Possible re-con of wet cell batteries
Submitted: Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 11:55
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ob
Some years ago I ran across a bloke who claimed he could extend the life of a battery suffering a near death experience.
What this lad said he did was drain and flush the old electrolyte and re-fill with new battery acid. His theory was that the old stuff got diluted with use and by putting in new acid and charging battery life could be extended provided the internals had not suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure.
Anyone tried this or got any thoughts as to why it would or would not work?
Never tried it myself but with the cost of replacing batteries it maybe worth a shot.
ob
Reply By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:12
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:12
Gooday Ob,
it used to be common practice to flush and refill with new acid. I often did it while in the navy (a long time ago). Didn't always work, and you have the problem of storing / getting rid of the old acid with lots of contaminants.
With cheaper modern construction methods, relatively lower purchase price, and much higher labour costs for "servicing" batteries, storing of new acid etc, and getting rid of used product, it is no longer economical to do so. Not to mention the occupational health and safety rules surrounding such a process.
regards
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Follow Up By: Bill BD - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:44
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:44
Go with Fred's advice. With
the hazards assosciated with storing and handling the old and new acid, plus the disposal of the old acid.....better to just buy a new battery.
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Reply By: Outback Gazz - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:23
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:23
G'day ob
I used to do that with my batteries when I raced motorbikes a number of years ago. Ran a total loss system with the battery on the bike which would last 3 to 4 races a day. I never topped up the batteries with distilled water always with battery acid. Worked
well on the bike but not sure with a car as I have never tried it. I would hazzard a guess if you did it to a battery that is on it's last legs you could possibly get another 6 months out of it ! You might get a different story from someone more educated in that field from this website.
Cheers
Gazz
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Reply By: Battery Value Pty Ltd - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 15:07
Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 15:07
Hi ob,
at the root of an old and tired flooded type battery there are always a number of causes, none of them except one (diluted electrolyte) can be rectified by replacing the electrolyte.
These effects are
grid embrittlement and corrosion/growth, active material shedding, sulphation and hydration.
A modern battery is made with factory recycling in mind, so that it usually doesn't make economical (nor environmental) sense trying to squeeze a bit more life out of it by replacing the electrolyte.
cheers, Peter
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