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Author Topic: Gel battery  (Read 15074 times)

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GTRS Fiero

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Gel battery
« on: June 15, 2020, 07:31:34 pm »
Has anyone tried a gel battery in their Fiero?  If so, which one?  How did you like (or dislike) it?
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TopNotch

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2020, 09:01:15 pm »
The maximum voltage you can charge a gel lead 12V battery is about 1/2 volt lower than for a liquid filled 12V battery. If you exceed the maximum voltage, it will go bad quickly. If it "boils" any at all, it's permanently destroyed.
My late wife had a "granny cart" powered by two 12V gel batteries the size of tractor batteries. This particular cart is much faster than the ones in stores. I almost had to run to keep up when she went full speed. When the gel batteries went bad, I got a couple of Walmart tractor batteries for it. It still works.
The manual that came with it warned of over charging the gel batteries. I never did -- they just died of old age.
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Fierofool

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2020, 09:24:38 pm »
I remember seeing her flying around the World Congress Center when we displayed in the World of Wheels.  I was afraid she was going to run someone down.  That thing had the speed of a moped. 

I don't know what batteries are in Mel's power chair, but the charger has an automatic shutoff when it's charged.  It will then trickle charge if left connected to power.  I have another chair that has lead acid batteries in it.  When we got the newer chair, they died due to non-use and cold weather in the garage.  I think when I replace them, I'll get deep cycle batteries.  I wonder how a deep cycle battery would work in a car. 

Edit:  I just did some searching and I found that a deep cycle battery only delivers about 1/2 to 3/4 the cold cranking amps of a car battery and puts an overload on the alternator to keep it fully charged. 
« Last Edit: June 15, 2020, 09:32:44 pm by Fierofool »
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2020, 09:39:07 pm »
If the voltage is a bit low, I wonder what happens?  Surely the voltage regulator could charge a bit lower, but I'd prefer something separate to protect the battery.
« Last Edit: June 15, 2020, 11:15:55 pm by GTRS Fiero »
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NoMad

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2020, 11:12:16 pm »
I will be going to AGM or Lithium ion when I finish my 88. Used them in almost everything by now and been happy with both.
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Raydar

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2020, 02:28:40 pm »
Quote from: NoMad on June 15, 2020, 11:12:16 pm
I will be going to AGM or Lithium ion when I finish my 88. Used them in almost everything by now and been happy with both.

I had an Optima yellow-top in my car until a few months ago. It got to the point that it didn't have any reserve left. Just sitting for 2-3 weeks, powering nothing but the ECM, would allow it to go flat.

I replaced it with an AGM Duracell battery. We'll see how it goes.

I wanted a sealed battery since it's mounted in the front compartment.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2020, 06:07:30 pm »
Quote from: Raydar on June 17, 2020, 02:28:40 pm
I had an Optima yellow-top in my car until a few months ago. It got to the point that it didn't have any reserve left. Just sitting for 2-3 weeks, powering nothing but the ECM, would allow it to go flat.

I replaced it with an AGM Duracell battery. We'll see how it goes.

I wanted a sealed battery since it's mounted in the front compartment.

These both show as AGM top-mount batteries.  Are they gel batteries?  The Optima appears to be.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2020, 06:08:52 pm »
Quote from: NoMad on June 15, 2020, 11:12:16 pm
I will be going to AGM or Lithium ion when I finish my 88. Used them in almost everything by now and been happy with both.

What is the benefit of Li-On batteries over stock lead-acid?
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Raydar

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #8 on: June 17, 2020, 09:32:06 pm »
Quote from: GTRS Fiero on June 17, 2020, 06:07:30 pm

These both show as AGM top-mount batteries.  Are they gel batteries?  The Optima appears to be.

I never thought the Optima was a gel battery. They're advertised (unless I've had too much kool-aid to drink) as AGM.
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NoMad

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2020, 12:50:56 am »
Quote from: GTRS Fiero on June 17, 2020, 06:08:52 pm
Quote from: NoMad on June 15, 2020, 11:12:16 pm
I will be going to AGM or Lithium ion when I finish my 88. Used them in almost everything by now and been happy with both.

Weight. The last one I put in was less than 1/4 the weight and worked just as well if not better. Lasted about the same amount of time too. More costly though.

What is the benefit of Li-On batteries over stock lead-acid?
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #10 on: June 18, 2020, 12:54:50 am »
So, if leaks, does the same damage?
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Raydar

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #11 on: June 18, 2020, 06:42:29 am »
Quote from: NoMad on June 18, 2020, 12:50:56 am

Weight. The last one I put in was less than 1/4 the weight and worked just as well if not better.

Conversely, the Optima battery was the heaviest freaking battery I have moved in... decades?
I don't remember the Duracell AGM being that heavy.
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TopNotch

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #12 on: June 18, 2020, 09:46:54 am »
This is a lithium-ion jump starter. I have used it to start cars with dead batteries a couple of times. As you can see, it's quite a bit smaller than a 12V lead-acid battery big enough to start a car. It's also quite a bit lighter.

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NoMad

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #13 on: June 18, 2020, 09:48:13 am »
Li-ion are fully sealed batteries. Then can be mounted in any orientation without issues. No leaking. I think AGM are the same but not 100% on that.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Gel battery
« Reply #14 on: June 18, 2020, 05:45:12 pm »
Sounds like what I want.
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