[paul mather]

My battery has started to hold less & less charge recently. Put it down to the cold weather. However tonight I have put it on charge & the charger says I'm only putting in 2 amps. How can that be when the charger is a 12 amp one & the battery is completely flat.

Anyway I unscrewed the thingies(don't know what they are called) & the chambers were only about half full. Now as a WFPer distilled water isn't something I'm short of, so filled them up, took about 2 pints, & the charger reading has gradually started to rise. It's now on about 7 amps.

So 2 questions,

1. Have I done damage to my battery by allowing the fluid level to drop low?

2. Are you supposed to check the level each time & are you supposed to unscrew those plastic thingies each time you charge the battery?

Was under the impression batteries these days were sealed units or is that just the car ones?

[jeff1]

Hi Paul
A charger will only put in what a battery demands of it?
when you topped up and covered the plates then you may have just saved it, only time will tell, when you topped up you should only just cover the plates and not fill each cell up to the top.

If your battery has screw tops then its not a sealed battery and you need to just release them enough to let the gas escape, or you can remove them completely  to be safe in the knowlage the gas is escaping.

The use w cleaners give there batteries, I would suggest a weekly check and top up if required, as you say were not short of distilled water.

If this does not answer your questions to the full get back to me or email me.

[EasyClean]

Halfords sell some tablets to deposit in batteries basically to clean the plates inside the battery by breaking up deposits forming on the plates which add a new lease of life to a dying battery. They work very well and cost about £3.00 for 6months worth of tablets.

[paul mather]

Cheers Jeff & easyclean,  thanks for getting back to me. Are the tablets called battaid . I remember my dad swearing by em years ago.

[jeff1]

I remember using them years ago in the army.

I went into our halfords for them last week, and they said they don't do them : but there again the same bloke told me they don't do car alarms : so I tryed to look for them but couldn't find them. I'm sure they do, if you can get them like easyclean say's they will give your battery a new lease of life and well worth the money.

[Lesa m]

We put in a search for batt aid & couldn't find it anywhere, any suggestions? Is it because most batteries are sealed units?

[wimbledonhandyman]

Hi Guys and Gals,

Found some info on batteries that may be useful to help understand how they work and the best way to look after them. When you get to the bottom of the first link, there is another link taking you off to FAQ's which has further info on care etc

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

2nd Link - http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq16.htm

Enjoy - Steve

[EasyClean]

Cheers Jeff & easyclean,  thanks for getting back to me. Are the tablets called battaid . I remember my dad swearing by em years ago.

I think so!!

[EasyClean]

We put in a search for batt aid & couldn't find it anywhere, any suggestions? Is it because most batteries are sealed units?

The tablets are called 'Bat-aid' (revitalises old batteries. Prolongs life of good batteries, removes harmful deposits from battery plates).

They sell them in my local Halfords.
The address for the company that makes them is:
Granille Oil & Chemicals Ltd, Unit 29 Goldthorpe Ind Est, Goldthorpe, Rotherham. S63 9BL. England
The Tel No: 01709 890099
Fax: 01709 891121

I hope that is of use to you!!

[paul mather]

Thanks Easyclean, bought some yesterday, remains to be seen if they are any good.

One thing I did notice last night when I put my battery on charge is that all the cells were bubbling apart from one. Presume it means then that, that particular cell is not taking any charge so my capacity will be down, as only 5 are working.

Is that right Jeff?

[paul mather]

Jeff where are you?

[jeff1]

Thanks Easyclean, bought some yesterday, remains to be seen if they are any good.

One thing I did notice last night when I put my battery on charge is that all the cells were bubbling apart from one. Presume it means then that, that particular cell is not taking any charge so my capacity will be down, as only 5 are working.

Is that right Jeff?

Sorry paul had visitors last night :
If one of your cells is not charging it could well be dead, each cell gives an output of 2v+ so this will take your battery below its working capacity, but before you write it off, drop your tablets in and give them 24hrs to do the biz, if your lucky the cell may well recover?
If you have a digital multi-meter keep checking the voltage at the battery terminal, (charger Disconnected ) to see if you get an increase in voltage, but to get an accurate reading the battery has to be left standing for a couple of hours after a charge, this gives it chance to settle.

If there is no increase in your voltage after the above, then the best place for your battery is the local tip.

If you have to buy a new battery then buy the sealed one. These you can tell, by no removable lids or screw tops.

[paul mather]

If one of 6 cells has gone does that mean that my battery will still run on 5/6s the power, ie instead of being 110 amps it will be a 91 amp battery.

If that's the case why would I want to throw it away as it can still do a decent job can't it?

[jeff1]

It also affects the voltage, so you will be running your pump below its effective voltage rating of 12v and once you start doing that your battery will have a greater demand put on it, keep it, as a get me out the s@*t sort of battery.
if the tablets don't boost it.

[paul mather]

Have you ever thought about going on Mastermind & choosing 12 Volt Batteries as your specialist subject?

 

[jeff1]

Have you ever thought about going on Mastermind & choosing 12 Volt Batteries as your specialist subject?

 

PASS 

[paul mather]

As normal you are correct, went out today with Lesa & by 2.30pm the battery had failed, so had to connect the pumps up to my van battery & leave the van running, luckily van in sight at all times!

[jeff1]

Paul.
Sorry to hear that, but you overcome your problem
More than I could today.
I left my backpack battery on the  workbench and didn't notice until I needed it :

if you decide to keep it as a spare, to get you out of the poo poo, then you will have to keep it topped up, and give it a weekly charge,
if your new battery goes flat when working, then the old one, may just help you out for a while.

If you want my honest opinion? then bin it.