The specific gravity of the electrolyte in a fully charged cell should be from 1.280 to 1.300. If it varies more than 10 points above or below these values, adjust it by drawing off some of the electrolyte with a hydrometer and adding water to lower the gravity, or 1.400 acid to raise the gravity.
How would you adjust the specific gravity for a lead acid battery?
A lead-acid battery cell is fully charged with a specific gravity of 1.265 at 80° F. For temperature adjustments, get a specific gravity reading and adjust to temperature by adding . 004 for every 10° F above 80° F and subtracting . 004 for every 10° F below 80° F.
What if specific gravity of battery is low?
The specific gravity of electrolyte must be kept within 1.180 to 1.240. Low value of specific gravity decreases the capacity of battery and on the other hand high value is harmful for the battery plates.
What would be the best remedy if the specific gravity of the battery is to low?
If the SG is too low, draw off some electrolyte and replace it with 1.300 specific gravity acid.. Charge the battery for a further two hours after any replacement to mix the electrolyte thoroughly before taking another reading..
How do you increase the capacity of a lead acid battery?
Rather than leaving a battery on a continuous float charge during storage, it is better to leave it open-circuited, and recharge it every week or two in order to replace energy lost through self-discharge.
When should you check specific gravity of a battery?
As this measurement provides a more accurate reading of state of charge than open circuit voltage, we recommend that you focus on specific gravity for your batteries. The battery must sit for at least 2 hours before a measurement can be made.
How do you add electrolytes to a car battery?
A common rule of thumb is to add enough water to cover the electrodes or plates. For newer batteries that are fully charged, you can safely add enough electrolyte that the level meets the bottom of the filler tube.
How do you restore specific gravity of a battery?
Specific Gravity at the End of the Charge.
If it varies more than 10 points above or below these values, adjust it by drawing off some of the electrolyte with a hydrometer and adding water to lower the gravity, or 1.400 acid to raise the gravity. After adjusting the gravity charge for one hour more.
What is the specific gravity of a dead battery?
If any cell shows a specific gravity more than 0.05 less than the others, the cell is dead and the battery will have to be replaced. For example, if five cells read 1.260 and one reads 1.254 (a difference of 0.06) the cell is dead.
What tool is used to measure the specific gravity of a battery?
hydrometer
In the case of battery testing, the hydrometer is measuring the specific gravity of the battery’s electrolyte. The higher the acid concentration in the electrolyte, the higher the specific gravity. Based on the specific gravity, the user can determine the state of charge of the battery.
How do you maintain a 12v lead acid battery?
How Do I Maintain Deep-Cycle Batteries?
- Program your voltage set points so that the battery bank charges at the proper voltage.
- Refill flooded lead-acid batteries with distilled water every 2-4 weeks as needed.
- Regularly check battery state of charge.
- Clean terminal connections and cables to prevent corrosion.
Which electrolyte is used in lead acid battery?
sulfuric acid
Lead-acid battery consists of lead and lead dioxide as electrodes and sulfuric acid as electrolyte [12- 13], which has been developed as dynamic battery.
Can you trickle charge a lead acid battery?
You can also consider using a trickle charger. A trickle charger is designed to charge your battery slowly over a period of time and not overcharge it. Some trickle chargers can be safely connected to the battery for a few days while others are designed to stay connected for a few months.
Can you recondition a deep cycle battery?
A deep cycle battery can be reconditioned using distilled water, baking soda and Epsom salts at home. Start by draining the battery acid. Then, heat some distilled water and add the Epsom salt to it. Fill the battery cells with this solution.
Does the specific gravity increase or decrease as the battery discharges?
The specific gravity decreases during the discharging of a battery to a value near that of pure water and it increases during a recharge.When the electrolyte is near the low-level mark, the specific gravity is higher than nominal and drops as water is added to the cell to bring the electrolyte to the full level.
Are battery hydrometers accurate?
Freas hydrometers are guaranteed to remain accurate throughout the entire life of the instrument. The ‘basic’ Freas No. 1 battery hydrometer measures specific gravity from 1.250–1.275 graduated in 0.002 degree.
How do you test a lead acid battery with a hydrometer?
Insert the Hydrometer
Press on the bulb that acts as a syringe. You should see fluid filling the hydrometer. Continue to squeeze the bulb until the battery electrolyte solution fills the device to the maximum level. This device tests each cell by measuring the specific gravity of the fluid.
How do you make an electrolyte solution for a lead acid battery?
Add distilled water to the lead-acid battery. The fluid in your lead-acid battery is called electrolyte. It’s actually a mixture of sulphuric acid and water. When your battery charges, the electrolyte heats up and some of the water evaporates.
How do you replace electrolytes in a lead acid battery?
The only electrolyte that can be used in a lead-acid battery is sulfuric acid. Adding anything but water to a battery can instantly damage it, but some substances are worse than others. For example, baking soda can neutralize the sulfuric acid present in a battery’s electrolyte solution.
How do you replace acid in a lead acid battery?
You can also try to replace the acid inside a battery and mix a new acid with the distilled water. Then, recharge the battery for a few hours. In any case, you will get a new battery that can last for a long time.
What happens if battery water is low?
Low water level means the electrolyte will be out of balance and the battery cells will become too acidic resulting in sulphation on the battery plates. The non-conductive lead sulphate crystals will hinder flow of current through the electrolyte.
Contents