Battery Maintenance

drraptor
drraptor Solar Expert Posts: 218 ✭✭
I found a link for maintaining UPS batteries
http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/electrical-wiring-battery-lights/153379-maintaining-ups-car-batteries-39

are all these steps correct. Especially adding newly prepared electrolyte to Old batteries ?

Comments

  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    Re: Battery Maintenance

    Mostly correct.

    Adding new electrolyte to old batteries probably will be more trouble than it's worth. The reason why SG goes down permanently in an aging battery is because the sulphur component is adhering to the plates. If EQ charging won't knock it off and remix it (thus raising the SG) what good does adding new electrolyte do? Not much, as the plates are still partially insulated with sulphur (nature's plastic) so the battery capacity is still decreased.

    Sulphuric acid is dangerous stuff, even in dilute electrolyte form. Best not to mess about with it.

    And yes when I was young batteries came "dry" from the factory and had to be filled at the retail outlet, and then charged for real before being installed. These days they come premixed, already aging and dying, and if you're lucky the seller will give them a quick surface charge. Don't fall for it: run them through a full charge cycle and establish a baseline SG to begin with. This will also tell you if the batteries are good; if they can't be brought up full when new they aren't going to get any better with age.

    Gone are the days of 'tar top' batteries that you could drain, pull the plates out of the case, change cell sections, rebuild, and truly recondition the battery. Even if it were possible today you've got that mass production thing working against the value of the skilled craftsman; it's cheaper to replace than repair.

    One other thing to consider when trying to extend the life of old batteries: how important is the power? If you've GOT to have that truck started at -40, don't muck about. If you're having fun with a hobby system you can learn things. But don't be surprised if what you learn is that messing with old batteries isn't worth the time and effort.
  • drraptor
    drraptor Solar Expert Posts: 218 ✭✭
    Re: Battery Maintenance
    Mostly correct.

    Adding new electrolyte to old batteries probably will be more trouble than it's worth. The reason why SG goes down permanently in an aging battery is because the sulphur component is adhering to the plates. If EQ charging won't knock it off and remix it (thus raising the SG) what good does adding new electrolyte do? Not much, as the plates are still partially insulated with sulphur (nature's plastic) so the battery capacity is still decreased.
    This explains the "Never add acid to a old battery" part

    Sulphuric acid is dangerous stuff, even in dilute electrolyte form. Best not to mess about with it.

    And yes when I was young batteries came "dry" from the factory and had to be filled at the retail outlet, and then charged for real before being installed. These days they come premixed, already aging and dying, and if you're lucky the seller will give them a quick surface charge. Don't fall for it: run them through a full charge cycle and establish a baseline SG to begin with. This will also tell you if the batteries are good; if they can't be brought up full when new they aren't going to get any better with age.
    In this part of the world, batteries still come in "dry" from the factory. Battery shops have to fill and charge it. Cross-section shown
    hc137551861573.jpghc137551861573.jpg405107d1336460996-best-battery-ups-ups.jpg

    Gone are the days of 'tar top' batteries that you could drain, pull the plates out of the case, change cell sections, rebuild, and truly recondition the battery. Even if it were possible today you've got that mass production thing working against the value of the skilled craftsman; it's cheaper to replace than repair.

    One other thing to consider when trying to extend the life of old batteries: how important is the power? If you've GOT to have that truck started at -40, don't muck about. If you're having fun with a hobby system you can learn things. But don't be surprised if what you learn is that messing with old batteries isn't worth the time and effort.


    How can I check the water level in this type of battery from the top

    Attachment not found.
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    Re: Battery Maintenance
    drraptor wrote: »

    How can I check the water level in this type of battery from the top

    Attachment not found.

    See that blue lip extending into the cell? It has a slit up each side. Water level should be at the bottom of that.

    You're lucky you get the dry batteries with a fresh charge: too many people here go home with what they think are 'new' and 'fresh' batteries, put them in, and they start to die right away for never having been fully charged in the first place.