Battery accident!!

[bianchina3]

I bought a battery last summer, Group 27 deep cycle. I just found out that it tipped over and spilled the electrolyte. Most of the acid is gone. I have no idea of the state of the left over acid, except there is not much left.

Can you give me some advice if I can just refill the battery with acid or do I need to replace the whole battery?

Thanks in advance.

Ed

[72cougarxr7]

WyoTraveler wrote:
They may be shipped dry but with epa now doubt you can buy separate acid. Doubt store carries it separate. If you found a shipping vendor it would most likely cost more than a new battery.Suspect you may even have to be licensed to buy that acid separate. Buy another battery. Clean up your spilled acid mess with baking soda and water.

You can buy battery acid at any auto parts store.

[bianchina3]

So what specifically did was filled the battery with distilled water and tried to charge. It would "charge" but would not hold a charge and discharge very quickly. I have left it sitting for a month or so. I think what I will do is empty it and refill with acid and go from there. The worst that can happen is I wasted 20 bucks on some acid?

Ed

[WyoTraveler]

They may be shipped dry but with epa now doubt you can buy separate acid. Doubt store carries it separate. If you found a shipping vendor it would most likely cost more than a new battery.Suspect you may even have to be licensed to buy that acid separate. Buy another battery. Clean up your spilled acid mess with baking soda and water.

[nomad_297]

SoundGuy wrote:
I've never seen a battery in recent memory that wasn't shipped wet, charged and ready to be placed on the store shelf.

I see them all of the time. I have customers who buy battery backup sump pump systems from Home Depot and Lowe's. If they purchase the deep cycle battery with the pump, it comes dry and they have to buy a box containing acid to fill it with. For some reason, never has a customer filled the battery themselves. They seem to think that is the plumber's job.

Bruce

[Chuck_thehammer]

batteries that are shipped DRY are shipped with a Vacuum inside.. (sealed)

air oxidizes the lead plates.

if open to air.. for more than a day or 2.. it is scrap.

you can try it.. acid is cheap.. but you can never recover the full capacity..

lots of information on the internet. HOW and WHY a battery works.

[Bumpyroad]

colliehauler wrote:


Box of acid is not very expensive from auto parts store. I would give it a try if doesn't work your not out much.

x2
bumpy

[colliehauler]

SoundGuy wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Just replace the acid. They are not shipped wet to the store anyway. Put some new acid in it and you're good to go.

I'd have to disagree on both counts ... battery is toast and needs to be replaced. I've never seen a battery in recent memory that wasn't shipped wet, charged and ready to be placed on the store shelf.

All the small wet batteries I have bought, motorcycle and riding mower were shipped dry with a box of acid to fill battery.

Box of acid is not very expensive from auto parts store. I would give it a try if doesn't work your not out much.

With that said if battery was discharged going into winter then it probably froze and only good for a core. I would get a battery maintainer for winter in the future.

[TucsonJim]

When you buy a new battery, consider an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM). They won't be harmed if they tip over.

[SoundGuy]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Just replace the acid. They are not shipped wet to the store anyway. Put some new acid in it and you're good to go.

I'd have to disagree on both counts ... battery is toast and needs to be replaced. I've never seen a battery in recent memory that wasn't shipped wet, charged and ready to be placed on the store shelf.

[time2roll]

That tipped battery is good for the exchange core only.
Tie the replacement down with something solid.

[TucsonJim]

westend wrote:
If the battery sat for any length of time tipped over, it is toast. You can try to fill it with distilled water and charge it but there is little chance it will recover.

X2^

[westend]

If the battery sat for any length of time tipped over, it is toast. You can try to fill it with distilled water and charge it but there is little chance it will recover.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Just replace the acid. They are not shipped wet to the store anyway. Put some new acid in it and you're good to go.