New Battery Test

[DieselLSE]

Picked up a new SSB HVT-70LD yesterday and tested it when I got home. I have a Bond Battery tester which I've had for close to ten years and I regularly check my batteries.
Results were:
Rating: 620 CCA
Measure: 434 CCA
Volts: 12.76
Internal Resistance: 5.16 mOhm
Life: 55%

Put the battery on the CTEK charger overnight and this mornings results were:
Rating: 620 CCA
Measure: 463 CCA
Volts: 13.09
Internal Resistance: 4.83 mOhm
Life: 63%

I reckon this battery has been sitting on a shelf for a while.

[Tombie]

Yikes! I take it that one’s going back to the store…

[DieselLSE]

Yikes! I take it that one’s going back to the store…
Just emailed them. Will be interesting to see their reply. But, yes, it will be going back.

[drivesafe]

Hi Diesel and that is not surprising.

Most batteries sit on factory outlet shelves for months before being sold.

So mild supination is going to occur but it is reversible.

Wait and see what reply you get, but most "NEW" batteries require up to 30 charges ( not full cycle ) before they reach their full charged state.

It you charged that battery all night, every night for a week, I'll bet it will be up to 100% by then.

[shack]

Wait and see what reply you get, but most "NEW" batteries require up to 30 charges ( not full cycle ) before they reach their full charged state.

It you charged that battery all night, every night for a week, I'll bet it will be up to 100% by then.

I've been thinking of giving this a go with a few I've got lying around.

I think I'll put the auto charger on a timer, and set it to the lowest amps I can.

Is that a good theory?

[DiscoJeffster]

Is this what you really bought?

Restoring an Old Battery | How to restore an old battery | By Crafty Koala (https://fb.watch/ktxGdVSx6d/'mibextid=qC1gEa)

[drivesafe]

I've been thinking of giving this a go with a few I've got lying around.

I think I'll put the auto charger on a timer, and set it to the lowest amps I can.

Is that a good theory?
YES.

Have a look at the link below to see how to get the best results.

Scroll down the page till you get to “Battery Maintenance”
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/the-verandah/246755-line-auto-electrical-info-8.html

[scarry]

Tim,my Cteck charger has a regen mode.I notice in the manual it says the voltage may reach up to 15.8V during the regen process.
Can i leave the vehicle connected to the charger during the regen mode or is it better to disconnect it?

I have never used this mode,have an AGM aux and a Lead acid starter,not an LR,both batteries are 2 yrs old.

TIA

[DieselLSE]

Is this what you really bought?

Restoring an Old Battery | How to restore an old battery | By Crafty Koala (https://fb.watch/ktxGdVSx6d/'mibextid=qC1gEa)
Yep. How did you get a video of me fixing it? Did you like my OHS approved safety thongs?

[drivesafe]

Tim,my Cteck charger has a regen mode.I notice in the manual it says the voltage may reach up to 15.8V during the regen process.
Can i leave the vehicle connected to the charger during the regen mode or is it better to disconnect it?

I have never used this mode,have an AGM aux and a Lead acid starter,not an LR,both batteries are 2 yrs old.

TIA
The recondition mode is not good for many types of AGM batteries.

The slow, low current cycling maintenance process is far gentler and safer for all battery types. It does take a lot longer, but usually does a much better job.

[shack]

YES.

Have a look at the link below to see how to get the best results.

Scroll down the page till you get to “Battery Maintenance”
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/the-verandah/246755-line-auto-electrical-info-8.htmlAnd another query!

How long should the battery rest in between charge cycles?

Cheers
James

[drivesafe]

And another query!

How long should the battery rest in between charge cycles?

Cheers
James
If you can cycle 12 hours on and 12 hours off, it works well and easy to remember.

[shack]

If you can cycle 12 hours on and 12 hours off, it works well and easy to remember.Thanks, will do.

[DieselLSE]

Well now. This is interesting. Firstly, the battery supplier's immediate response was to issue a return note and invite me to return/replace the battery. Excellent service. As I couldn't get there for a few days, I followed Tim's advice and cycle charged it using a CTEK MX7 which has an AGM mode. The results were not as expected:


HVT-70LD Testing Rated CCA 620






Overnight charging using Ctek MSX7 charger set to AGM




Date
10/05/2023
11/05/2023
12/05/2023
13/05/2023
14/05/2023
15/05/2023


Measured CCA
434
463
464
458
462
471


Volts
12.76
13.09
13.12
13.27
13.13
13.21


Int Res mOhm
5.16
4.83
4.82
4.86
4.84
4.75


Life %
55
63
63
61
63
64



That is, no improvement over the five days. I began to wonder if the Bond Battery Tester was not measuring the SSB batteries accurately.

Today I took the battery back to Hollyhock Batteries Plus in Carrum Downs and we load tested it and another few batteries and concluded that, for the SSB AGM batteries, the Bond Tester was reading around 65% where two other testers were happily reporting 100%. So, for the SSB batteries, I will look for the trend over time rather than rely on the absolute results. They offered me another battery, but as the other batteries tested the same I was happy to keep the original one.

As the whole idea to replace the HVT-50D with the larger 70LD was based on the 50D testing below 45% (after three years) and the Bond Tester recommending replacement. We tested the 50D on their tester and it came up with the same result. We then load tested it to confirm that it was, indeed, just on the replacement line. Anyway, I'm happy to upgrade to a slightly larger capacity.

But I'm wondering if the nature of the SSB AGM batteries is the cause of the issue I've been having when the Tvan (with 2 x Blue River 105A AGMs) is connected up to the Traxide US-160. Tim is sending me a replacement US-160, but I'm wondering if there is a compatibility issue with the three batteries. The issue I was having was that the D50 and the 2 x Tvan batteries were not always being charged by the alternator. The whole driving day would pass with only the solar charge (50w on the car roof, 120w on the Tvan) making it to the batteries - but occasionally it would all work as it should. The D4 starter battery was being charged up OK.

Lemme think about this. My brain is hurting.

[Tombie]

Interesting timing….

My 2x SSB 50s finally gave up this month.
First one started swelling about 2 weeks ago and was promptly pulled from service.
Second one failed last week, won’t retain charge.

Looked at receipts - just under 7 years old…

Considering the have run 24/7 during that time I’m more than happy.

[drivesafe]

Well now. This is interesting. Firstly, the battery supplier's immediate response was to issue a return note and invite me to return/replace the battery. Excellent service. As I couldn't get there for a few days, I followed Tim's advice and cycle charged it using a CTEK MX7 which has an AGM mode. The results were not as expected:


HVT-70LD Testing Rated CCA 620






Overnight charging using Ctek MSX7 charger set to AGM




Date
10/05/2023
11/05/2023
12/05/2023
13/05/2023
14/05/2023
15/05/2023


Measured CCA
434
463
464
458
462
471


Volts
12.76
13.09
13.12
13.27
13.13
13.21


Int Res mOhm
5.16
4.83
4.82
4.86
4.84
4.75


Life %
55
63
63
61
63
64



That is, no improvement over the five days. I began to wonder if the Bond Battery Tester was not measuring the SSB batteries accurately.

Today I took the battery back to Hollyhock Batteries Plus in Carrum Downs and we load tested it and another few batteries and concluded that, for the SSB AGM batteries, the Bond Tester was reading around 65% where two other testers were happily reporting 100%. So, for the SSB batteries, I will look for the trend over time rather than rely on the absolute results. They offered me another battery, but as the other batteries tested the same I was happy to keep the original one.

As the whole idea to replace the HVT-50D with the larger 70LD was based on the 50D testing below 45% (after three years) and the Bond Tester recommending replacement. We tested the 50D on their tester and it came up with the same result. We then load tested it to confirm that it was, indeed, just on the replacement line. Anyway, I'm happy to upgrade to a slightly larger capacity.

But I'm wondering if the nature of the SSB AGM batteries is the cause of the issue I've been having when the Tvan (with 2 x Blue River 105A AGMs) is connected up to the Traxide USI-160. Tim is sending me a replacement US-160, but I'm wondering if there is a compatibility issue with the three batteries. The issue I was having was that the D50 and the 2 x Tvan batteries were not always being charged by the alternator. The whole driving day would pass with only the solar charge (50w on the car roof, 120w on the Tvan) making it to the batteries - but occasionally it would all work as it should. The D4 starter battery was being charged up OK.

Lemme think about this. My brain is hurting.
My guess is that the USI-160 is probably the problem.

Will see how it works once the new version replacement is fitted.