Tour of my server room, and lead acid battery maintenance - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2019, 03:50:43 am
content: Kinda new at vlogging but been trying to get more into it as I think of interesting stuff to make videos about and hoping to grow my channel more.Made this one a while back, tour of my server room:Also another video of me doing lead acid battery maintenance, and basic post mortom of a dead one:Some stuff in the server room might be "how you doing" but the idea here is as I improve stuff I can make more videos of progress.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2019, 02:23:52 am
content: If you're going through so much water and having shorted cells, that probably means the charging voltage is a bit on the high side.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2019, 02:51:41 am
content: I think it's within ballpark, it's 13.5v. I unfortunately can't change it even if it was off. But I do wonder why it's happening so much as it is my 3rd one to die now.I'm thinking if I could control the voltage I would set it to like 13.3 or something like that though. Then do an equalize charge once a month.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2019, 11:34:24 am
content: What water are you using?

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2019, 03:00:56 pm
content: 13.5 volts is just right for a flooded cell at a temperature of 25C. A lower voltage risks sulfation. A higher voltage risks corrosion and excess water loss.But the higher topping or equalizing charge voltage serves another purpose. If a flooded battery sits in a calm environment with no vibration, the electrolyte can stratify. Oxygen and hydrogen bubbles formed during the topping charge serve to stir the electrolyte and prevent this. Maybe this is what is happening?

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2019, 03:43:57 pm
content: I remember reading that for lead acid, the best way to float charge them is actually to hold it at about 12.8V to prevent it from discharging, but regularly bring it up to 14.4V so it doesn't sulfate. It ends up similar to how car batteries are used in practice and those generally last pretty well even in very adverse environmental conditions.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2019, 04:02:50 pm
content: For static applications it is called an equalizing charge and it is done once per month or on some other time schedule.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2019, 05:19:11 pm
content: Actually now that I think of it sulfation may be my issue. It's usually around 15-20C in that room so it would probably call for a slightly higher float voltage. Though if I could do an equalize that would work too. Unfortunately I have no control over any of that. I can sort of force one by turning power off and back on, as the charger goes into a bulk charge mode. I do want to upgrade to a 48v system using rectifiers and inverters eventually, but rectifiers are very hard to find. I check ebay now and then, I typically only find the individual modules but need the chassis too with controller. I'll probably end up designing my own at some point when I'm deeper into electronics. Don't imagine it's too complex it's basically a SMPS with some controls.As for water I use distilled water.