[T3] Voltage

[Jim Adney]

On 30 Nov 2010 at 9:53, Adriel Rowley wrote:

> > From: jadney at vwtype3.org

> > On 29 Nov 2010 at 21:29, Adriel Rowley wrote:
> >
> > > What is fully charged, 13.5 volts?
> >
> > Fully charged has very little to do with voltage, but if it will go
> > over 14 V with less than 0.5 A of charging current then it is
> > probably at least close to being fully charged.
> >
> That is about the amperage of my solar trickle charger.  Any other way to tell?

Measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte. If you can open the cells and 
look down at the plates, look at the color of the plates. Ignore the paper 
separators, which are usually tan colored. Fully charged plates will be half 
grey and half dark brown. Discharged plates will be all grey. To charge the 
battery that's been discharged for a long time, charge at a slow rate for a 
week or 2, until half the plates have turned fully brown. During this time, 
don't let the voltage exceed 14.4 V.

> > If it has been discharged for a long time, it may take 0.1 A for a
> > week or 2 to get it back to normal again. Charging it faster than
> > that is often counterproductive.
> >
> So then, why did you say at one point to use 2amps?

Wasn't aware that I did. I may have referred to the 2 A setting on my charger, 
which actually settles down to 50-100 mA as the battery gets to full charge.

> P.S. Are you going to trade caliper cores?  I am trying to make a plan. ;)

I have lots of early cores, but few late cores, so I'm not interesting in 
trading your unknown early cores for good late cores. Sorry.

Does your '71 have the late calipers? Most don't.

-- 
Jim Adney
jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, WI USA