Intelligent chargers - question

[Froll]

On my intelligent charger at work it gives me a fault and stops charging. It says that the charger has identified that the battery being charged is a 6 volt battery. The battery is a big 12 volt truck battery. I suspect that the battery is no good, but where does the 6 volt come in... we have 2 batteries to make up the 24 volt for the lorry. the second battery is completely dead. The charger can show various faults such as dead cells and so on. We have replaced both batteries, but I am interested to know what the fault is. It gives this fault after about 5 min of charging.

[Family_Dog]

I would suspect the battery, but as you stated you have already replaced the battery. Have you tried connecting a voltmeter across tha battery when the fault is present?


-F_D

[Froll]

We replaced both batteries. Yes the volt meter gives a reading of 7,9 volts :? Am just curious about it as these intelligent chargers are new to me.

[Family_Dog]

Those batteries are probably beyond saving now - depends on how old they are and how long they have been so deeply discharged. A Maintenance Charger could attempt to save them, you would need to use the "Boost" mode, if your charger has one.


-F_D

[Polarbear2008]

I agree with FD.

A car/truck battery is actually "flat" at 12 volt, and anything below that, as these are charged at around 12.6 volt.

Once it reaches 10 volt, things are going downhill fast, and damage to the cells in the battery are almost guaranteed!

Another thing is, what charge remains once the charger is disconnected, as a battery with a dead cell will show the last charge it had before the charger is disconnected, and after a short while this will start decreasing visibly, as it cannot hold that charge = replace such a battery.

What was the acid level in the battery when the fault was diagnosed, as if any of the plates were below minimum at any time, damage will also result = new battery.