Gel Battery (or teaching an old dog new tricks)

I never owned anything with a Gel Battery before. Tried to start my new diesel generator the other day. I like to run it once a month. It wouldn't crank over fast enough to start. (its a diesel) Pulled the battery out and it said "Gel Battery" on it. Started to hook my old trickle charger on it changed my mind and went to the auto parts to buy a better charger. Man behind the counter said it was a good thing I didn't hook it up cause I could have ruined the battery.
Bought a charger for both acid and gel batterys. Did some research when I got home. So...don't hook a regular battery charger to a gel battery. I'm always suspicious of some one trying to sell me something more expensive but he was right. Saved some money cause those are not cheap batteries. Mabey you can teach an old dog new tricks.

I never knew that either. I don't have any gel batteries, guess I sure won't buy one now.

I have had excellent success with the Deltran Battery Tenders.

I went out to the shop, and found the operators manual for my smallest tender. The only statement it makes about the gel batteries is summed up as followed, word for word, out of the manual:

"When leaving a battery charger connected to either a sealed (AGM or GEL) or non-sealed (flooded battery) for extended periods of time (weeks, months, etc.) periodically check the battery to see if it is unusually warm."

It goes on from there to explain more, but at least my "little" chargers will work OK on the gel batteries.

I just hope you didn't buy a charger you really didn't need. DOUG

I found a number of websites that stated that you will ruin a gel battery by putting it on a regular charger. The cost of the battery dosn't make it worth taking the risk.

Gel Batteries are the only thing in a wheel-chair ... it takes 2

So when they go bad ... hold on to your pants ..they are costly ...
and last may-be 4 or 5 years ..

mark

I have had extensive experience with Gel batteries and can tell you if they are treat.d right will last forever. I used the same bank of Gel Batteries in my 47 foot boat for 12 years. The basic requirement is that you charge them at 13.8 volts and not more. The best primer on batteries that I know of can be found at Westmarine.com, click on annual catalog AND THEN GO TO BATTERIES in the index. They have a whole synopsis on different types of batteries including gel cell, glass mat and flooded. Good learning experience.

If they need to be charged at 13.8V, why is it that they aren't ruined by a 14.7V alternator?

I have a group 30 Gell cell marine battery in one tractor that is 12 years old. Just a regular Delco 10SI alternator on it. By far the longest I have had a battery last.

I have a sealed spill resistant battery from a handicapped scooter that I have used for everything for 5 years. Lawn tractor,camper,fish house, it has been charged with all kinds of chargers with no problem. I assumed this is a gell battery?

heres the deal,i get them in just about every day exploded because folks have installed them in our old equipment with old style chargers.they cant be charged fast for a long time.they need a fast charge to get them started and then either a trickle or pulse charge afterwards.the reason is that they cannot dissipate the heat.this is if they are way down of course,if they are only slightly discharged such as if you just start a engine of some sort and it fires right off ,and alternator charges them up quickly and cuts right back,they work very well.i have one a person changed out in one of my tractors thats ive had for 8 or 9 years,and it was swapped on a regular maintenance schedule so it would have been at least two years old when i brought it home.its still good but if i run it way down i use one of those smart chargers to bring it back up.what i DONT like about it is that it sometimes can take a couple of days to get it really charged good because they charger just takes so long.if you only have a weekend to get something done ,its better to go ahead and swap a battery into it and leave it on charger during the week.what i do like about it is you dont have to worry about corrosion on the terminals caused by acid fumes,from charging.