Batteries not charging
Submitted by Ancient Mariner on Thu, 2015-09-24 13:00
Have a pair of Optima Yellow Top batteries, model D27F.
These are apparently the Ducks Nuts of marine batteries.
Heres my problem: they are 3 years old, haver an inbuilt charger onboard which I always connect when boat parked up. Anyway the extension got accidentally unplugged form power point, the battery isolator was in the "on" position. This was for a period of no more than 3 weeks, maybe shorter. Thay have enough power to illuminate the nav lights, but cant tilt motor, let alone start it! After discovering the cable issue, I promptly plugged it back in, left it for 12 hours but nothing. My charger saying that below 8 volts so cannot charge them.
Am I up for 2 new batteries or can they be rescued? At $320 a pop it hurts!
Taffy
Posts: 184
Date Joined: 04/11/10
Are you using
Are you using the Correct Charger ,
Optima batterys are AGM and require a specific Charger with a higher voltage, my optimas are 5 years old and still like new
Ancient Mariner
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 21/05/12
I guess so, previous owner
I guess so, previous owner had it installed.
Its a Minn Kota onboard charger.
You think its worth while getting another charger to bring the voltage back above 8 volts then the onboard charger will kick in, or new batteries?
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
OK the hard facts are you
OK the hard facts are you have damaged your batteries. How much and if they are recoverable will depend on what contrition they were in and how long they have been in a discharged state. Be aware that they may no longer be reliable enough to trust in a marine environment.
first. try and charge them individually. This is the best way and may get you charger to talk to them.
Beg steal or borrow a modern multi stage charger. These often have "soft start" algorithms designed to bring up deeply discharged batteries.
Don't delay. the longer you keep them discharged the less chance of recovery.
Ancient Mariner
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 21/05/12
Will try that straight away!
Will try that straight away! Thanks
Swompa
Posts: 3882
Date Joined: 14/10/12
I have a multi stage charger
I have a multi stage charger which you can borrow if you are near thornlie?
It saved my battery after my lovely kiddo flicked on all of my switches, and i didnt notice for 4 weeks.
Ancient Mariner
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 21/05/12
Is it suitable for AGM
Is it suitable for AGM batteries Swompa?
Taffy
Posts: 184
Date Joined: 04/11/10
where are you located
Where are you located mate, i have a battery Analyzer/ tester if your not to far away,im in Byford, and you cant go past a Ctek Charger in my opinion
Swompa
Posts: 3882
Date Joined: 14/10/12
It is a Ctek smart charger,
It is a Ctek smart charger, very good one I am lead to believe. I just charged up the two AGM's in my camper this week so it goes Ok.
PM me is you want to borrow it. I work in west Perth and can take it there...
it it has a repair mode for flat batteries, as well as a supply for just maintaining.
Ancient Mariner
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 21/05/12
Im in Waikiki mate but work
Im in Waikiki mate but work as a plumber from Freo through to Mundaring.
Ancient Mariner
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 21/05/12
Which model Ctek would you
Which model Ctek would you recommend?
Taffy
Posts: 184
Date Joined: 04/11/10
Pm sent with
Pm sent with my number
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
I use a ctek mxs 7.0 in my
I use a ctek mxs 7.0 in my camper.
z00m
Posts: 1086
Date Joined: 10/05/14
Even though they are under 8v
Even though they are under 8v for the charger to kick in it doesn't mean your batteries are dead. You can charge them briefly with a regular charger to get the voltage up a bit and then get the proper charger back on the job.
Ancient Mariner
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 21/05/12
Thanks guys, most helpful!My
Thanks guys, most helpful!
My mind is eased somewhat.
ChardWon
Posts: 5
Date Joined: 30/10/14
Could try getting a fully
Could try getting a fully charged battery and join up with jumper leads. The battery might equalize voltage across the two batteries to get above 8volts. Then you will be able to put your charger on. Do it one battery at a time.
Worth a try if you a spare.
bellony
Posts: 94
Date Joined: 27/01/10
As z00m said above. Smart
As z00m said above. Smart chargers overthink things in situations like yours. Connect up a very basic old dumb charger for an hour or 2, then connect up the smart charger and try again. Repeat until the you succeed. I keep a 30yr old 8A charger just for those situations when Smart is dumb.
cruzy111
Posts: 274
Date Joined: 08/10/13
parrallel
disconnect one battery and one at a time hook up a good battery in parrallel with the dead one with jumper leads. Turn the charger on and it should see the voltage on the good battery and start charging. I would supervise this and keep an eye on the battery temp. It should get warm but not overly hot. If it gets red hot battery is probably dead. After 2 hours the voltage should come up enough for the charger to recognise the battery and charge it by itself. Once one is charged connect the other battery back up and it should charge. I got this technique of their website and has worked for me.
Moylees Brother
Posts: 48
Date Joined: 19/02/09
As the others have said, try
As the others have said, try hooking up a working battery in parallel with at least 12v and put the ctek on them both. The charger cant deal with the Battery under 8v and wont start putting power back in. Its designed as a safety for the charger. The charger sees the combined voltage and its happy to start doing what it was designed for.
Hopefully the battery isn't buggered and once happy to accept charge you run the ctek desulphation and it should be ok.
The reason you need to keep an eye on it is if the plates inside are damaged then you end up with a short and it will get hot and possibly swell. Warm to touch is ok but if its hot then disconnect and bin it.
Your Batteries and charger are top shelf so should be ok.
Once charged you should be able to get a battery shop to put a carbon Pile load tester on it and confirm it can deal with supplying power and recovering. If it passes this then its good to rely on
I have done this to big 300amp units and its pretty common hence it being on the website as Cruzy put up.
Rob H
Posts: 5796
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Zoom and the last couple of
Zoom and the last couple of posts are onto it.
Connect another battery briefly to get the charger to sense a higher voltage.
After that they should charge ok.
I doubt there is noticeable damage but there may be a reduced capacity
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The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.