6V Gelcell batteries

I got a real dumb question to ask. In the last 2 years (approx) that I've been using these batteries, a full charge varies from 6.4 to 6.7 volts after about 17 hrs of charging if they have been stored for a few months. I usually get about 6 to 8 hours use per battery (not continuous use). Work about 3 hrs, switch off and start again later kind of thing.

Now I did find something here on this site about the max voltage they will take but can't find it again. is 6.4 to 6.7 about average ?

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6v 12Ah gel cell were the standard type of battery with the GP machines. When these batterys are new you should get 10 to 12 hours from a fully charged one. Once the battery drops to about 5.8v the detector will beep & squeal and probably turn off.

A 6v battery is its flat rating not its charged rating, that goes for any battery, its rating is its flat rating not its charged rating.

When a new one is taken of the charger the volts would read 6.8v and then settle to around 6.4v after a short while.

cheers dave

Wish I new more about volts & amps but I'm a dinosaur when it comes to this stuff. Got 5 batteries (if I count the dead one), if they batteries are supposed to be 12A/H, when new I should get sufficient hours of use out of them before dying. But of my four, only one is new. The other came with the detectors, age unknown. So would 6 to 8 hrs use sound about right ?
Tend to switch them on and off a bit during the day.

cheers
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G'day Bullet

Check on the side of the new one, it should have something like 12Ah (stands for 12 Amp Hours) or 6Ah or something like that.

As the detector will use aprox 0.8Ah so a good 6Ah battery should give about 7.5 hour of use and a 12Ah should give about 15 hour of use

With what you say is 6 to 8 hour of use ok, it depends on whether the battery is a 6Ah or a 12Ah

cheers dave

Hi Dave,

Thanks for this info. All the batteries have 12A/H on them,(the dead on is 10A/H). I really don't know how old 3 of the batteries are but it sounds like they may be ending their working life. They do a job but I'm starting to think it's time to do the DIY jaycar option that I've seen mentioned on here.

thanks again
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G'day Bullet, something to think about with those old bricks, the 12v car charger is the best one to use,
they will normally charge to 7.3v. When you take the battery off the charger the voltage will drop to what
davsgold said ( 6.4v- 6.8v). The 240 charger will only charge to about 6.8v and will never charge the battery fully.

G'day Inhere,

That's interesting. any idea what sort of a charge job a 1KVA generator will do with charging (been told the gennie will do the job, that's to be seen). Only running one vehicle battery, don't really trust the so called "safety" cut off to save ya car battery with the 12v chargers and haven't used them with these batteries.
I know from years ago, a gennie wouldn't charge the bat packs for a XT17000, had to use the 12V charger but they flattened the vehicle battery and it was hard work push startin the old tojo in the scrub.

I hoping the 4 batteries I've got should last 3-4 days, I don't work them all day long.

Thanks for all the info guys.

cheers

G'day Bullet

If your gona use the genny then take a 240v battery charger with you and use it from the genny to the battery. The 12v side of the genny will cook the battery if you leave on to long as its not a regulated 12v supply.

cheers dave

Thanks for the warning. Taking the 240 & 12V chargers with me and I've now got my doubts about using the gen to charge. At $75 for new gelcells, unless I try the DIY, I think we should take a chance with the 12V and push hard if the vehicle battery dies.

cheers
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"I better start pumping the weights for the vehicle pushin bit"

M8 I ment take a 240v battery charger for the car battery, that way you can run that of the genny if you get in trouble with a flat car battery.

cheers dave

How dumb can I get. Here I am thinking of the gelcell chargers and didn't even think of taking one of the other with me.

I think the "smiley" looks good enough to match my stupidity.

No worries m8, have a good trip, enjoy yourself and find some gold.

cheers dave

GDAY BULLET

or get yourself a 1200 amp jump starter kit with two ciggie out lets charge your tectors of that while its plugged into your car ciggie outlet

when you get to your destination your tector batteries are charged and you got a back up power source for your car also it will run your 60 litre engel for 10 hours keepin BEER COLD

just a thought m8

good srcatchin

cheers the speciman

Gday Bullet,
Do yourself a favour and get your hands on a Coiltek Voltage regulated system. Second hand they are pretty cheap. These run off a 12vlt AGM ( the batteries you have are absorbed glass matt,not gel) and will give you outstanding preformance compared to your old 6 volts batteries.
The added bonus is you will be running at FULL POWER all day and not just for a couple of hrs as you would using a 6 vlt battery. From memory,the Coiltek system regulates the voltage down to 6.7 vlts for the GP extreme,GP 3000 or the GP 3500.

Hi guys,
Thanks for all the advice. It's much appreciated. Think I'll charge with 12V cig lighter chargers and let the gen work on the car battery if it has to. The coiltek option looks good for when the gels bite the dust. They are weighty and I'm gettin old.

Cheers to all
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