On Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:46:13 GMT, "Carl Byrns"
wrote:


clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:18:33 GMT, "Carl Byrns"

Any battery that will run a thruster on a bass boat, or start an
engine, WILL take a 6 amp charge without danger. 2 amp for finishing,
perhaps.

I respectfully disagree- charging rate is a function of capacity in amp
hours (the rule of thumb is charge at 1/10 capacity for flooded lead-acid
cells). Smaller batteries (like garden tractor or motorcycle) will start an
engine, but a 6 amp rate might be too much.

-Carl


Gotta define your "might"

The battery will only take 6 (or 10) amps when sufficiently discharged
and will taper off according to the VOLTAGE supplied.
Sustained charge rates should not excede C/8 on most flooded acid
cells - meaning 6 amps is safe for any battery over 48 AH in capacity.
You can bet any thruster battery will be WELL in excess of 48AH, as
will virtually any starter battery.
It is the charging VOLTAGE that is critical (after the initial "bulk
charge")

A charger with no voltage control could conceivably overcharge a small
battery, even if it is only a 2 amp charger

However,

16AH Honda Goldwing 1200 battery (Odessy PC680MJ)is 220 CCA, 680 amps
for 5 seccond pulse, and has cyclic charge voltage spec 14.6 to 15
volts with NO CURRENT LIMIT.

Then again, my Genesis EP batteries (starved electrolyte) are 26 AH
and specify 14.7 to 15 volt cyclic charging rate, with - get this- NO
CURRENT LIMIT. At up to 15 volts it is IMPOSSIBLE to overcharge this
battery. Float charge voltage is 13.5 to 13.8 volts - and again NO
CURRENT LIMIT.

No difference in spec from 13ah to over 200ah on these batteries.
Funny, eh???

95% charge efficiency too - better than most.

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