Gassing & Bubbling in new Trojans

[VEXING]

I just bought a 2012 RXV with 2021 Trojan T-1275 batteries. I noticed yesterday that I'm not hearing that gassing/bubbling sound from the batteries like I use to on my old TXT that I just sold that had 5 year old Trojans. When my TXT was just sitting in the garage you could hear it without even lifting up the seat. Should I be concerned? Or is this a new battery thing?

[basshawk84]

The gassing gets worse as batteries age.

[VEXING]

Makes sense. I just haven't heard a peep out of these new ones yet.

[JohnnieB]

Gassing is also influenced by the charger being used, or charging profile selected with programmable chargers.

Gassing is the water in the electrolyte breaking down into its base elements, hydrogen and oxygen through a process known as electrolysis., which occurs whenever and electrical current is passed through hydrogen-hydroxide (water), so it occurs throughout the battery charging cycle.

However, it is strongest when the on-charge voltage is in the 2.35VPC to 2.45VPC (Volts per Cell) range, which translates to the 56.4V to 58.8V on-charge range for a 48V pack.

Roughly 90% of battery charging occurs before the on-charge voltage climbs into the gassing range and the on-charge voltage during the last 5%, or so, of the charge (finish charge phase) is typically above the gassing voltage range.

Percent of charge is not directly tied to elapsed time of charging and new batteries pass through the gassing voltage range quicker than older batteries, so newer batteries tend to be quieter while being charged than older batteries.

Some charge profiles are designed to minimize gassing and there are substances that can be added to batteries to reduce gassing, or at least the noises caused by gassing.

The more the batteries gas, the more water they consume, so check the fluid levels more often when the batteries gas a lot.

[Bama Brad]

Also keep those new batteries charged...used 5 minute or 5 hours, put back on charge.

[VEXING]

Thanks, guys. Good info and good to know. Just got a new charger yesterday. The old generic charger it came with said it was fully charged. As soon as I plugged in the new one it took over an hour to display fully charged. Goes to show the importance of picking a good charger I guess.

[Alex D]

Originally Posted by basshawk84

The gassing gets worse as batteries age.

Yup ... just like with people!

Seriously though ... I swear by my BatteryMINDer 483CEC1 48V 3 AMP Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator . I have this one for the golf cart and two for cars in 12 Volt. When the golf cart charger is done I hook this bad boy up to maintain the batteries. Extends life of the set by a year.