Re: (ET) batteries

[David C Robie <mycroftxx1 juno com>]

If the batteries have been stored uncovered outside,  extra water will
get in, rain etc.  If the electroylyte was low it's hard to notice.  
This extra water lowers the SG.  I, like Hump, keep a bottle of acid
(available at big auto parts stores) around and after a good charging of
these batteries, check the SG.   If cells are off balance SG wise, taking
out some of the extra water and  adding  little acid will  balance em. 
After adding acid to the cells that requiire it,  the batt should be put
back on charge for a bit to mix it up.
  Never add acid to a battery unless you know that extra water got in or
acid got out somehow. And never do it without a hydrometer to tell you
what is happening SG wise and a voltmeter to tell you what's happening
volts wise  in the battery. Adding acid won't charge it, will only make
the affected cell accept a charge as well as the other ones in the same
battery.

I like to keep my electrolyte level lower than normal in these Etracks. 
Do a lot of work on hilly lumpy ground which with high level spills acid
out.  Quick starts and stops spills it out also if level is high. 
Battery tops should be nice and dry.  If they are wet, it's spilled acid.
Even with caps tight this seeps out.  A good reason why our battery boxes
rust at the sides.

Dave
Weymouth MA


 



On Fri, 4 May 2007 7:03:25 -0600 Tim Humphrey <hump evgrin com> writes:
> 
> Did you add water?
> 
> I remember the last time I added pure distilled water.... my 
> batteries performance sucked for about a month until the water level 
> came back down a little.
> 
> I never did take SG measurements, but I'm sure they were diluted.
> 
> Next time... I'll take a measurement before adding water and based 
> on that measurement make a determination to add either water or 
> electrolyte or a mix of the two.
> 
> IF you added water, do like Chris says bypass the Landis and let em 
> cook for a day. Or bump the Landis up a half volt or so.
> 
> 
> It's cool in Canada....are your batteries cold?
> 
> --
> Stay Charged!
> Hump
> I-5, Blossvale NY
> 
> 
> > 
> > 
> >   _____
> > 
> > From: elec-trak-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu
> > [mailto:elec-trak-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu] On Behalf Of 
> Ferguson
> > Apiaries
> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 8:15 PM
> > To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> > Subject: (ET) batteries
> > 
> > 
> > I have kept my batteries charged with a Landis but the specific 
> gravity
> > only
> > get at 12. and it dose not run long.  I tried charging without the
> > controller for 10 hours and it still was not above 12.5.  The 
> batteries
> > were
> > bubbling and I gained a couple of points.  These were not the 
> cheap
> > batteries and I have had them two  summers this is the third.  I 
> am a
> > little
> > disappointedly
> > Bill
> > Ferguson Apiaries
> > Hensall, On N0M 1X0
> > http://www.fergusonapiaries.on.ca 
> <http://www.fergusonapiaries.on.ca>
> > http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/grace_to_you/
> > <http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/grace_to_you/>
> --
> Stay Charged!
> Hump
> I-5, Blossvale NY
> 
> 
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