I'm having some problems with batteries; my lead acid bat is not doing its job as the acid is very diluted. I do have other older bats (that I was saving for the acid), that I could take the acid out of but they are in the same state.
So how do I get the water out, making the acid more pokey?
I did try to get the acid out of my brand new car battery, but it turns out it only has water in it!! Ripped off or what?
Ian
Batteries, week acid
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Batteries,week acid
Hi this might help :
in a discharged battery the acid is weak, this is because sulphate leaves the acid(sulphuric acid ) to combine with the lead (in the plates)both negative (-) and positive (+) to form lead sulphate .Oxygen also leaves the positive plates to leave water.This water is what dilutes the acid and lowers the specific gravity .
To regain the strength and higher specific gravity the battery should be charged . Quick charging will destroy a bike battery , its recommended that a charge rate of 1/10 of the battery capacity ( Ah ) is used .
e.g.
Charging current = 1/10 x 14 Ah
= 1.4 amperes
The acceptable specific gravity is 1.20 below that the battery should be charged .
A new battery should either of been filled at the shop from a container
of sulphuric acid or supplied to the shop already filled .
in a discharged battery the acid is weak, this is because sulphate leaves the acid(sulphuric acid ) to combine with the lead (in the plates)both negative (-) and positive (+) to form lead sulphate .Oxygen also leaves the positive plates to leave water.This water is what dilutes the acid and lowers the specific gravity .
To regain the strength and higher specific gravity the battery should be charged . Quick charging will destroy a bike battery , its recommended that a charge rate of 1/10 of the battery capacity ( Ah ) is used .
e.g.
Charging current = 1/10 x 14 Ah
= 1.4 amperes
The acceptable specific gravity is 1.20 below that the battery should be charged .
A new battery should either of been filled at the shop from a container
of sulphuric acid or supplied to the shop already filled .
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Thanks for the info, what happened was my bat puked its acid out of the back of my old Harley and I topped it up with water. Too much it seems.
The car bat was bought from a local cretin who probably used tap water instead of acid. An old bat I had knocking around my shed for five years had more acid content than all the others put together (but still not enough).
I think I'll put it on the cooker and boil off some of the water now where did I put those cigs.
The car bat was bought from a local cretin who probably used tap water instead of acid. An old bat I had knocking around my shed for five years had more acid content than all the others put together (but still not enough).
I think I'll put it on the cooker and boil off some of the water now where did I put those cigs.
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Naaaarrrrr, can't do that, they'll want me to buy a new battery
I was just wondering if there was a tried and tested way of reducing the water content.
I think I'll charge the old nailed battery and charge the hell out of it for a few days topping it up with week acid from the other battery until I have reasonable strength acid, then swap the acid to my good battery
Cheers
I was just wondering if there was a tried and tested way of reducing the water content.
I think I'll charge the old nailed battery and charge the hell out of it for a few days topping it up with week acid from the other battery until I have reasonable strength acid, then swap the acid to my good battery
Cheers
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Yeah - using some acid from a good source would be an idea if you cannot get the electrolyte to the right gravity by a good 24hr slow charge and tested using a hydrometer.
Most new batteries are also sold wet now (acid already added). I always liked to buy a dry battery, leaving it on the shelf until I needed it, adding the acid and charging then.
There are inherit problems with new wet batteries = if new batteries are filled with acid and never charged, being left on a shelf for months before someone purchases it, the sulphate goes into the plates (as stated in a previous post) and when tested will seem to have little if any acid.
If this is the case - the life of the battery has more than halved "great if you have just purchased it", so expect only a few years from it, if you can get a decent charge into it.
Whatever you do - don't get acid and try to boil off the water trying to make a more concentrated mix, you'll have the law enforcement breaking down your door thinking your got a meth lab going
It's all fun!
Cheers
Andrew
Most new batteries are also sold wet now (acid already added). I always liked to buy a dry battery, leaving it on the shelf until I needed it, adding the acid and charging then.
There are inherit problems with new wet batteries = if new batteries are filled with acid and never charged, being left on a shelf for months before someone purchases it, the sulphate goes into the plates (as stated in a previous post) and when tested will seem to have little if any acid.
If this is the case - the life of the battery has more than halved "great if you have just purchased it", so expect only a few years from it, if you can get a decent charge into it.
Whatever you do - don't get acid and try to boil off the water trying to make a more concentrated mix, you'll have the law enforcement breaking down your door thinking your got a meth lab going
It's all fun!
Cheers
Andrew
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Re:
When I discovered my new to me enfield battery was dry I took it to my local one man band BMW mechanic, he filled it with new acid and it has been fine since then (June). he would not take any moneyAnorak_ian wrote:Sorted, I charged away my old car battery until the level went down (evaporation) and topped it up with the bike battery acid, bubbled it away again, and what I was left with was good strong acid. Transferred that to my bike battery and it now works well.
Saves buying a new battery
Larry
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Re: Batteries, week acid
Turns out my bat was a duffer, one day it just stopped working. I've been using a Harley high amps gel bat, well recommended no acid to run dry etc, bloody expensive but worth it.