I let my batteries go dry at the top of the plates. Are the batteries ruined?

[Kevin Warnock]

I accidentally twice now have let about a quarter inch of the top of the plates in my 4 Trojan L16H house batteries go dry. What exactly have I done? Have I ruined my $1,000 battery bank? Can I fix any damage? I put distilled water in each time I discovered my error. I wasn't using the batteries each time, but they were floating on a 100 watt solar panel system, so they were getting a small charge each day, but there was no usage of the batteries while they were dry, to my memory.

Thanks,

[Tony LEE]

It certainly wouldn't help longevity, but since the amount exposed was not large, you should still get reasonable service out of them. Nothing you can do about it anyway and the important thing is to prevent it happening again

What is more concerning is why the water is being lost. Have you got a quality solar regulator in the system or is the panel connected directly to the batteries. The regulator should charge and float at well below the level that causes water loss, while no regulator would allow uncontrolled charging and cause water loss.


Also if the batteries do get that low again, the proper procedure is to top up enough to cover the plates, charge the battery and then adjust the water level by more topping up if necessary.  This reduces the chance of overflow.

[Utahclaimjumper]

The short answer is no>>>Dan

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi MCI5a,

You could be overcharging your batteries!  You will have to tell us more about your system for us to know that.

Which charging system do you have?

Refill all the cells with distilled water and charge the bank. Then, use a hydrometer on each cell to determine the charge state to be equal.

Try reading this link
http://www.marine-electronics.net/techarticle/battery_faq/b_faq.htm#6

Good Luck
Nick-

[Barn Owl]

The parts of the plates that are exposed to air will sulfate and you will loose a small amount of capacity. Where I work we run electric mules and this happens more often than it should, but it does not typically ruin the batteries, it just decreases their usable life.

[mike davis]

The parts of the plates that are exposed to air will sulfate and you will loose a small amount of capacity. Where I work we run electric mules and this happens more often than it should, but it does not typically ruin the batteries, it just decreases their usable life.

you said what I was going to say When I got my RV the house battery was dry and dead I filled it with water and charged it I think it's at 60%-70%   It was ok since I have a genny But I just bought a new one to start the bus

                                       mike

[niles500]

Sounds like you really need hydrocaps - long periods on solar unattended - HTH

[HB of CJ]

Too many factors to answer correctly here.  Best quick guess is that a little capacity was lost.  How much remains unknown.  An $inexpensive$ regulator would be $cheaper$ than Hydrocaps.  The good news is that L16's are nearly bulletproof...except, unforunately, when boiled low or dry. 

[Dallas]

I accidentally twice now have let about a quarter inch of the top of the plates in my 4 Trojan L16H house batteries go dry. What exactly have I done? Have I ruined my $1,000 battery bank? Can I fix any damage? I put distilled water in each time I discovered my error. I wasn't using the batteries each time, but they were floating on a 100 watt solar panel system, so they were getting a small charge each day, but there was no usage of the batteries while they were dry, to my memory.

Thanks,

The small charge you mention wasn't really that small. 100W / 12Vdc = 8.3333+ amps. Unregulated charging is going to cause boiling.

That's a lot of amperage to be forcing into the batteries each and every day. No wonder they boiled the juice out.

If you are going to be putting that kind of charge in everyday, do like has been mentioned and acquire a solar charge controller or in the interim, be like Motel 6 and put a 6.5A lightbulb in line along with a diode. It won't cure the problem, but it will slow down the boiling.

Dallas

[Kevin Warnock]

I have a Trace C40 charge controller in place. I ran out of water because I left the batteries over a year without filling. Sorry I wasn't more clear before.

Would Hydrocaps have helped me in this situation?

Thanks

[gus]

As others have said it appears you are overcharging.

I would get a good smart charger like the Battery Tender and use that instead of the one you have.

I have never lost liquid using these chargers. I think the max amps from the Battery Tender is 1.5a so you won't ever do much damage with one.

[Tony LEE]

Trace unit should be perfect. Check the water ever 6 months - or at least beginning and late summer and it should be fine. Even if the controller is set up perfectly, if the summers are hot, you will get some evaporation. Water level needs to be to the bottom of the 'skirt' around the filler opening.

Not sure how often that unit does an equalise cycle but I would cut it down to once every two or three months if you have a choice.

[Sojourner]

About been 1/4" or less should be OK because the active surface on plate start at about 1/4" below top of divider or separators. You maybe just be in time to save & correct the level.
By all mean you are charging too much to cause gassing beyond its needs. As other has posted.
If you're not sure if it fully charge or what level "state of charge" while water is too low to hydrometer test...do the following:
Load test to determine if it strong...if so just fill it to ring level...otherwise if not strong don't add water unless lower than top of plates until it charged...water will rise...perhaps to "filled" level ring. Re-load test to see what condition of battery. You should be fine.
Load test:
http://autorepair.about.com/library/weekly/aa101604c.htm
Make sure load tester capable to handle the battery's CA rating. And follow the instruction.

About battery:
http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html
Update version:
http://www.batteryfaq.org/

All battery retailers now use Load Tester. They can check it for you for free. But it must be fully charged before testing. Make sure they compensate battery's temperature to tester's scale reading.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[JohnEd]

Hey!  What Tony said.  The Trace should be all you need.  The operative word there was "should".  The solar cell seems capable of overcharging.  The Trace should regulate the solar output and simply;y pass on using the excess power.  With the sun at high noon: measure the trickle charge and verify that it is what is called for including the battery temperature factor.  You have bat temp compensation...right?

You can see sulfication of the plates.  Use a flashlight at night and look in the cell fill hole.  If you equalize the bat a few times you will eliminate the sulf. on the plates.  I don't think I would eliminate this function unless I could not get to the bat to check water level every 3 months.  The worst thing possible is to let it run flat and sit there.....ruined shortly but "shocking" it after it is ruined with high voltage will return some of the life sacrificed to sulf.  Deep cycle only...start bats don't respond.

John

[niles500]

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:IWPF18ZpXXoJ:store.solar-electric.com/hydrocaps.html+hydrocaps&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:7_FNf9XUGnoJ:store.solar-electric.com/batwatmiscap.html+hydrocaps&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us