Battery Charging issue: Battery overflowing acid at filler tubes

[RickB]

Hey guys,
I just rewired my two 8d's batteries in parallel to get more amp hours and I have a recurring issue with these batteries. I fill them to the end of the gap in the filler tubes and without even being hooked to anything, they overflowed a few minutes later. They were in direct sunlight so I figured they were just expanding and contracting due to temperature changes. Any thoughts out there?

So I get it all hooked up and start charging and quite a bit of acid come out of a number of the caps. Am I just filling them too full? I was always taught to fill it to the end of the slot or about a half inch from the top of the filler tubes. The batteries are about a year old so I'm hoping I don't have to replace them.

Thanks in advance for being the smartest bunch of guys on the planet.
Rick
P.S. Two guys from Indiana got 100 mpg out of a prius hybrid. I can't believe it would be two non-professional auto guys to come up with a long overdue solution.

[RickB]

After talking with Brian Diehl a.k.a. ( the rescue dude) I have come to the conclusion that I have been filling my bus batteries incorectly for years. I have taken probably a 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of water out of EACH tube in my 8D batteries my new question is:
How much electrolyte do I add if any to raise the acidity back up?

Hunches, guesses, wives tales greatly appreciated...

Frustrated and fried,
Rick

[Ncbob]

First let me establish that I'm not a 'battery expert' just an old guy with what I believe is common sense.

How old are these batteries?  Knowing the Mfr. might help....there's some good and some lousy. Deka is still the best battery made. (I'll get some flak over that statement...but it comes from people in the business who know.)

Old batteries that have been in use and cycled many time lose lead. I know more guys who are in love with old batteries and will waste more time on them than they would gain.  If you don't understand Lead/acid batteries search the archives...there's plenty there.

No one likes to spend money on anything let alone something that gets hidden. If there's a doubt in your mind about the age and condition (use a battery hydrometer or take them to a battery shop you can trust for a charge and load test) save yourself a lot of heartache and replace them.

Best I can do.......

NCbob

[pvcces]

If batteries are discharged when you check the fluid level, you should only make sure that the plates are covered before recharging. While recharging, the level will rise. After the batteries are fully charged, you can bring the fluid level up to the bottom of the slots or to the ring, if that is what you have.

As far as the acid that is now missing, I think that you are best off not doing anything about it. If you are going to anyway, only add a bit of acid to low cells which have lower hydrometer readings.

Equal readings when full charged are what you want. If you tamper with the amount of acid in individual cells, then it will be very difficult to use the readings for diagnosing the health of the cells. If you can simply return what was removed, then it is not a big deal.

For what it is worth.

Tom Caffrey

[edroelle]

You indicated  that you rewired the batteries in parallel (from series?). 

They are now 12 volts.  Are you charging at 24 volts?

Ed Roelle
Flint, MI

[RickB]

It's a 12 volt system. The probelm is I overfilled the filler tubes and then had to drain about a 1/4 to 1/2 cup out of each tube. i think I have messed with the chemistry in the battery and my only choice is to buy some electrolyte and add it to the battery. Or I can buy new batteries.

[eaglekelly]

I had the same problem myself this month. I blamed it on the float charge voltage being set too high. There is no problem with removing fluid as the acid level will return to normal after a week or two. Just check it every week with one of those battery testers with the float balls. I have maintained whole room fulls of lead acid cells for the phone company.

[tekebird]

1. buy yourself a hydrometer.

if there is more than say a 10% or so difference between cells they are on thier way or already past worth trying to save.

correct filling should be to the bottom of the rig or slotted ring which is the top of the cell roof more or less.

what did you fill with, if you used something other than the correct acid, or distilled water you have introduced something new to the chem.

having them boil over generally is a n overfill or overcharging issue

[Sojourner]

Amen to pvcces!
Do what he said.
About adding acid....only after recharging until no increase of specific gravity, than add a little bit of acid and recharge 15 minutes to mix well then recheck specific gravity. Redo this adding a little at a time & recharge until it read 1.265 @ 77° F.
Hydrometer comes with temperature gage to compensate accord to the chart.
http://www.schumacherproducts.com/applications/?id=0007
http://www.adventure.1tree.net/full-time/battery_charge_level.htm

Bottom line is never fill above plates until it fully charge and never charges battery if water is below the top of plates (the gut inside of the battery).

Always keep a specific gravity chart handy so you can have a peace of mind about the condition of your battery.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry