Charging a wet-cell battery; remove cell caps or not ?
Submitted: Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 20:12
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Member - Netnut (VIC)
Hello Forumites,
When charging a wet-cell battery, I disconnect the positive lead from the battery. Then I remove each of the cell caps and cover the top of the battery with a piece of cloth before turning on the charger. I was taught to do it this way by my father; he insisted that this was the best way to avoid any problems with the battery overheating and/or the dispersion of flammable gas.
I've recently purchased a smart charger. Is it necessary to follow this procedure?
Cheers,
Netnut
Reply By: Member - Ed. C. (QLD) - Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 20:15
Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 20:15
No
;-)
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Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 20:28
Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 20:28
Also - NO
They have small breather holes built into the caps
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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 21:08
Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 21:08
Modern Chargers can detect when the battery is approaching full charge and drop back the charge rate before intense gassing and bubbling occurs. This is how wetcell batteries release the energy which can no longer be absorbed by the chemicals when fully charged.
With the older generation brute-force chargers the only way full charge was obvious was from intense gassing !
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Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 22:46
Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 22:46
Depends upon the style of charger you are using. If you are using one of the old style quick chargers the answer is yes. When you are stirring the battery that hard you can get bits coming off the plates and blocking the holes. That is where the old timers "remove the caps" comes from. There are not many of those quick chargers around these days.
PeterD
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Maîneÿ . . .- Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 22:50
Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 22:50
another ... N0
Maîneÿ . . .
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Reply By: pop2jocem - Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 22:56
Sunday, Aug 02, 2009 at 22:56
must remember to remove the caps from the Cruiser batteries when travelling
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Reply By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 00:05
Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 00:05
And another NO from me. The caps have adequate vents to accommodate any gassing.
However, if you feel that you really must undo the caps, then simply loosen them and leave them sitting in the battery opening to prevent acid spray from getting all over your battery top.
AnswerID:
377338
Reply By: RV Powerstream P/L - Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 08:42
Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 08:42
Well I must be queer as I would say Yes to chech the
water level befiore charging and then put them back on.
Ian
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Follow Up By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 12:15
Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 12:15
Yes, of course you're right Ian ....... but I don't think that's queer! LOL
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Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 13:11
Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 13:11
Thanks Allan
I wasnt sure how to put it with all the NO's I didnt want to look like a smart arse and it has no effect on me if someone thinks Im odd and now that I look at it ODD looks better than QUEER.
Cheers
Ian
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644738
Follow Up By: Member - Ed. C. (QLD) - Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 14:13
Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 14:13
All things in context I guess, Ian ;-)
The way I read the question was, "Is it necessary to remove the cell caps (and leave them off), and cover the top of the battery with a piece of cloth while charging?" (with a new 'smart' charger)...
The answer to that question is, quite simply, "No"..
(hence all the replies to that effect;-))
The removal of the cell caps to check electrolyte levels, is a separate issue (though it does of course make good sense to do it before, during, and after charging, and every time you change the engine oil, and indeed, any time you feel like it;-)) ...
Catch ya later....... Ed C
;-))
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"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand,
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Follow Up By: Member - Netnut (VIC) - Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 19:28
Monday, Aug 03, 2009 at 19:28
To all respondents,
Thank you for your considered replies, even the very short ones. I expect that some other members - and some of our many
forum visitors - will have gained some benefit from the exchange. I certainly have !
Cheers,
Netnut
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Reply By: RV Powerstream P/L - Tuesday, Aug 04, 2009 at 07:35
Tuesday, Aug 04, 2009 at 07:35
Net Nut good luck with your venture and Im sure your Dad would have advised you correctly re checking the
water.
Ed I take your point and maybe I should have been politically correct and left the
water as another matter but Net Nut is not the only one who will read the responses and not everyone ubderstands batteries and Im sure some would not think to check the
water or think they did not have to so if we responded to questions with just the answer we could be ill advising people who could damage their batteries and that to me is not what this
forum is about .
Ian
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