Charging issues, need help

[mikesmiph]

Being a plumber, I know nothing of this stuff. I need help bad, and soon. Try to make this short. Got the the lake, went to use the t-motor, it would hardly turn. 24v Fortrex. checked the batteries, one dead. Next day, I plugged in the charger, it showed still the one battery with no power, even with the charger going. I figured it was a bad bank on the charger. I switched the leads from the charger. It still showed the SAME battery with 12 volts. On a whim, I checked the start battery, it showed dead. But everything works, and it starts fine. I bought a new 3 bank charger last night, just afraid to open it, in case its not the charger. Is it my tester? Why wont the one battery charge? I just replaced one battery, now I'm not so sure it was bad. I'm really lost here. If anyone can help, I'll be out at the boat trying to figure this out most of the day. My number is 810-394-1820. Thanks

[bob o]

check the fuse in the charger

[dartag]

you should have 12.5 or higher on each battery.  When you plug in the charger it should go up.  Mine shuts off at 15 volts.  As a last resort you can charge the batteries seperate with a regular charger. 

[Waterfoul]

Mike, you can give me a call today until 3:00 or so.  It sounds like a bad charger to me... you can check the charger output with a voltmeter.  Should read about 15 volts at the leads.

No way those batteries are bad yet.  You can always take them to an Autozone and they can load test them though.  You know I'll stand behind them too.

Mike  616-954-9822

[mikesmiph]

ok so far. Bob is a genius. The old charger had a fuse broke off inside it. To save time, seeing how I had it anyway, I put in the new charger. Plugged it in and the charging bar lit up. Checked at each battery and still nothing at two of them. Half a charge on one. Nothing at the t-motor. I dont know what I'm doing wrong. I sure wish I didnt live so far from everyone. Mike, I tried to call, you were busy. I'll have them put me on hold next time. I know you'll stand by the batteries. I dont think they are the issue here. Thanks for all the help so far guys. I think I'm getting closer to a fix. Dont you guys work? LOL

[Cy]

Mike,

Not sure what kind of batteries you have but it would be a good idea if possible to take the caps of the battery and check the water levels.  If they are low, below the cells, add distilled water, if they are empty get new batteries.  If your charger was over charging it might have boiled them dry.  If they have water in them I would consider a hydrometer test, it will test the amount of electrolyte in each cell.  If you have a bad cell then the battery will never take a charge.  The only way to find out if you have a bad cell is with a hydrometer.  It would so be a good idea to put each battery on a regular battery charger with a gauge on it.  That way you can tell if the battery is taking a charge and how many amps it's drawing if at all.  Also some automatic chargers, like mine, won't even start charging unless the battery has at least 4 or 5 volts, where a regular charger will charge with 0 volts.

Good Luck Mike.