I may be in the 10% group that never gets the word, but I've had boats with batteries for 40 years and had never heard of battery equalization until I started getting a low voltage reading on my refrigerator compressor (that's another story).
For those who are also in my 10% group, I've attached an article that describes the reason for, and the process for this maintenance step in better detail than could I.
One thing I did find out is that some chargers installed in our boats have an equalization function.... mine does not so I have to get an external charger with this function. I guess the chargers differ between boats with no particular reason other than what the installer put in. An friend with a C 36 a couple of years older than s/v Helen Rita has an equalizer with a button that must be pushed in with as pin. You'd have to check you individual charger.
Hope this helps someone.
Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Chuck-
Something to consider might be to add a battery combiner. This keeps the batteries isolated from each other, but when charging is underway, senses voltage and directs the charging current to where it's needed. Google search "Battery Combiner" and you'll get many hits from Amazon, Defender and Westmarine. Installation is fairly straight forward.
As a side note, I had an earlier posting this season asking for help- my combiner was clicking on and off when the batteries were not being charged, and the DC circuit would be intermittently active with the battery switches in the off position. If any are curious about the solution- I found that one of the two house batteries had a bad cell and it was creating a short that drained the battery, and energized the DC circuit. I have two 12V house batteries in parrallel and one starter battery. The combiner maintains starter battery isolation, but provides a charge from the house batteries (when they are being charged).
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
You can ruin some batteries with equalization. Be sure and check your battery chemistry can handle it. My charger (Sterling 40A from Maine Sail) disables equalization when I selected sealed AGM as the battery type. Other chargers might not be as smart!!!!!
Les
Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor.
Commodore
All of ours are lead/acid.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
I thought it was gel batteries that should not be equalized but that AGM's should.
Enrique
Talisman
1998 36 MK2 Hull #1673
Tall Rig Wing Keel
M35BC engine
Old Saybrook, CT Summer
South Glastonbury, CT Winter
If you can add water you can most likely equalize my AGM’s are sealed.
Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor.
Commodore
[quote=Talisman]I thought it was gel batteries that should not be equalized but that AGM's should.[/quote]
Only Lifline AGM batteries can be equalized. I know of no other AGM manufacturer that allows equalizing. GEL batteries should not be charged above 14.1V to 14.2V if you want any sort of cycling longevity and they should never be equalized.
Regular equalizations, the correct absorption charging voltage (most owners are under charging deep cycle batteries with voltages far too low), temp compensated charging and returning the bank to 100% SOC as often as is possible and EQ cycles, on batteries that can be, will lead to the longest life.
If you've never done ane EQ don't expect too much at this point. Once the sulfate turns hard and clusters there is no recovering it into active material. Think of hard sulfate as dead skin cells, you can put as much lotion on your skin as you want to but the dead skin cells are not going to suddenly become live again..
-Maine Sail
https://www.marinehowto.com/(link is external)