In a 36V system with 6V batteries, can dead cells in one battery damage others? Should I replace one or all?
Might Wonder asked:
I know that in a diesel truck(2 batt syst.), both batteries must be good or they will only charge to the ability of the poorest battery. That seems to be the case with a commercial floor scrubber I’m working on. The SG of the cells range from poor to 1.275. Two batteries have dead cells while some batteries are “fair” or a little better. If I don’t change them all, will it have any ill effects on the new batteries?
I know that in a diesel truck(2 batt syst.), both batteries must be good or they will only charge to the ability of the poorest battery. That seems to be the case with a commercial floor scrubber I’m working on. The SG of the cells range from poor to 1.275. Two batteries have dead cells while some batteries are “fair” or a little better. If I don’t change them all, will it have any ill effects on the new batteries?
JUST LOAD TEST THEM INDIVIDUALLY,REPLACE THE BAD ONE ONLY,BUT REPLACING THEM ALL WOULNT HURT EITHER.
So my assumption is that we are talking about wet, vented, lead acid batteries. Under charge conditions different capacities of batteries/cells will result in increased gasing/venting of the bad cells. Subjecting the same scenario into discharge will result in some cells being depleted before others and even resulting in polarity reversal and further damaging the cell. Replacing only the bad cells/batteries will again cause a capacity difference since the old ones are aged and weaker. Depending on charge method and level of discharge the older ones may now be subjected to higher gasing and deep discharge making them age quicker. This speaks for replacing them all. If you know or have control over your charge/discharge rate you can keep the old ones. The level of capacity imbalance plays more in favor of the new cells. I mostly work with Ni-Mh & Ni-Cd so differences may apply. A excellent site with tons battery info is.