how to refill Acide to the Battary

[Sandun]

hi can u tell me how to service old low gravity Battery my self , filing acide to it ? Not seel tipe Normal 90A 12V battery

[bmcecosse]

What SG is it showing Sandun? Should be 1.275 on a full charge. A bold move is to empty out all the old acid, wash out with clean water, and then refill with new 1.275 acid. It does carry some risk that silt may get tangled up in the plates - meaning a new battery required......

[dalebrignall]

buy a new 038 battery so much easier

[Sandun]

hi Mr. Roy - i full charge my car battery then it was 13 v but next day morrning when i check volt ,it was 12.28 - if it full charge not charge up 12.3 v and it drean very soon -gravity about 1250 - i know what u say if i put new acide may be damege sell - can i put acide some less than standed limite ? how mix battrey water and acide - and what is the diffarence of 038 battery what is it ? I dont know

[bmcecosse]

Sandun - your battery sounds ok BUT there may be something causing the voltage drain. Next time - charge it right up and disconnect it from the car. Then measure the volts 24 hours later. I thought you were using a solar charger ??

[Sandun]

No ...... I charged battery till it 13v, useing a electric battery chrger , and let rest to the battery , out all terminal wires then nex day befor set to the car when i check vlt it was 12.28 - so if it was 12 .6 too , i think it fine but it was 12.28 - it not charge more than 12.3 v

[Biggles1957]

Sandun - please do be extremely careful if you do decide to try to empty your battery and refill it with acid. Definitely wear eye protection and rubber gloves and be very careful about splashes - you only have one pair of eyes! The sulphuric acid in the battery is surprisingly strong and will easily burn through clothes - maybe not immediately but any splashes on your clothes will turn into holes when you wash them! Similarly it will burn you if you splash it onto yourself. When diluting acid you must ALWAYS add acid to water - NEVER the other way around - slowly so that the heat generated by the reaction does not build up. Adding water to acid can result in a violent reaction or even explosion! When a lead acid battery begins to fail deposits format in the bottom of the battery and in my opinion it is just not worth all the effort to try to revive an old battery in this way. When you also think about the not inconsiderable risks you are taking in trying to deal with strong acid without proper facilities and safety equipment my very strong advice to you is to get a new battery. I spent all of my working life in university research laboratories and have seen first hand some very nasty injuries caused by inexperienced people using chemicals despite all the safety precautions and equipment in place!

[lambrettalad]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is very very good advice

[bmcecosse]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the battery - I do think something is draining the power......

[ASL642]

Sandun do you have a clock in your car that is not wired through the ignition? - the clock still works even when you turn off the car? This may be draining the battery overnight

[mike.perry]

Did someone remove my post about washing your hands or did I forget the send button?

[David W.]

What made you think you have a bad battery?
Does the car start? Does it crank vigorously or slowly?
Does the dynamo produce a charge to the battery? What voltage do you get when the engine is running and the dynamo is charging? Does the dynamo keep up with demand when under maximum load (Lights, heater blower, wipers etc.)?
You say it goes to 12.3 volts overnight, what is the voltage after driving it for a while and letting the dynamo do its job?

[LouiseM]

Did someone remove my post about washing your hands or did I forget the send button?

Your post hasn't been removed - you must have forgotten to press the 'submit' button.

[bmcecosse]

David W - this is a v long running subject with Sandun - we have been over and over the battery charging/dynamo/solar charger/specific gravity/acid etc etc many times.......