Date:         Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:32:46 -0600
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: NVC Small battery question
Comments: To: pat <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <0LZW009FFW1U5HT9@vms173001.mailsrvcs.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- pat <psdooley@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
> Or maybe better said, a question about a small battery.
>
> Not for a Vanagon, but I hope to garner some list wisdom and maybe help
> someone else with the knowledge in the future.
>
> I have an ATV/motorsport battery (9BS) that is acting strange.
>
> It shows 12.6V at rest, but drops to about 0.13V when any load is applied,
> even a 12V lightbulb.
>
> I popped the caps and the electrolyte was very low in all the cells.  The
> plates looked pretty clean so I bought some battery acid and filled it up.
>
> Gave it a 2amp charge until indicated fully charged, about 4-5 hours later.
> Now my test light burns bright- promising.
>
> However, when installed in my motorcycle, it cranks half a turn and dies.
>
> So, the battery is probably damaged even though the inside looks pretty
> good, from what I can see.
>
>
>
> Just thought maybe someone here has some experience with bringing batteries
> like this back to life.
>
> Any help or advice before I buy a new battery is appreciated.

Pat, you said that you "bought some battery acid and filled it up."  If the fluid was low, and the battery was in service without leaking, the missing fluid was almost certainly simply water.  The acid itself was still in the battery, simply more concentrated than before the water evaporated.  So, if you added "battery acid" that was diluted to the proper concentration for the battery, you would now have a battery with too high an acid concentration.  Checking to find out what the proper pH is (I don't recall off the top of my head) and checking the pH of the fluid in your battery would tell you that.  Or checking the specific gravity would also tell you.

The symptoms you described do not sound like that is your problem.  If my diagnosis is correct, it would be A problem.  fixing that might not remedy everything going on however, as you had symptoms both before and after.  But it might help.

mcneely

--
David McNeely