EZRED SP101 Battery Hydrometer

A hydrometer with floating balls was once in my possession. That kind is a waste of time. I threw it out and relied on a voltage chart to determine how fully charged a battery was. br>br>Recently, I purchased a float hydrometer to see if my five-year-old daughter's blood sugar level was normal. A bad cell was found in the old battery. The cells were fine, but it demonstrated how using a smart charger can result in low hydrometer readings for a short period of time. Water rises as the electrolyte is charged, diluting it at the top, where a hydrometer samples it. Bubbles are produced by a traditional charger, which aid in the mixing of the electrolyte. Because bubbling ages a battery, I prefer to use a smart charger. br>br>The hydrometer had a line for every 5,000ths, but they were only 1mm apart, and I'd have to count them because the numbers were usually on the other side of the float. I replaced the float with an EZ Red when I discovered it had leaked. br>br>I tested it with a saturated table salt solution that was very close to 1. 200 Because the EZ Red has fewer marks than the EZ Blue, a precise reading may necessitate interpolation. Rather than counting, this is what I prefer. Below 1. The scale is as small as my float hydrometer at 225 ( about 75% charged at about about about about about about about about about about about about about about about about about It's twice the size up there. That appeals to me. I'm looking for readings that are more precise than one. 225 to ensure that all cells are charged fully and evenly. br>br>When I finished, I was going to put a plastic dishpan beside the battery to hold my float hydrometer so I wouldn't drip on the car or my clothes. For the EZ Red, a smaller container is sufficient. br>br>Due to a bubble, it read high a couple of times during battery checks. I didn't draw enough electrolyte on a couple of occasions, so it read low. (A tablespoon is all it takes. ) ) It read low at one point because it wasn't quite level. Overall, it's a pretty safe bet. br>br>When an IR thermometer indicated that my battery was 60 degrees Fahrenheit below the waterline, the voltage indicated that it was fully charged, but the SG reading was only one. 265 After a night's rest, it still read the same. I was convinced I had stratification until I realized the EZ Red is temperature compensated. The standard battery temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which means that 1. The number 265 has reached its maximum capacity. Stratification can be a problem in the winter because electrolytes don't mix well when they're cold. It prevents a battery from fully charging, and if a battery isn't fully charged on a regular basis, it will quickly degrade. Stratification is a significant cause of battery failure across the country. br>br>I'll be able to check for stratification with the EZ Red. If I locate it, I can charge the battery outside on a warm day, bring it inside and place it in a pan of hot water, or purchase a battery heating pad.

April Sharp

| Mar 09, 2021

My home is a solar-powered cabin that is off the grid. There are 12 large flooded cell batteries in my solar power system. Every three months, I check the specific gravity of each cell as a routine maintenance procedure to ensure that all of the batteries are fully charged. I know what the specific gravity of a fully charged flooded cell lead acid battery should be. This E- The Z Red SP101 Battery Hydrometer is precise, indicating that all of the cells in my battery plant are in good working order. It's simple to read the gauge. br>br>To take a reading from a battery cell, insert the hydrometer's nozzle into the cell, draw battery electrolyte in, and then expel it several times. This helps to mix the electrolyte, which can stratify. Make a final draw, tap the hydrometer to release any bubbles that may have formed on the gauge, and take your reading after drawing and expelling several times. Every time you use it, you'll get precise results.

Marco MELLOR

| Nov 24, 2021

Reading 48 cells in my backup battery system to see if I need to equalize every month is a real chore for me because I am legally blind. If digital meters were more affordable, I would purchase one. Sigh. This meter is very simple to read. br>br> However, in order to get a repeatable reading, you must develop a little skill (which applies to all hydrometers, FYI). I've discovered that I need to load and unload two times. 3 times (to ensure that the battery fluid has been stirred up), hold carefully so that it is vertical, possibly tap carefully, and WAIT for the mechanism to settle. It takes a few seconds for the fluid to settle because it is so thick. Make sure the sensing wheel is free of bubbles. br>br>In conclusion, while this device does not make it easier to get a repeatable and accurate reading, it does make it much easier to see the reading. If you think you'll be able to dip and read this, don't buy it. Sorry, but it, like all other hydrometers, requires practice. If you can't get the same reading from a cell as you did the first time, work on improving your skills until your readings are consistent. br>br>The product delivers on its promises: It is simple to read the value.

Halle Howard

| May 13, 2021

solar power on the grid If you're looking for a way to get away from it all, You'll need one of these for FLA (flooded lead acid) batteries if you're using grid solar. The cheapest option is to use FLA golf cart batteries, but they are still expensive, so you want to get the most out of them (7-year warranty). ten years) br>br>This is the only sure way to tell when the battery is fully charged, as well as how much it has been discharged (NEVER completely discharge an FLA unless you enjoy wasting money. ) No more than 50% capacity is possible). Owners of RVs who installed solar panels for boondocking quickly discovered that solar energy is not truly "free" or "easy. " There's a lot more to it than they realized, and it all begins with proper battery care.

Nasir GODDARD

| Jan 12, 2021

The EZ RED unit is simple to read and fills with less acid from the battery. To get enough acid to float the needle, the "other guy" requires at least one and a half pumps. The EZ RED's pump bulb is smaller and the rubber is much firmer and thicker, so it only takes one squeeze to fill it to the line. Because the acid is sucked up the tube and adheres to the needle, this unit also "creates fewer bubbles. " As a result, the amount of tapping required to dislodge the bubbles has decreased. The smaller tube that runs straight down and out the bottom of this unit is another advantage. Unlike the other guy, I don't have a big "rubber hose" that runs down and out at an angle. The EZ RED has very little dripping compared to the competitor. There are also very clearly marked numbers on this, so it's difficult to "guess" what the actual SG is. It also compensates for changes in temperature.

Kara Thornton

| Apr 07, 2021