RE: Battery charger ... What does it mean if ...

[springer02]

 
We try to frequently recharge our deep-cycle battery from a real honest to goodness battery charger at home. Understand that the converter is not the way to go.
 
 In the last couple of charges, the battery shows on the meter as being just about at 100% without the actual green light coming on indicating it s finished. Spent 8 hours more on the charger today in that condition. No greenlight.
 
 it is a deep cycle charger, and I usually charge in the 10 amp deep-cycle mode, rather than the 2 amp trickle charge or the 50-amp start mode.
 
 Does this lack of a green light mean that:
 --The charger just isn t recognizing that the battery is charged?
 --The battery isn t quite charging, and thus is eventually going to need replacement?
 --Something else?
 
 Dave
 
 

[tlhdoc]

 springer02
I usually charge my battery on the 2 amp mode of my charger.  I have left the battery on for 2 days and the green light still didn t come on.  If I use my charger on the 10 amp setting the light will come on.  I think it is just the charger not sensing that the battery is charged.  I had a different charger, that was a different brand, and it worked the same way.  The light never came on when the battery was fully charged.

[brainpause]

 springer02
Most of the time my green light doesn t come on until it has charged for a good while, and I move one of the clamps around a bit (with a spark or two), and then the green light comes on. Battery still works well.
 
 Larry

[mcmanusfam]

 springer02
I just experienced " the dead battery syndrome"  and went to Sam s for the charger recommended on the board. So many posts have been helpful! The battery has been on the 10 Amp charge for 12 hours and the green light is still not on. Sounds like no one else s comes on either!
 
 I am also going to look at the fuse issue for recharging as we drove 120 miles and had zero poer when we got to our desitnation jsut like when we left!

[tgawel]

 springer02
The first thing is to make sure there is electrolyte in the battery and it is covering the plates. I wouldn t rely on your green light comming on. The green light doesnt allways come on. I would recomend in an inexpesive digital volt meter. They go for between $5 to $30 and up. I bought mine from Harbor Freight (www.harborfreight.com) for $5. This is a more accurate measurement of your batterys charge level. After you charge you battery overnight (on 2 amp) let the battery settle for a few hours and then hook up you volt meter and your battery should read over 12.6 volts. If it doesn t put it back on the charger for a few more hours. If it doesn t go above 12.4 volts it is time to replace your battery. Deep cycle batteries like to be slow charged.
 
 This is a good article containing a chart that shows the percentage of charge to voltage. It is a good chart you should keep with you.  []
 
 http://bart.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm