Oddly enough there is data regarding internal self discharge. For an empirical test, charge an old battery that has had distilled water added to cover the tops of the plates to some known voltage after the "float" or surface charge effect has been run down. Use a 12V light to draw a minimum current until the battery reads ~13 VDC on a good meter. Even in an isolated environment with a clean case there will be a slow but discernable discharge that will continue until the battery is well below the nominal 12VDC. Lower temperatures can slow the process slightly but it will continue. There is a compound that can be added to the battery electrolyte that will also greatly retard the rate of discharge but not stop it entirely. pensioner (slave to entropy) |
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