Technical Ever wondered what lurks in the bottom of that old battery

[PuntoHowTo]

Have recently change the electrolyte in my battery as its now over 10 years old and wasn't holding charge for very long.

this it the gunk and crap that builds up in the bottom of the battery as it gets old.
its a mix of lead oxide and lead sulphate which has built up on the plates and broken off to collect at the bottom

now you know what you keep getting that power steering light

 

[atom0007]

gravy?

 

[homeward]

gravy?

I thought it was weak coffee -- or the tea Mrs homeward drinks.

 

[Ziggy122]

Id be abit touchy about draining battery acid.....

Let alone topping it back off, but if corrwct ppe and precautions taken why not

Ziggy

 

[staffordmike]

Has changing the acid worked? Mind you, I can't recall the last time I saw a non-sealed battery except on my motorbikes so it's a bit of a moot point.

 

[oldhammer]

Has changing the acid worked? Mind you, I can't recall the last time I saw a non-sealed battery except on my motorbikes so it's a bit of a moot point.

your right there mate,

most battery's these days are throw 'away's.
not seen one you can take top off for awhile now,

 

[s and b]

your right there mate,

most battery's these days are throw 'away's.
not seen one you can take top off for awhile now,

Most batteries can be opened even the greeny eyed monster ones if you put your mind to it

remember all batteries need to vent when being charged and these sealed for life jobbies could be unexploded bombs if charged too quickly


im very careful but still get afeared with them

 

[PuntoHowTo]

most battery's these days are throw 'away's.
not seen one you can take top off for awhile now,

I have to dispute that, a quick image search of Exide or Bosch batteries brings up hundreds of pictures of car batteries the overwhelming majority of which can be topped up.

this is typical of a modern car battery and you can take the top off in about 30 seconds its just the 6 cells are covered by one venting cap as a posed to 6 small screw caps. exactly the same as the one in my car (pictured above) which fiat fitted when new

i should start a car battery sanctuary bringing them back to health and protecting them from land fill.

nothing annoys me more than binning a good 12v battery

and to confirm the refill worked very well a mate of mine put it on his super-duper digital battery tester thing and it tested pretty much as new

 

[oldhammer]

the top wont come off mine,
it most probs wouid but id have to make a mess of it,
prize it off,

 

[atom0007]

hundreds of types does not necessarily invalidate the point made.


Although in practice it almost certainly does.

 

[Redxl]

Bet your wife is chuffed doing that on the kitchen side. I've been ripped to shreds.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Bet your wife is chuffed doing that on the kitchen side. I've been ripped to shreds.

Utility room

 

[flisko]

I have to dispute that, a quick image search of Exide or Bosch batteries brings up hundreds of pictures of car batteries the overwhelming majority of which can be topped up.

this is typical of a modern car battery and you can take the top off in about 30 seconds its just the 6 cells are covered by one venting cap as a posed to 6 small screw caps. exactly the same as the one in my car (pictured above) which fiat fitted when new

i should start a car battery sanctuary bringing them back to health and protecting them from land fill.

nothing annoys me more than binning a good 12v battery

and to confirm the refill worked very well a mate of mine put it on his super-duper digital battery tester thing and it tested pretty much as new

getting arround 13,7V with a volt meter doesnt necessarily mean that a battery is still good or does it?

 

[s and b]

batteries weigh in off puntos for £3
they dont go to landfill but i agree you can resurect them

only thing is all your clothes fall to bits when they come out the washing machine

 

[PuntoHowTo]

getting arround 13,7V with a volt meter doesnt necessarily mean that a battery is still good or does it?

quoting a voltage doesn't tell you much.

I would need to examine the battery, load test it, test the electrolyte etc
however if its giving 12v+ then its a fairly good indication the battery can be saved

 

[flisko]

mhm a guy i know had a battery which would start a car everytime, just when temp would go below 0 then it would fail voltage is still above 12