Charging question!

[essee]

I'm charging the right bank of 3 batteries for the first time, with the fork lift truck battery charger...  it seems to be charging at around 12-13A, but after a couple of hours the 'Gas charge' light lit up...   I was hoping the 'Battery ready' light would light up...  but I thought I'd just turn it off in case it's ready.

Anyone know what this 'Gas Charge' light is for???

I've not had a chance to wire it back up and give it a go because of this f**king weather!

Thanks guys.

[air-one]

Good chargers allways "dunp" discharge the bats before charging.

So they could just be on the charge cycle...........

[Chops]

Maybe it's charging like air-one says and the Gas bit is just a warning about the Hydrogen being generated in the Batts (which is normal when charging)

[essee]

Cool.. Thanks guys.  It's just it wasn't on for the first couple of hours and then it came on... but I've tried the car out this morning and it's awesome.

So all good.

[essee]

Ok, I only charged both banks up about a month ago and they're already dead...

Both pumps were working really well.  I jacked the car up for about an hour, hour and a half, then when I went to use it... dead.  The solenoids are clicking like mad, but no lift at all.  Waited for about half hour, then tried again, lifted about an inch, solenoids clicking like mad.

How long do the batteries usually last?  Admittedly, I've been playing with the car at least 3-4 times a week... but thought they would have lasted longer than 3-4 weeks.

Also, can I charge both banks up at the same time with my 36v charger, or do I have to charge one 36v bank at a time?

Here is my set up.  Would the charger be right there for charging both banks?

[BIGPERM]

ive flatened mine in about 3 hrs......usually whilst,very...very drunk at shows....

[essee]

ive flatened mine in about 3 hrs......usually whilst,very...very drunk at shows....

hahaha... how do you manage to drive home then??

[BIGPERM]

you kinda know when there is just enough juice in the batts to lift it, i think i have had peeps lifting the wheelarches while i switch flick  in the past tho!!

[ant]

when your sols start clickin stop flickin

[StyleGrace&PumpinBass]

^Yep, or they could stick and cause a lot of damage. My batteries last ages, but I tend to charge 3 at a time, rather than all 6 in one go. It's a little bit more work, but it gets the job done.

The same sort of thing happened with the batts in the old Lo-Vol, my conclusion was that they were just old and buggered, how old are your batts? The plates inside can corrode, and all the corroded bits fall to the bottom and short between the plates (if you follow me) so maybe some replacement batts are in order?

[essee]

Davies bought 6 new ones, end of last year, I think...  still got the receipts.

Might have to buy a tester and check each battery after individually charging them... that'll show any bad ones out of the lot....

But going back to what you said, technically, I should be able to charge the one bank and because the 2 banks are connected in series, the other bank should then charge, once the 1st bank has charged, right?

(see my diagram above)

[UtterPiffle]

Davies bought 6 new ones, end of last year, I think...  still got the receipts.

Might have to buy a tester and check each battery after individually charging them... that'll show any bad ones out of the lot....

But going back to what you said, technically, I should be able to charge the one bank and because the 2 banks are connected in series, the other bank should then charge, once the 1st bank has charged, right?

(see my diagram above)

Yup, all batteries will charge evenly.

[essee]

Coolio Englasias!

Thanks, dude!