FOAK Car batteries
in [UK Motorcycles]
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From: Mark Olson on 21 Mar 2010 14:38 Ace wrote: > On Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:11:43 +0000, steve auvache > <dont_spam(a)thecow.me.uk> wrote: > >> In article <4mncq5pb8genq8bedrg6hflbto7e8pc0pd(a)4ax.com>, Ace >> <b.rogers(a)ifrance.com> writes > >>> Just checked, and the charging rate has dropped to ~1.7A. Is that a >>> sign that it's taking charge better now that when in the car? >> Probably not. To my charger a 2 or 3 day battery looks exactly the same >> as good one and will give all the right signals while charging. Put it >> where it needs to live and come Monday morning it is not working. >> >> If you suspect the charging system do the tests. > > Err, well, it's a modern car with all the self-diagnostics that > implies, but TBH I wouldn't have a clue how to test the charging > system, other than by seeing the battery warning light come on. Stick a voltmeter across the battery terminals with the car off, and with the car running, and report back. If you don't have a voltmeter, they're ridiculously cheap at your local pikey tool shop: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90899 If you're seeing more than about 13.5V across the battery with the engine running the charging system is probably OK.
From: Ace on 21 Mar 2010 14:47 On 21 Mar 2010 18:33:53 GMT, "sweller" <sweller(a)mztech.fsnet.co.uk> wrote: >Ace wrote: > >> >> So clearly I'll need to get a new one, but was wondering if removing >> >> some of the old fluid and topping up with unused battery acid would >> >> extend its life, at least for a few days untuil I get a new one. Any >> >> thoughts? >> > >> > EDTA can help >> >> Wassat then? > >It's a chemical that when added to a battery has the effect of causing >sulphation to drop off the plates. OIC. >I've got a bit of a stock of it and it's worked for me in the past but I >don't use it so much now. - I'm sure it'd be pretty useless for you as >your battery is likely to be sealed. It's not, actually, hence the question about replacing some of the fluid with new acid. But in any case all I'm hoping for at best is something so J can use the car during the day tomorrow and I'll get a new one on the way home, rather than having to do it first thing in the morning.
From: ian field on 21 Mar 2010 15:07 "Ace" <b.rogers(a)ifrance.com> wrote in message news:mvocq5hppigd69236uliie8i1ref14fsl3(a)4ax.com... > On Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:11:43 +0000, steve auvache > <dont_spam(a)thecow.me.uk> wrote: > >>In article <4mncq5pb8genq8bedrg6hflbto7e8pc0pd(a)4ax.com>, Ace >><b.rogers(a)ifrance.com> writes > >>>Just checked, and the charging rate has dropped to ~1.7A. Is that a >>>sign that it's taking charge better now that when in the car? >> >>Probably not. To my charger a 2 or 3 day battery looks exactly the same >>as good one and will give all the right signals while charging. Put it >>where it needs to live and come Monday morning it is not working. >> >>If you suspect the charging system do the tests. > > Err, well, it's a modern car with all the self-diagnostics that > implies, but TBH I wouldn't have a clue how to test the charging > system, other than by seeing the battery warning light come on. > If its got removable filler caps you can shine a torch into (not ever a naked flame!!!) see if its gassing with the engine running at more than tickover. Gassing starts when the battery is nearly fully charged and indicates the transition from all the charging energy going into chemical change to the point where an increasing amount of energy causes electrolysis - splitting the water into hydrogen and oxygen.
From: ian field on 21 Mar 2010 15:17 "Ace" <b.rogers(a)ifrance.com> wrote in message news:52ocq55fes91a4b8k0jogq0nbrbuvj51v7(a)4ax.com... > On 21 Mar 2010 18:01:52 GMT, "sweller" <sweller(a)mztech.fsnet.co.uk> > wrote: > >>Ace wrote: >> >>> So clearly I'll need to get a new one, but was wondering if removing >>> some of the old fluid and topping up with unused battery acid would >>> extend its life, at least for a few days untuil I get a new one. Any >>> thoughts? >> >>EDTA can help > > Wassat then? > >> if it's sulphation but in reality if it's got to that stage >>only a new one will solve the problem. > > How would I know if it's sulphation? > Sulphation becomes an insulating layer that forms over the battery plates, as the exposed surface area diminishes the charge current from a fixed voltage charger decreases - which in turn makes it more difficult to get a full charge in. Sulphation usually happens when a battery is stored discharged, or in use when discharge consitently exceeds recharge for a prolonged period. Topping up with acid instead of distilled water (except when replacing spilled electrolyte) can make sulphation more likely.
From: Brian on 21 Mar 2010 17:35
On 21 Mar, 17:27, Ace <b.rog...(a)ifrance.com> wrote: > So the battery on J's Peugeot seems to be on the way out, but I know > there's some experts here so I thought I'd see if there's anything I > can do to extend its life. > > Symptoms are that it's been reluctant to start for a few weeks, with > clearly only just enough charge to get it going. That is to say that > it's turning the engine over at noticeably lower speed than normal. > > Today, only three days after it did a long run (100"km) it wouldn't > start at all. A push start got it going first time, and then it was > driven home, a distance of 140km. Now the battery's giving just enough > to start it, but clearly is lacking. > > So I've taken it out and checked fluid levels - all cells are at the > normal level - and put it on charge, where it's drawing 2A. > > So clearly I'll need to get a new one, but was wondering if removing > some of the old fluid and topping up with unused battery acid would > extend its life, at least for a few days untuil I get a new one. Any > thoughts? If you need a new one I was recently pointed in the direction of this lot www.tayna.co.uk/ by the FOAK in UKRM. Bloody good service and price, so should the worst come to the worst maybe give them a try. Brian |