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Re: Gell Batteries

 
I have had experience of a Gell electrolyte battery, an Exide Torque
Starter (bought in UK 1990).                    They are good in many
respects, orientation is not a problem and they do have huge current
capacities. They have one problem though, you MUST NOT fast charge them
if they are flat. What happened to me was that I left the lights on all
night, in the morning it was flat, just able to turn the engine. So I 
push started it, and everything seemed OK, but the battery never held
charge again. The correct procedure is to trickle charge them for a few
days to get them up and running again. I remember now a Verbal warning
to this effect when i bought the battery, but nothing in writing.
A cars electrical system will happily put 10-20 amps thru a discharged
battery, which a normal lead-acid is happy with, as I found out to my
cost the gell ones aren't.  So, as long as you are careful, they are
great, but a fast charge kills them and is not covered by a UK warranty.

Dave Lacey

72 2002
67 Triumph TR4A