"High amp circular cell battery"- - - -What, exactly, does that mean? Do you have a brand name and model number handy? I've got a feeling you're using one of the sealed, all-position batteries. Those things are notorious for failing to produce the rated current flow, and requiring special charging techniques if they ever get discharged.
A load test involves putting a high current draw on the battery with a carbon-pile load resistor, and monitoring the terminal voltage while the load is being applied. As a hypothetical example, let's assume the battery is rated for "600 cold cranking amps". This information should be somewhere on the identification tag for the battery. A current draw of 1/2 that amount, or 300 amps, is put on the battery with the load tester for 15 seconds. After the 15-second load is applied, the terminal voltage at the battery posts is checked while the load is still applied. A 6-volt battery should have at least 4.5 volts at the terminals after the load is applied, or the battery needs to be recharged or replaced. A 12-volt should have aty least 9.6 volts after loading to 1/2 the CCA ratring for 15 seconds.
I'm betting you've got a bum battery. Trash the high-tech sealed battery and get a conventional wet-cell type that can be charged, then test the acid for proper concentration and give it a proper load test. Those horrendously expensive gel cell batteries might be all high-tech, but they're a big pain in the butt as far as I'm concerned.
Jerry
