Recondition your battery by slow charging it.
Deep cell batteries, more commonly referred to as deep-cycle batteries, are used to operate electrical equipment when a constant voltage is required, even if the battery is nearly discharged. Examples include electric wheelchairs and golf carts. Most deep-cycle batteries are flooded cell, meaning each cell contains electrolyte fluid. Reconditioning a rechargeable deep-cycle battery involves refreshing the fluid and initiating a slow but deep recharge.
Instructions
1. Put on a pair of gloves to protect your hands in case you accidentally get electrolyte splashed on them. Electrolyte fluid is mainly sulfuric acid and burns clothing and skin.
2. Unscrew and remove the plastic cell caps on your deep-cycle battery. Some are knurled caps so use your fingers to remove them. If the caps have screwdriver slots, use a screwdriver.
3. Look into the cells when the caps are removed. Start left to right. The electrolyte fluid level needs to reach the maximum marker on the cell wall.
4. Pour distilled water into the deep-cycle battery cells up to the maximum marker. The water will mix with the existing fluid. Once you start to charge your battery a chemical reaction takes place, changing and strengthening the electrolyte fluid, which reconditions the cells.
5. Replace the caps but leave them loose so they are not sealed. This allows air to escape when you're charging the battery because the fluid warms up and expands. Air needs to escape to stop the pressure from building up.
6. Connect the charger to your deep-cycle battery. Attach the red and black battery cables from the charger to the "+" and "-" deep-cycle battery terminals, respectively. The cables have spring-loaded clamps on the ends. Squeeze the handle using your hand, then place the jaws over the terminal and release the pressure.
7. Set a slow charge rate on your battery charger (it's probably called "trickle charge"). Slow charging reconditions the cells and helps dissolve any sulfation that has occurred in them. It also helps the chemical balance, meaning your battery cells can retain a greater charge.
8. Turn on your battery charger. Check the charge rate on the charger to ensure it's charging slowly. Let your deep-cycle battery charge uninterrupted for 36 hours.
9. Turn off the charger. Remove the clamps from the battery terminals. Tighten the caps on the battery cells using your fingers or a screwdriver as appropriate.
Tags: deep-cycle battery, your battery, battery cells, your deep-cycle, your deep-cycle battery, battery charger