Killing Batteries
There are many ways to kill batteries ...even very expensive
batteries. Below are a few ways to treat batteries ...NOT!
- Overcharge the battery by applying a voltage above 13.8 Volts
for extended period
- Undercharge the battery by never charging it beyond 13.8 Volts.
- Discharge the battery and leave it that way for a few days
or weeks.
- Let the battery sit unattended without charging for 3
weeks or longer.
- Repeatedly discharge the battery beyond the optimum 50%.
- Slosh the battery around when it is deeply discharged.
- Boil enough electrolyte from the battery that the plates
are exposed to air.
- Periodically add more acid, or unpure water.
- Use a ferroresonant charger in a liveaboard situation.
- Sock the battery with a high output alternator that produces
more than 40% of the Ah capacity of the battery.
- Mount the battery where it regularly gets above
F.
- Charge it hot until you can't even touch the case anymore.
- Use a big inverter on a small battery and run the inverter
until it cuts out from low voltage.
- Freeze the battery in a discharged state.
- Use a starter battery in a deep cycle application.
