Reply To: Battery Question

[Don]

Well, a faulty powerpack is not related to battery voltage or the charging system/battery….
And, it looks like this engine uses the simple charging system with the simple rectifier….I really don’t think the sealed battery caused a failed rectifier diode either. Diodes usually fail when the battery is accidentally connected backwards (even for just a second), or there is a loose connection….
The problem with the sealed battery is that the charging system is unregulated, so it will keep charging whether the battery needs it or not….This usually results in battery acid steaming out of the battery which is no problem on a conventional battery, simply refill the cells. You can’t add water to a sealed battery. On the other hand, the output is only 6amps, so overcharging seems unlikely unless you have no other accessories running off the battery.
If you choose to keep using the sealed battery, it might be a good idea to hook up a temporary voltmeter to the battery, just to see if it is being “overcharged”…..A defective battery can get overcharged, whether sealed or refillable, I have seen them explode also, even on the 6 amp system….