coachgeo
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pulled my post out of another thread so not to hijack the one on two batteries.
some background..... Thought my alternator was going/went out... but I was stuck ... I HAVE to drive truck everyday right now to get to work and weather/health is forcing me to not be able to lift and get under cab for further diagnosis.. Truck is all I got. So have been charging batts in morning then.... driving to a fro work in evening..... wash, rinse, repeat. Been that way for almost a month now. Last week tried something different (a short desulfating) and now realized it looked like mayyyyyybe desulfating was helping. So here is my report on desulfating
___________
(response to Ronmar who mentioned he had not seen much evidence pulse worked... beside if you just keep batts fully charged such as with solar during the day.. this makes de-sulfating unnecessary)
Had concluded week ago that do have a battery problem (they are 5yrs old) and the 12v side is suffering (normal problem with these trucks) Symptom was dash volt meter to show low volts (22-24v instead of 26-28v)... I assumed at first this was alt. not working. Low Battery on 12v side issue has been the only consistent thing was seeing. My conclusion at first was Alt not charging thus I was charging batts every day prior to leaving for work.
Took chance and used my chargers de-sulfate repair setting on 12v draw side of batts.... all the sudden my alternator started acting better.... at first I assumed though it was something else. ... and skipped doing another short desulfate cycle .... resulting in it went back to low dash reading as before hmmmm... So what the hell, tried once again the desulfate...... and once again dash showed higher volts/better alt. levels. hmmmm..... Today was another day after using pulse repair... again it showed battery volts/ alt output at dash volt meter to be much better. .... aka.... pattern is repeating??
Previously over last 3+ weeks with just charging and NO desulfating.... the dash meter never got to over 24v even if I charged all batts fully (fully= judging by hand held volt meter AT battery and charger's "% charge digital indicator"). Also during that period.. once got home after work; pattern was the night driving had pulled the 12v side down to approx 60% charge.. while the 24v side pair of batts by the chassis would be 98%? charge.
Pattern now is... after doing a short desulfate cycle; two different times; now my alt./dash reading is creeping up back to normalcy after about 15min. of driving/alt. charging on the way to work. 30 min drive... so that makes it 15 build up.... 15min normal alt charging judging by dash meter. Yesterday and again today; after 4 hours of truck sitting at work... then driving back home 30min.. Alt./volt dash meter showed a typical good volts/alt output in about 5 min of driving. and at home next day the 12v side is showing approx 95% charge and 24v side 100%.
So am thinking improvement by desulfating appears to be happening and that 12v side is not fully up to snuff yet (and may never get there on these old batts). Only other variable that has happened is it has gotten warmer and less rain.
Will do a longer de-sulfate period tomorrow and hopefully things improve even more. If so... this strengthens the potential that pulse desulfating may be doing something.
some background..... Thought my alternator was going/went out... but I was stuck ... I HAVE to drive truck everyday right now to get to work and weather/health is forcing me to not be able to lift and get under cab for further diagnosis.. Truck is all I got. So have been charging batts in morning then.... driving to a fro work in evening..... wash, rinse, repeat. Been that way for almost a month now. Last week tried something different (a short desulfating) and now realized it looked like mayyyyyybe desulfating was helping. So here is my report on desulfating
___________
(response to Ronmar who mentioned he had not seen much evidence pulse worked... beside if you just keep batts fully charged such as with solar during the day.. this makes de-sulfating unnecessary)
Today, now it is more clear; cause a pattern is now consistently happening that appears to show if your batts are little off... desulfating might helpAgree (Ron)..... the pulse system in reality works best IMHO in associaton with maintaining 100% charge..... by increasing odds; a smidge more, that max amount of sulfur is kept from adhering to the plates; but that is even debated. For a few extra bucks.. with a build your own (solar charge system that includes inexpensive pulse/desulfate device) it is worth the try though. ......
Had concluded week ago that do have a battery problem (they are 5yrs old) and the 12v side is suffering (normal problem with these trucks) Symptom was dash volt meter to show low volts (22-24v instead of 26-28v)... I assumed at first this was alt. not working. Low Battery on 12v side issue has been the only consistent thing was seeing. My conclusion at first was Alt not charging thus I was charging batts every day prior to leaving for work.
Took chance and used my chargers de-sulfate repair setting on 12v draw side of batts.... all the sudden my alternator started acting better.... at first I assumed though it was something else. ... and skipped doing another short desulfate cycle .... resulting in it went back to low dash reading as before hmmmm... So what the hell, tried once again the desulfate...... and once again dash showed higher volts/better alt. levels. hmmmm..... Today was another day after using pulse repair... again it showed battery volts/ alt output at dash volt meter to be much better. .... aka.... pattern is repeating??
Previously over last 3+ weeks with just charging and NO desulfating.... the dash meter never got to over 24v even if I charged all batts fully (fully= judging by hand held volt meter AT battery and charger's "% charge digital indicator"). Also during that period.. once got home after work; pattern was the night driving had pulled the 12v side down to approx 60% charge.. while the 24v side pair of batts by the chassis would be 98%? charge.
Pattern now is... after doing a short desulfate cycle; two different times; now my alt./dash reading is creeping up back to normalcy after about 15min. of driving/alt. charging on the way to work. 30 min drive... so that makes it 15 build up.... 15min normal alt charging judging by dash meter. Yesterday and again today; after 4 hours of truck sitting at work... then driving back home 30min.. Alt./volt dash meter showed a typical good volts/alt output in about 5 min of driving. and at home next day the 12v side is showing approx 95% charge and 24v side 100%.
So am thinking improvement by desulfating appears to be happening and that 12v side is not fully up to snuff yet (and may never get there on these old batts). Only other variable that has happened is it has gotten warmer and less rain.
Will do a longer de-sulfate period tomorrow and hopefully things improve even more. If so... this strengthens the potential that pulse desulfating may be doing something.
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