On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 07:26:12PM -0500, [email protected] wrote: > > The shorted cell will rapidly discharge itself so a shorted cell will have > a very low specific gravity. The hydrometer float will barely rise.
Thanks, Norm. That's what I figured, but without actual experience with measuring a shorted cell, there was always that tiny bit of doubt. So I'm just where I was at the beginning: a fault in a battery that isn't a shorted cell and doesn't show up with voltage, current, or hydro measurements, but nevertheless results in reduced (almost zero) storage capacity, (presumably) causes the regulator to overheat and shut down every ten minutes or so, and finally shorts and fries the batteries. That's really annoying - but fortunately not a "live" experience anymore... and, hell, shotgunning can indeed be a valid troubleshooting technique at times. I'll know what to do about it (disconnect the battery banks one at a time) if I ever see it again, anyway. > Been there, done that. Cost more that $1000 for four new L-16s. I've been doing a lot of research online with regard to golf cart batteries, and it seems that a lot of "off-the-grid" and RV folks really like the US Battery 2200 XC golf carts: the same size and nearly the same capacity as the Trojan GC-2s (220 vs. 240), but $72 apiece at Sam's Club. If they survive 2 years, they will have more than paid for themselves by comparison to Trojans or SeaVolts. Representative quote from http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f14/golf-cart-batteries-vs-marine-batteries-34470-2.html : My high school friend manages a golf course down on the Cape and three years ago they moved away from Trojan over price. I think they now use either Crown or US Battery, he told me but it was at a party and clearly I forgot. Their failure rate has remained unchanged since the switch and they kill batteries to flat dead every day of the season. They aim for 50-60% DOD but it does not always happen. The batteries they are now buying are costing them significantly less, perhaps not 50% of the price of Trojans but close and they are still US made. On the repairs front, the spare outboard was also out of commission [laugh]. I just got it going again, so I'll be able to get to shore and start the mad running around tomorrow. -- OKOPNIK CONSULTING Custom Computing Solutions For Your Business Expert-led Training | Dynamic, vital websites | Custom programming 443-250-7895 http://okopnik.com http://twitter.com/okopnik _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
