Corroded Battery Terminal: Effect and Solutions

You’re doing your daily activity, and suddenly you notice something odd from your battery. When you go to your battery, it turns out there are some deposits at the top and at the bottom. If this is happening to you then you are currently going through a corroded battery situation. Don’t panic, because there is actually a solution to such a situation. That’s why we are here right now. Here, we will talk about the corroded battery terminal, from its effect and solutions. Check it out!

What happens if battery terminals are corroded?

The first thing that you should be aware of when you have a corroded battery situation is whether the corrosion is dangerous or not. Thankfully, corrosion is not dangerous… Somewhat. They become unsafe under certain circumstances.

First of what, what is a corroded battery? We remember that our battery contains so many chemicals in it, especially lead batteries. One of the chemicals in batteries is sulphuric acid. When the battery keeps experiencing different temperatures, alternating from hot to cold. If itt happens to the batteries, the gas inside the battery will somehow “escapes” from the battery through the vent of the battery. The gas will eventually get caught up with other elements surrounding the battery, and thus it will lead to corrosion.

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There are, of course, other causes behind battery corrosion. Here are some of the things that cause battery corrosion:

1. Leakage

The main cause of corrosion is battery leakage. There are several reasons that can cause the electrolyte of the battery leaks, and it will lead to corrosion our batteries will have. Electrolyte will try to find its way outside the battery through the vents.

Although your battery might be sealed maintenance-free, there is still a chance for it to get leakage. If you have a battery where you need to top it with water, there is a chance that the electrolyte will spill during the process. So, it is always best to take precautions.

2. Overcharging The Battery

Overcharging might sound harmless, but it is one of the causes that can lead to a corroded battery. After all, overcharging can be the cause of the excessive heat of the battery. It is a fact that the electrolyte will expand when the heat increases, and it will try to find its way out of the battery due to the expansion. When it’s finally outside the battery, the battery will be corroded.

3. Reaction That Happened In Copper Clamps

Copper clamp is the most common clamp that is used by batteries, especially high-quality batteries. Although copper clamps do not corrode, they can corrode if it’s caused by outside factors. One of the factors is the gas that leaks from the battery. The gas contains sulphuric gas that will contaminate and corrode the copper clamps with a little help from the current. Eventually, copper sulfate, which is the things around the battery caused by the reaction, is born.

4. Battery That Is Too Full

This is important for batteries that need to be topped with water. Batteries that need to be topped will have a mark on its side to show the maximum amount you can top. Make sure you top only until the mark and not further than that. If it’s too much, the water can go to the terminal and contaminate it (since the terminal is made out of metal).

However, water tends to expand when they are in a hot temperature. To get around this, you can top the water to the battery when the day is cool. So the water won’t expand.

5. Battery Lifespan

If you’ve been using your battery for years, then it’s normal for it to be corroded (especially when you’ve been using it for 5 years at most). After all, the battery went through many things during those years. So, it’s normal for it to be corroded.

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Can corroded battery terminals drain the battery?

As stated before, a corroded battery is not dangerous… At first. it can also be the source of your objects not working properly. There are, after all, objects that rely on the battery in order to start or work properly.

Thankfully, corrosion will not drain the battery away. However, it does have an impact on the battery’s performance. The corrosion will get in the way of the charge going from the terminal to the battery and vice versa. This will greatly affect the amount of charge that your device will get. If you let it be, it will eventually lessen the power of the battery, and it can affect the performance of your device. This is why it’s important to check on your car battery often, as car greatly relies on the charge the battery gives during certain occasions.

How do you clean the corroded battery terminal?

If your battery suffers from the coronation, don’t worry. There is a simple way to clean it. Here are the steps to clean a corroded battery:

1. Take a cotton swab or a used toothbrush.

2. Dip the cotton swab or toothbrush in vinegar or lemon juice

3. Scrub the corrosion.

4. Use a damp cloth or swap to wipe away the corrosion.

And you’re done! Pretty easy, isn’t it?

From here, we can assume that a corroded battery is not dangerous and that it will harm your life. There are several things that can impact the batteries and its corrosion (age including one of them). However, it can greatly impact the battery’s performance and affect the amount of charge the device will get. If the device greatly relies on the battery, you will wind up with some performance trouble in the future if the corrosion is not taken care of properly. Thankfully, cleaning corrosion is not that hard and can be done within an hour. So when your battery has corrosion, don’t be afraid to clean it up! You’ll end up with a clean battery and a batter performance of it.