Yellow Top Giving Me Problems

[monte_carlo97 10+ year member]

so you all think my battery has gone to piss?

 

[jleecong 10+ year member]

Again this is just my thinking....

It seems that you installed the battery and had 12V (less because of design) you played the stereo and voltage dropped to 10.5. This is because your stock alt isn't able to charge the battery fast enough. You turn off the car never giving the battery a change to really charge?

Have you had your alt tested and recharged the battery?

 

[monte_carlo97 10+ year member]

well the thing is with my old batt it would charge to 14v and drop to 11. while the yellow charges only to 12 and drops to 10.5. And i put my old batt in and it charges like it used to, so that is why i have come to the conclusion that the yellow top is bad. I know that my alt is not alt enough but i got to wait on the guy to build it which will take about a month since he is backed up

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

i have a Red Top. i do not want it. I Am getting a blue top because of the RC.

The Red Top didnt wow me one bit. It isnt deep cycle like i thought. I could have gotten a 1000a Energizer battery for $20 cheaper. IMO Red Top not worth it. there is better for the money.its drained on me twice and i didnt even have my system on. When i do the battery has no power and the starter struggles

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

very well could be. Batteries tend to have predictable failure modes:

1. Sulfation. The battery just sits there too long without being charged or cared for, a crystalline chemical buildup forms that literally locks in the electrolyte and prevents the chemical reaction from taking place. Solved with regular battery maintanence and the use of pulsed-frequency chargers.

2. Thermal runaway. Result of being overcharged, the battery gets locked in an upward spike of voltage and current as the charging circuit tries to equalize both. Results in an explosion. This is why battery chargers aren't designed to fully charge the battery, but let it float somewhere on the safe side.

3. Break in the cells or cell reversal. The battery runs the risk of explosion if there really is a broken cell connection.

The only way to really test a battery is to load-test it, and apparently, you've done that already. It's possible your battery went completely to pot in the course of a week, though I'd doubt it somewhat.

 

[monte_carlo97 10+ year member]

well choice 1 could be the problem cause it is a place that does not do much selling and there is not a big demand for them arround here so it could have sat for a nice long time. But is can be solved buy rechargeing and discharging if i get what you are saying

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

very well could be. Batteries tend to have predictable failure modes:
1. Sulfation. The battery just sits there too long without being charged or cared for, a crystalline chemical buildup forms that literally locks in the electrolyte and prevents the chemical reaction from taking place. Solved with regular battery maintanence and the use of pulsed-frequency chargers.

2. Thermal runaway. Result of being overcharged, the battery gets locked in an upward spike of voltage and current as the charging circuit tries to equalize both. Results in an explosion. This is why battery chargers aren't designed to fully charge the battery, but let it float somewhere on the safe side.

3. Break in the cells or cell reversal. The battery runs the risk of explosion if there really is a broken cell connection.

The only way to really test a battery is to load-test it, and apparently, you've done that already. It's possible your battery went completely to pot in the course of a week, though I'd doubt it somewhat.

so i should get it checked.