I just stepped into the Hilton to check electrolyte levels in a pair of 6V's I have in a vented box inside the trailer. Some genius forgot to put the caps back on from the last fill-up. The cover was on the box so any and all acid was confined inside (and there wasn't all that much splattered about) but I feel slightly senile. I wiped the tops down and applied baking soda, liberally. When it is all neutralized, I'll break the connections down, clean, and reconnect. It could have been worse, I guess but it's a reminder to stay on task until completed. On a side note, the Napa Battery Terminal spray is a wonderful thing. wherever it was applied, there was no indication of any acid corrosion.

Welcome to the "been there done that" clan! Stories like this are so much more enjoyable than 'Went to look at the batteries and nothing to report as I did everything right'!

I just did something yesterday about the same way... Filled up my lawn mower and hit the yard and finally came back in under the trees to sit a while and cool down...Looked down at the mower and its missing the fuel cap - yup I guess I didn't put it back on. So I went and walked the yard a bit knowing no way would I find the cap. Nothing showing up and on the way back to the tree I kicked it up out of the grass not even looking for it haha...There was two butterflys close by too... I was kinda of following them back as they were staying with me and they made a jog in their route which I did the same... Probably my dad telling me I need to more observant... I tipped my hat to the butterflys and headed back to the shade under the trees...Fun when you get in the mid 70s I guess...Roy Ken

RoyB wrote:I just did something yesterday about the same way... Filled up my lawn mower and hit the yard and finally came back in under the tress to sit a while and cool down...Looked down at the mower and its missing the fuel cap - yup I guess i didn't put it back on. So I went and walked the yard a bit knowing no way would would I find the cap. Nothing showing up and on the way back to the tree I kicked it up out of the grass not even looking for it haha...geesch...Fun when you get in the mid 70s I guess...Roy KenI am confused... what is this "lawn mower" you refer to? I seem to remember around 20 years ago selling some items getting ready to hit the road. There may have been such a device in the pile.. These days, the park(s) lawn service operate equipment which may resemble the one you speak of.Live long and prosper!Jim

SENILITYWhen you forget to dress and walk outside buck nakedALZHEIMER'SWhen the ladies point and giggle and you don't even blush.

JIM-LINDA Some of us still have to cut grass where we live hehe...Roy Ken

I am such a dunce... | Good Sam Community

Horizon170
Explorer
Aug 04, 2016
I cut front and back yards two hours ago---------------Oh my, wait, this is about batteries. I try to get no maintenance type so I don't have to check. The Wife has a reminder list of our 18 batteries. I finally have it about 50/50 now.
Marvin
timmac
Explorer
Aug 04, 2016
Oh I see now, I thought you had them mixed up in one bank, but if you run both banks together does not the AGM type discharge a little faster than the flooded, unless they are the cheap flooded type.
westend
Explorer
Aug 03, 2016
timmac wrote:
westend wrote:
timmac wrote:
Go AGM batteries and put those filling water into battery days behind you.

AGM needs no maintenance what so ever..
I have a bank of AGM's, also. My decision to use FLA was based on price.

Somewhere in the future, I will have all AGM but that may be a few years down the road. That is, if I remember I have batteries, lol.

Your saying you have a mix of AGM and flood type batteries ?, you should only have AGM or Flood, never a mix..
Well, you'd have to give me some more information and science as to the reasons of that proclamation. Maybe, you don't know that I have these different batteries in two separate banks. It is not like I tried to parallel a single AGM with an FLA.

I do have bank separation switches but I've found that my programmable solar controller does a better job of charging management then I can, manually. In storage, the two banks are connected to the controller and everyone is happy.

The cleanup has gone well, electrolyte levels checked, and the caps are again secured to the batteries. If nothing else, the batteries are as clean as new.
timmac
Explorer
Aug 03, 2016
westend wrote:
timmac wrote:
Go AGM batteries and put those filling water into battery days behind you.

AGM needs no maintenance what so ever..
I have a bank of AGM's, also. My decision to use FLA was based on price.

Somewhere in the future, I will have all AGM but that may be a few years down the road. That is, if I remember I have batteries, lol.

Your saying you have a mix of AGM and flood type batteries ?, you should only have AGM or Flood, never a mix..
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2016
yeah, I just did that on the Z Turn. Neighbor had a comment on the bunch of wadded up paper towels i had jammed in the hole. Hey it worked.

Found the cap in among the hydraulic hoses the other day when I was blowing the clippings off the thing. :S
Naio
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2016
Oh, westend, you make me feel better about all my foolish mistakes!
westend
Explorer
Jul 30, 2016
timmac wrote:
Go AGM batteries and put those filling water into battery days behind you.

AGM needs no maintenance what so ever..
I have a bank of AGM's, also. My decision to use FLA was based on price.

Somewhere in the future, I will have all AGM but that may be a few years down the road. That is, if I remember I have batteries, lol.
time2roll
Nomad
Jul 30, 2016
Trade your cap for a battery watering system. Safety alone is worth the price.
timmac
Explorer
Jul 30, 2016
Go AGM batteries and put those filling water into battery days behind you.

AGM needs no maintenance what so ever..
John_Joey
Explorer
Jul 30, 2016
All I got to say is youth is wasted on the young.