Replacing a cell ( or single battery) within a Battery Array

It sometimes happens that one battery or cell will fail before the others in your array. Assuming you can buy an identical battery what happens to this battery when placed in an existing array of older batteries is that the new battery will soon perform to the level of the average or least performing battery in the string while being much more active chemically.

To use plain language consider the new battery to be juicer, more chemically and electrically active. The charger sees the group batteries as one battery. However, the new battery during charge will charge up quicker, then continue to overcharge while the older batteries catch up. During discharge, you guessed it, the new battery will discharge faster and over-discharge. This over cycling will bring the new battery to the level of the others and it may fail before the older batteries.

Standard Advice

Mixing old and new batteries is never a good idea. Batteries age over time, when tied together in a single battery bank the batteries act as and are treated as a single battery resource. The limit of a battery string is the oldest, weakest battery within the array. Batteries within a battery bank should all be identical. At minimum the batteries should be of the same construction and rating. Batteries from different companies with the same/similar specifications may have differing resistance. This too will affect how each battery is treated within the group (string).

New Battery in Old string

Where does the energy go? It is absorbed within the other batteries as resistance/heat.

What does this do to the new battery when charging? The new battery accepts charges faster then gets overcharged while the others catch up.

What happens to the new battery while discharging? It contributes no more to the battery array output but because it is more active chemically it will discharge sooner deeper than the others.

Read about Depth of Discharge (DOD) http://www.STRATEnerGY.ca/cycling_batteries.htm

So in summary what is the bottom line? A new cell (battery) will extend the life of the battery array for a period of time at the expense of wearing itself out much faster than any others in the array. Yours is a cost payback decision as this perfectly good battery will perform no better than the weakest link in your battery array at the expense of wearing this one out very quickly.

Contact Us: Telephone: toll free at 1-888-810-4709 Parry Sound,Northern Ontario,Muskoka and Georgian Bay
Send mail info.stratenergy@gmail.com with questions or comments about our product or web site.