Battery acid or Distilled water?

[mrgolf]

Years ago some maintenance shops would drain all the acid from a battery, flush it out with a water hose then refill with sulfuric acid and water mixture stronger than 1.265, more like 1.300 put on a 2 amp charger for 24 hours then 10 amps for 1 hour. This would give you a little longer life of the battery.

Not a very smart thing to do, but sometimes you have to do what it takes until you get resupplied.

[Bigbondo007]

I hear people put baking soda in to "revive" old junk batteries. I have no interest in making volcanoes since 4th grade science, but to each their own.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Golferdave]

Originally Posted by Bigbondo007

Hmm. Haven't thought about that. But doesn't the obc already assume the mixture is 100 percent?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

I have no idea what the OBC program assumes.
I assume it only measures amps & voltage ,
Measures amps out & put that many amps back in.

When I rest my OBC, it charges the pack to 65.4 volts
Can hear them bubbling
*
*
*
Ive' read & heard
Epsom salts helps keep the plates clean & extend battery life

[yawood]

I'm interested that no-one has really replied to the original question.

Battery acid is used for the initial fill of a new (dry) battery. From then on it should only be topped up with distilled water. The reason for this is that only the water evaporates and needs to be replaced. Adding battery acid will change the percentage of acid in the battery and will probably reduce the life of the battery. Here is an explanation from a battery site:

We recommend that unless a battery was tipped over and all the acid spilled out, that you add only distilled water. Think of it like this: If you were to fill a pot up with salt water, and put it on your stove to boil, what happens? All the water will boil off, and you will be left with only salt. To re-create the original salt water mixture, you simply add straight water, because all the original salt is still in the pan, waiting to be re-suspended in the water. Batteries are the same way. All the chemical needed to make sulfuric acid is still in the battery, it is just the water that is gone. If you add more acid, you will be changing the chemical makeup of the battery which can lead to an incorrect sulfuric content.

[Kashmir]

Ok, now to take another track altogether....
what about what was mentioned earlier....drain your old batteries, rinse out and then start with fresh acid mix?

I'm thinking a major desulfate first with the old epsom salt method, then a refill.
I figure it couldn't hurt an old worn out set.

[tag50]

Originally Posted by Kashmir

Ok, now to take another track altogether....
what about what was mentioned earlier....drain your old batteries, rinse out and then start with fresh acid mix?

I'm thinking a major desulfate first with the old epsom salt method, then a refill.
I figure it couldn't hurt an old worn out set.

While there would be some temporary improvement, I would never recommend this procedure.

Someone that passed their high school chemistry class could safely complete the task. But we have to remember that what is posted here is also being read by the village idiot (we've had a rash of them lately).


.

[Bigbondo007]

Idiocy can be compared to ignorance, and the main purpose /function of this forum is to educate and enlighten those who haven't had the opportunity to learn. Answers can't be given until a question is asked.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[mrgolf]

O by the way, to flush and wash a battery, you wore a poncho with hood and face mask with rubber gloves and boots.

[Kashmir]

^^^I don't intend to attempt this myself.
Just soaking in the knowledge....

[tag50]

Originally Posted by Bigbondo007

Idiocy can be compared to ignorance, and the main purpose /function of this forum is to educate and enlighten those who haven't had the opportunity to learn. Answers can't be given until a question is asked.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

True, and there are no dumb questions here.

It is also true that if I was put in the right village, I would be the village idiot.


.