Is my battery minder working correctly?

D

DTAM

Joined
Feb 26, 2013
Messages
38
Location
CA
Based on the some positive experience of reversing agm deterioration documented here, I jumped on the bandwagon. Bought a 2012agm to hopefully preserve my agm collection.

24F X2 in service since 12/23
35 X2 in service since 12/24
35 Odyssey performance in service since 8/24

The 24F has been showing high 500cca with the Ancel BA101. Resistance is in the mid 4s.

Decided to start the 24F on the battery minder. After 24 hours here's the graph from the Ancel BM200. Does this look correct? I assumed with the desulfation algorithm there should be more voltage variance?

Screenshot_20251223_230555_ANCEL BM200.webp
 
Looks like the battery was full, it is holding it at a float charge now. The float should be temperature compensated and change a bit, can’t tell if that’s happening.
 
Yes it was at 14.8 for about 3 hours before dropping to 13.3v. So it may have took in 4-5ah. Before flipping to float.

However I thought even in float stage there's always a desulfation algorithm. Assumed the desulfation should show some spikes and dips instead of a steady 13.3v.

Temps are pretty stable in the high 50s/low 60s
 
Battery Minder is supposed to be always in desulfation mode. But from what I see this is no different than me hooking up a DC power supply and keeping it at a steady 13.3v.

Need some assurances I didn't waste $110 on something I can already accomplish on my own manually.
 
DTAM said:
Battery Minder is supposed to be always in desulfation mode. But from what I see this is no different than me hooking up a DC power supply and keeping it at a steady 13.3v.

Need some assurances I didn't waste $110 on something I can already accomplish on my own manually.
Click to expand...
You should email BatteryMinder technical support. They are pretty good about responding. I think they use high frequency pulses. But thats from memory. Ask them.
 
2x HF pulses. I've not the time to be playing around with the multitude of batteries I have doing home remedy trials hence using BM to hook up and forget. I've got 9 in play currently with several over 10 yr. old batteries still testing good.
 
DTAM said:
Battery Minder is supposed to be always in desulfation mode. But from what I see this is no different than me hooking up a DC power supply and keeping it at a steady 13.3v.

Need some assurances I didn't waste $110 on something I can already accomplish on my own manually.
Click to expand...
What you are seeing is normal operation. You cannot see the pulses they use during charging and float on your battery monitor.
2012 AGM model shown today on my Ferrari. (Costco Interstate H6 AGM about 4.5 years old)

With an AC Delco H8 AGM (made in Germany by Varta) was showing some decline on an Ancel BA101 at about 5 years old. I started plugging in the Battery Minder 128CEC2 on 2 amp setting each evening and I saw improvement in testing every two weeks until about 7 weeks time. The CCA went up a bit over 120 over that time. Battery is currently 6.5 years old and I still plug it in a couple times per week. Tests right at its rated 900 CCA, which seems quite good at this age. During the first four years of use it would test over 1000CCA.

The improvement is gentle and takes time. You will not see it overnight. That is why I now own four of them, as well as others like Pulse Tech, Pro Logix and Battery Saver. All of these brands appear to say the same thing, that continuous use is required to see the desulfation improvements. I think to do it in a shorter amount of time would require higher, steady voltages which would require disconnecting the battery from the car to prevent damage to the electronics.

gtt.webp
 
Last edited:
DTAM said:
Rated 840 CCA. Testing in the mid 500s with the BA101.
Click to expand...
Set up the ring connectors on your car so you can easily plug in each night for a couple months and see if there is any improvement. Opening the hood constantly will get monotonous and will accelerate wear on your opening cable. Broke the cable on my BMW....lesson learned. You should see improvement in the first 7-10 days. The improvement slowed over time and by about 6 or 7 weeks it stopped.
 
f355spider said:
Set up the ring connectors on your car so you can easily plug in each night for a couple months and see if there is any improvement. Opening the hood constantly will get monotonous and will accelerate wear on your opening cable. Broke the cable on my BMW....lesson learned. You should see improvement in the first 7-10 days. The improvement slowed over time and by about 6 or 7 weeks it stopped.
Click to expand...
Yeah I need to order some 5ft or longer ring connectors. Had ordered the 2ft but will still need the hood up with those.

I rested with the BA101 after it was on it for a continous 60 hour period no change.

Has been back on the battery minder last two days off and on in between being driven.

This vehicle is usually daily driven and has the fuel savings alternator full cutoff of battery voltage is high enough. During the day with headlights off its not unusual to see battery voltage at 12.6 and rise up to 14.2 14.3 then drop back. If headlights are turned on its a constant 14.2-14.4v
 
DTAM said:
Yeah I need to order some 5ft or longer ring connectors. Had ordered the 2ft but will still need the hood up with those.
Click to expand...
You can just add some wire to extend the length on the ring connectors. Just get some bulk 16 or 14 gauge lamp cord and splice it on. My Ace Hardware store sells it by the foot.

If you need a longer, but fully assembled one, check Amazon or eBay for a non-critical item like this...they are pretty cheap there.
 
Last edited:
Beware that some batteries simply cannot be recovered. I have had three out of four improve. But I have one OEM BMW/Varta AGM H5 that has not improved. Its not terrible, but testing around 565 CCA where it is rated at 660 CCA. The Battery Minder appears to have kept it from falling any further for the moment...
 
Still got 2 years warranty so I'm not overly concerned. However I think they changed their warranty. Only allows 1 exchange now.

I believe my group 35 X2 should allow 2 exchanges. Bought that one when the warranty was still 5yrs.
 
Update. Seems there is some improvements.

Approximately up 120 hours now battery minder and there appears to be some improvements.

This was taken after battery minder was disconnected. 2 - 10min drive cycles and sitting after 6 hours. Dash cam hardwired with parking mode on. Had to open the door to pop the hood as well. Should be zero surface charge.

20251231_160958.webp
 
I was able to bring back a battery I use for my boat that was that far gone. When I say bring back, I got it up over 80% healthy. I used my Pulsetech and left it hooked up pretty much all winter. I figured it wouldn’t last a month but it lasted all last season. I do carry a jump pack, just in case. I also have battery minders, 2012 and 2012 agm, I just happened to grab the Pulsetech that day.
 
DTAM said:
Yes it was at 14.8 for about 3 hours before dropping to 13.3v. So it may have took in 4-5ah. Before flipping to float.

However I thought even in float stage there's always a desulfation algorithm. Assumed the desulfation should show some spikes and dips instead of a steady 13.3v.

Temps are pretty stable in the high 50s/low 60s
Click to expand...
That charger is working perfectly. I got mine out yesterday and used it on my wife’s agm and followed the algorithm. Her battery is just a standard agm so I unplugged the temp compensation, if I don’t I feel like it’s too high since these are made for high end agms. Your numbers are exactly what mine were but, I plugged in the temp compensation when it went into float and it jumped up to 13.55, which is just fine. With the sensor unplugged it was 13.3. Your in California, I’m in Ohio, so these numbers check out.
 
DTAM said:
Ordered some 6ft ones today for $6.
Click to expand...
I did the longer leads and had to listen to them banging around doing 85 to the east coast. I tried a couple different locations and same result. I’ll pop the hood and worry about a cable when the time comes. Plus it looks cheesy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom