Charging battery killed it?

[nautique]

I have a smaller (20Ah 16CL-B) flooded cell battery for a jet ski that seemingly died after being charged.

I pulled the battery out of my basement this spring to put in the jet ski and did an initial top up (about 4 hours) after the long winter. Battery charged up great and jet ski started fine. The jet ski then sat for 5-6 weeks, and I figured I'd top up the battery again to be sure before going on a trip. Hooked it up to my Noco charger/maintainer and let it go for a few days before we left. The charger said it was fully charged and good to go. To my surprise it wouldn't even crank the engine anymore. Put a meter on it and it read 12.5 volts resting, but as soon as I tried to start the engine the voltage would tank to 5-6v.

I am at a loss honestly. The battery isn't that old, 3-4 years. Always taken inside in the winter as well. I am a little lost as to how it could go from working fine to a literal lead weight in 5-6 weeks. The acid is at the correct level, the plates appear fine. I am getting a little tied of buying new batteries all the time. I just seem to be having bad luck with batteries in all my toys.

Any thoughts or ideas to prevent something like this in the future? Any way I can possible recover the battery?

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

It was probably on its way out 5 to 6 weeks ago. Probably self discharged over 3 to 4 weeks and this final deep discharge killed it. 3 to 4 years out of OPE or recreational vehicle batteries is good, move on. Better to find out now vice in the water.

 

[spasm3]

The 12.5 was just a surface charge, battery is toast.

 

[nautique]

It was probably on its way out 5 to 6 weeks ago. Probably self discharged over 3 to 4 weeks and this final deep discharge killed it. 3 to 4 years out of OPE or recreational vehicle batteries is good, move on. Better to find out now vice in the water.

What final discharge? That is what I am a loss over.

Charged it up, worked fine for a week, sat unused for 5-6 weeks, charged up again and the very next day it didn't even crank an engine? Seems like the charger killed it to me.

If it was failing, I'd expect it to at least turn it over a few times and die if it was directly off a charger?

I did find out, at the boat ramp too.

 

[Rmay635703]

Bad interconnect inside the battery or a broken plate

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

What final discharge? That is what I am a loss over.

Charged it up, worked fine for a week, sat unused for 5-6 weeks, charged up again and the very next day it didn't even crank an engine? Seems like the charger killed it to me.

If it was failing, I'd expect it to at least turn it over a few times and die if it was directly off a charger?

I did find out, at the boat ramp too.

It probably self discharges at a quick rate, typical of a failing battery. For example, my 7 yr old generator battery completely discharges in 6 months. It is on its way out and has gotten worse each time I don't keep it on a trickle charger or run it monthly.

 

[nautique]

It probably self discharges at a quick rate, typical of a failing battery. For example, my 7 yr old generator battery completely discharges in 6 months. It is on its way out and has gotten worse each time I don't keep it on a trickle charger or run it monthly.

Yeah, I am sure you're right. I am just in denial.

I am just getting tired of forking over $100-$200 bucks in batteries every year. The jet ski itself is only worth a few hundred bucks!

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Bad interconnect inside the battery or a broken plate

This. It happened to my Ford Escort wagon years ago with no warning. The battery worked fine the previous day, but in the morning it would operate only the lights and accessories such as the stereo. The starter only clicked. Managed to jump-start the car and limp to an auto parts store on the alternator to get another battery, which fixed the problem. I lived in the sticks and had little other choice.

 

[Rmay635703]

Yeah, I am sure you're right. I am just in denial.

I am just getting tired of forking over $100-$200 bucks in batteries every year. The jet ski itself is only worth a few hundred bucks!

I have a 40 amp engine start device, I use it to perpetually start small gas devices with bad batteries, on the rider I just don’t shut it off until I am parked.

My battery is a 5 year old $19.99 Walmart special

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

Yeah, I am sure you're right. I am just in denial.

I am just getting tired of forking over $100-$200 bucks in batteries every year. The jet ski itself is only worth a few hundred bucks!

I hear ya. I'd pay attention to the date code on the next battery and keep it on a trickle charger when not in use. That should get car like lifespans for you.

 

[nautique]

I hear ya. I'd pay attention to the date code on the next battery and keep it on a trickle charger when not in use. That should get car like lifespans for you.

The last few I've gotten (Interstate and NAPA) came unfilled. I assume they do that so the date doesn't really matter. I had to fill them with the provided acid and put them on a charger for a day or so before the initial use. I did just look at the stamped date on the one that failed and it said 2009, but I know it is not that old. I didn't even buy the jet ski until 2017...

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

The last few I've gotten (Interstate and NAPA) came unfilled. I assume they do that so the date doesn't really matter. I had to fill them with the provided acid and put them on a charger for a day or so before the initial use. I did just look at the stamped date on the one that failed and it said 2009, but I know it is not that old. I didn't even buy the jet ski until 2017...

Unfilled should be a non issue then.

 

[Warstud]

Is this a car or marine battery ?

 

[Chris142]

Those little motorcycle batteries are lucky to last 2 years. You got 4.