22 Years' Battery Customization
Jan 14, 2021 Pageview：840
Batteries require a few maintenance practices, and one of them is topping up the electrolyte. However, we top up the electrolyte with battery water and not acid. What happens to an old battery that has no acid and battery water?
Can you add battery water and acid to an empty battery at home? This topic interests many people because at least five people out of 10 have an empty battery in their garage. The battery might lack the electrolyte, but it is still in good condition.
Therefore, it is essential to consider this issue from different points of view keenly. The most important thing is how effective the battery will be after adding the acid. However, the acid is corrosive and needs a lot of care to add it to your battery.
We need to know if it is possible to replace the battery acid and, if possible, the procedure to do it. We shall also discuss the possibility of replacing battery acid with Epsom salt. Lastly, the amount of acid should be added to a battery.
You might be surprised when the electrolyte level in your battery starts to drop. Therefore, is it appropriate to add water or acid? If the battery has tipped over and spilled all the acid, it is recommended that you add battery water.
In simple terms, if you place a pot containing a salt solution on a stove to boil, what will happen? All the water will evaporate from the pot; thus, leaving behind salt crystals. To get your salt solution back, you need to add water to the crystals left behind.
It is the same thing with the electrolyte solution. Therefore, the batteries have a chemical that is needed to make sulfuric acid inside the battery. You should add distilled water, and the electrolyte is formed.
If you add sulfuric acid into the battery, you will change the battery's chemical makeup, leading to incorrect sulfuric acid content. Once the electrolyte content is not in the right ratio, the battery will not function in the right manner.
Therefore, to add distilled water into your battery, follow the steps given below:
For your safety, you need to have hand gloves and goggles and avoid touching the electrolyte as it contains acid that can erode your hands.
Open the caps of the battery and if the battery is sealed, try locating them. You might look at the user’s manual that comes with the battery. Use a flat screw to remove the caps or drill the sealed battery appropriately.
Pour the distilled water into the battery. The distilled water will activate the acid inside the battery. You should use a syringe to refill the water, then measure the battery's voltage before adding the water and after adding water to the recommended level. You will notice an increase in the voltage amount after adding the battery water.
After adding the water, ensure that the water and the dried sulfuric acid have appropriately mixed. Charge the battery fully using any charger 12 volts in maximum and 9 volts in minimum.
After 5 minutes of charging, you will notice bubbles coming out of the holes. After the bubbling has stopped, clean the waste water from the top of the battery using a syringe and leave the battery to charge.
Epsom salt, also known as magnesium sulfate, is one of the additives added to batteries to reduce the internal resistance. This gives the battery a few other months of effectiveness, although it does not bring the battery back to its original condition.
However, Epsom salt cannot replace battery acid because the salt can corrode the lead plates. The salt cannot dissolve well if high quantities are used. This salt can only be used as an additive to break the sulfates attached to the plates.
Epsom salt is useful with older batter models and can extend the lifespan of the battery. Modern batteries come with the additives inside the electrolyte; thus, there is no corrosion and sulfation. You can make the Epsom solution at home using warm, distilled water.
When desulfation the battery, avoid using too much Epsom salt because it can erode the plates and make the battery less effective. Do not put any other substance into your battery because it will damage your battery badly. Also, avoid any advice from friends and family that you have not confirmed with battery experts and the manufacturer.
The amount of acid and water inside the battery should not exceed a certain amount. If the acid is more than the water, the battery might not fail to work well. The electrolyte level should cover the battery plates fully.
Therefore, the acid should be 35 percent of the whole solution. The water level, on the other hand, should be 65 percent of the whole solution. The good thing is that the acid level does not drop at any time. It is only the water level that drops due to hydrolysis.
Therefore, it is good to top up the electrolyte level once you notice that the plates are not fully submerged. However, the modern batteries are fully sealed, and it can be hard to top up the electrolyte level.
The batteries usually have a cap ring that helps indicate the level of the electrolyte. Thus, the electrolyte should reach 3/16 inches below the cap ring. It is good to have regular battery maintenance on old batteries to extend their lifespan even for a few months.
It is essential to know what should be added to a battery and what should never be added. There are so many myths surrounding the batteries that can be damage your battery. Therefore, if you are not sure about batteries, it is good to consult a battery expert.
Extending the battery's lifespan for a month or two will be beneficial. We should protect our environment by taking dead batteries to recycling areas. The batteries contain chemicals that should not be allowed into the environment.
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