by Tiger650 » 24 Aug 2017, 8:08 pm
G'day Heepie
A flooded cell battery will drop fluid level quickly when the charging system regulator goes tits up and charge voltage gets above about 13.6V for a 12V battery, lots of hydrogen generated [whoopee gas near an ignition source] and then the vehicle alternator will fail.
In the 1980s the Suzuki GSX250 was renowned for this, dealers would get to sell a kid a new battery, a new reg/rectifier and a new alternator, probably 30% of the value of a bike.
I could write a book on batteries but it has already been done several times, nowadays I use AGM/VRLA batteries and an ammeter, problem solved.
Rather than store an old battery in the shed think about dumping a 500g packet of Bi-Carb of soda into a bucket and empty the electrolyte from the battery into that, be careful as it will his and bubble and spit but the alkaline Bi-Carb will neutralize the Sulphuric acid in the electrolyte, better than having an acid bomb in the shed.
Used batteries are considerable pollution issue, lead and acid and such, but WTF would I know ? the greensters will have us all driving battery powered dodgem car ****** soon.
I have distopian visions of some poor bastard in his self driving ElonMuskMobile tapping away at his "device" when remote artificial intelligence decides that his latest post to Facetwitter is inappropriate, vehicle doors lock and he is delivered to a depot of The Ministry of Love for rigorous debriefing.
Excuse me wandering from the battery topic.