Does hot weather affect battery performance?
I have four 12 volt lead acid deep cycle batteries in a vented metal box on the tongue of my Toy Hauler. We recently have gone through several days of 100 degree temps. Made me start thinking about...
Forum Discussion
Traditionally, high temperature and a flooded battery can be corrected by adjusting electrolyte gravity and the temperature compensation primary voltage.
It takes wool clothing, a 5-gallon bucket, safety glasses, gloves, an accurate hydrometer, a funnel, and a gallon jug of distilled water.
The battery must be brand spanking new. Then top charged and left overnight disconnected from the charger.
Invert the battery and drain the cells into the bucket. Every last drop is not important.
Establish bucket gravity with the hydrometer. OEM should be 1.275 to 1.280
You are going to dilute the electrolyte with distilled water until it weakens to 1.260 on the hydrometer.
You have one shot at this. Or, if over-diluted, buy a 2-1/2 gallon carton of battery electrolyte and start over.
Pour the water into a glass or cup. Mix it into the electrolyte, then remeasure.
Reduce specific gravity to 1.260
Refill each cell to original level but no higher.
The excess acid can go into the emptied in another container distilled water jug. Mark it. DANGER BATTERY ACID then return it to the place where you bought the battery.
In the tropics adjusting battery specific gravity can treble long-term battery life. Treble means 300%
The adjustment has minimal impact on 20-hour ampere performance and only the most modest of reductions in C.C.A.
Savings versus effort must be weighed. The word savings and the word effort are ambiguous. Up to 300% isn't.
And yes, there is a corresponding adjustment for ARCTIC environments. Electrolyte is adjusted to 1.300
It takes wool clothing, a 5-gallon bucket, safety glasses, gloves, an accurate hydrometer, a funnel, and a gallon jug of distilled water.
The battery must be brand spanking new. Then top charged and left overnight disconnected from the charger.
Invert the battery and drain the cells into the bucket. Every last drop is not important.
Establish bucket gravity with the hydrometer. OEM should be 1.275 to 1.280
You are going to dilute the electrolyte with distilled water until it weakens to 1.260 on the hydrometer.
You have one shot at this. Or, if over-diluted, buy a 2-1/2 gallon carton of battery electrolyte and start over.
Pour the water into a glass or cup. Mix it into the electrolyte, then remeasure.
Reduce specific gravity to 1.260
Refill each cell to original level but no higher.
The excess acid can go into the emptied in another container distilled water jug. Mark it. DANGER BATTERY ACID then return it to the place where you bought the battery.
In the tropics adjusting battery specific gravity can treble long-term battery life. Treble means 300%
The adjustment has minimal impact on 20-hour ampere performance and only the most modest of reductions in C.C.A.
Savings versus effort must be weighed. The word savings and the word effort are ambiguous. Up to 300% isn't.
And yes, there is a corresponding adjustment for ARCTIC environments. Electrolyte is adjusted to 1.300
