[Healeys] Simon Lachlan : Battery Discharge

[Alan Seigrist]

Simon -

Here's more detailed information from the charging procedure for these
batteries, which I found in my archive.  This is more detailed than my
procedure, and more likely better.  I guess a 10 amp charger is fine.

Alan

'52 A90
'53 BN1
'64 BJ8


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ron Fine <RonFineEsq at earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 1:26 AM
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Optimas
To: Editorgary at aol.com, healeys at autox.team.net


The following is taken directly from a reply I got from Optima tech
department regarding charging Optima batteries:


It is likely that your battery only need to be charged.  If your battery has
been discharged below 10.5v, most chargers will not charge any battery
unless you use a procedure different than what one would typically use.
Please read and try the following:

A deeply discharged Optima Battery (less than 10.5 volts) will not test or
recharge properly if treated as a regular flooded battery or Gel battery.
Most of the time a handheld electronic battery tester will provide
inaccurate test results.

One of the best performance benefits to using an AGM battery is the fact
that they have low internal resistance. Since this low internal resistance
will allow AGM batteries to discharge to a lower voltage than conventional
batteries, they can have compatibility issues with many of the older but
common battery chargers.  In addition, If any battery has rested in a
discharged condition, sulfation has occurred and we need to convert this
back into electrolyte.  We need to "trick" the charger into thinking it is a
recoverable battery. The solution is actually quite simple.

Before hooking up your traditional automatic battery charger to the AGM
battery, take any  automotive battery (anyone will do with decent voltage,
12V or above) and wire it in parallel (positive to positive, negative to
negative) with the discharged AGM. Now hook up the charger to the
conventional battery, set the charger at up to but no more than 10 amps. The
charger will now "see" the resistance and voltage of the conventional
battery and it will start providing a charge. Leave the two batteries hooked
up for an hour or so. Check the AGM each hour to see when it reaches 10.5
volts or above and then you can remove the traditional battery. Continue
charging the AGM until it reaches a full charge or until the automatic
charger completes the charge process.

In most cases the AGM battery will be recovered. During the charging process
if the AGM battery gets slightly warm that's OK.  Hot to the touch is not OK
and this method should be discontinued.


Ron