Battery indicator

mickysf
mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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edited October 2019 in Parts & Accessories #1

You know, that little window on the top of the battery which either shows green, black or white according to the state of the battery. How on earth do they work and are they accurate? Mine are showing green but I haven't a clue!

Comments

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 666 ✭
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    edited October 2019 #2

    Green is good. It shows a battery in good condition and charged. No idea how accurate they are though.

  • S92Driver
    S92Driver Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited October 2019 #3

    I think it's a hygrometer, it displays the specific gravity of the electrolyte and therefor the charge state.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2019 #4
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  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2019 #5
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  • S92Driver
    S92Driver Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited October 2019 #6

    Quiet right hydrometer rather than hygrometer. Auto correct can be fiendish. 👍

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited October 2019 #7

    it only looks at one cell anyway .....

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2019 #8

    So that's a one in six chance of knowing a little of the state of the battery. In my case this indicator is built into the screw top of the cell so can you use it to check the others or does it only fit that one cell?

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2019 #9

    probably true, just replaced my battery after it failed when operating new mover, it was 11 years old, but was still showing bright green, it had 2 windows, in all fairness it was probably still ok to run internal lights etc, just not up to operating the mover. It was one of those sealed type so no chance of checking individual cells with the hydrometer.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2019 #10

    If you want to keep an eye on the state of a battery, especially for off grid use, you are better off fitting a good battery meter.

    Nasa Marine sell a range of these

    peedee

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited October 2019 #11

    The only sensible thing you can do with a battery is to monitor its voltage when on EHU and when stand-alone. I researched battery monitors for our golf club professional and wasn’t convinced by any of them. The best way to check if a battery is performing is to put a load on it and see how long before the lights go dim.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2019 #12

    Hitch, I fitted Nasa's BM1 in my motorhome and like to be able to look at actual voltage, charge and discharge currents as well as have an estimate of how much charge is remaining.

    peedee

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