Charging A New Battery?

Slamfire · Nov 1, 2003

Mike I think now is the time to take it back to the dealer and have it tested. Once in a while you get a bad one. As long as they make it right it's ok.

ducati996 · Nov 2, 2003

Junkman,

Yuasa & Battery Tender are just two good mfg's of battery float/maintaining chargers. They sense the voltage of the battery and charge it when low. They do a great job in keeping the battery healhty...They really don t cost that much either...

Duc

normde2001 · Nov 2, 2003

Mike, you didn't say how many volts are showing on the battery; However the "yellow top" being a deep cycle battery, it should take a 10 amp charge with no problem. You need 12.6 volts for a fully charged battery.

MikePA · Nov 2, 2003

You need 12.6 volts for a fully charged battery. 
This is a real mystery...I just checked the voltage with my digital VOM and it's 12.97.

I put it on the charger, at the 10 amp setting, and the needle on the charger is in the 'Charging' area.

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

normde2001 · Nov 2, 2003

Very strange....Are you sure the 12.97v wasn't with the battery hooked to the charger? What voltage does the working battery show on that meter?

MikePA · Nov 2, 2003

Are you sure the 12.97v wasn't with the battery hooked to the charger? 
Yep. I had the Optima on the charger for the last hour or so and it reads (charger disconnected) 14.14.

What voltage does the working battery show on that meter? 
12.59

KubotaBling · Nov 2, 2003

That's no mystery here it's the sign of a shorted cell.. It's holding a static charge indicating 12.97+ but if you leave it or apply a load it'll drop and the shorted cell when you hook up it up to charger is making the charger force juice to the battery thus overcharging the other plates further damaging the battery alot of times it'll ping or spike if you have a needle guage. If it was mine i'd be getting rid of it..

The real test is putting it on and applying a load and viewing the volt meter. probaly 10v or more would pass..

MikePA · Nov 2, 2003

That's no mystery here 
It might not be a mystery to you, but it was/is to me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have sent another email to tna-sports.com (where I bought it) indicating there's probably a shorted cell. I dont expect them to respond over the weekend. We'll see tomorrow.

Junkman · Nov 2, 2003

for what that one battery cost, you could buy 3 Wally World batteries and still have enough left over for a cup of coffee and a donut!!!!!

_RaT_ · Nov 3, 2003

Providing they don't leak and leave a massive cancer mess like so many of the stock JD's were having. I think this has caused many folks to consider a non fluid type battery. The area where the battery is, is no place to have acid as the radiator, oil cooler etc. will be destroyed in little time. I've not experienced the problem on my tactor, but my neighbors JD 790 has destroyed two cable ends besides the original one and eaten the holddown area up pretty good. He replaced it with another lead acid that hopefully will arrest that problem.

I use a "Battery Tender" brand charger permananetly on my powered gate battery. It's a very good way to keep a battery at the optimium level and never overcharge. It can also provide enough current to quickly charge a low battery.