a new battery, or a new battery charger.

hope it helps
John

 

[dccordell]

Re: Deep cycle battery problem

Yeah, don't rely on the fact that it shows 12.7 volts to tell you much about the real condition of the battery. Since you just bought it a few months ago and it already might be going out, do like these guys say and take it to let them test it. Worst thing to happen is they will charge it for you (meaning your charger is not working properly), best thing is that they will give you a new battery for free! You definitely don't want to wait until the warranty is up, just to have the problem worsen and then you're out $100 (or more?) for a battery