Trojan T-605 Question (T-105)

[CARVAL Motorsports]

My coach batteries appear to be toast. I have an opportunity to buy some T-605 from local classifieds that are two years old for a good price. From what I see, the 605 as slightly less in @25amp minutes, 383 to 447, they are the same in dimension. When asked about condition, seller said they were load tested and appear to be fine. Opinions needed here, and also if there are any better ways to check condition. I believe these are coming from a golf CC (club). Six for $220. I would have some spares!! Help

[M&EM]

Carl,
I did a similar purchase 4 years ago when I bought 4 T105 from a local Trojan distributor here in Phoenix. I was charged $25 each for 2 year old batteries removed from local golf resort golf carts that were under contract with this distributor for new batteries every 2 years. Before he would release the batteries to me, he needed several days to charge and test and assess equality of the set. All came from a same date code group and are still in use in my coach. I went this route because I was adding for a total of 6 batteries and wanted all to be about same age. Of course the price was right too.

On a yearly basis I check the batteries using my microwave oven as a load while operating off of my inverter.
In preparation, check water and adjust, then fully charge the total battery pack(6 batt. in parallel). Let them sit a day then run an equalization cycle. This may last more then 8 hours. Near the end of the equalization and while it is still passing a charge current, I check voltage with DVM of each 6 volt battery. They should all read within 20mv.

Top off the water in each cell

I now use the microwave oven to heat several qts. of water to boiling. I repeat this process many times. This puts a 150 amp load on my total battery pack. Or 50amps from each of the 3 banks. I repeat this with more cold water until I come close to the 50% discharge level of the amp hours of the total battery pack. (About 2 hours worth of water heating). While the last load cycle is still running I use a DVM to check voltage across each 6 volt battery. They usually measure within 10-20 mv under load. If every thing is ok, I let the batteries sit for several hours with no load. Check the state of charge voltage and see how close it falls to the 50% SOC at the current ambient temp.

Marty

[MikeandClaudia]

F.Y.I. --

You can get a 100 amp load tester at Harbor Freight

for less than $ 20.00.