westhinder
Well-Known Member
My two 105 Ah batteries are over 10 years old and starting to get tired. Is it possible/does it make sense to top them up with fresh electrolyte instead of distilled water?
topping up older batteries
- Thread starter westhinder
- Start date
JonJon
Well-Known Member
I dont know, I would have thought if the plates were clagging up with sulphate crystals then fresh electrolyte would do no good. But I wonder has anybody tried these pulsers I have seen advertised? - supposed to resonate the crystals back into solution. Sounds too good to be true.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
Surely, if they're 10 years old, they don't owe you anything. In my experience, all the potions you can get to rejuvenate tired batteries are pretty useless.
Bite the bullet and visit a caravan shop or do a google on leisure, traction or deep cycle batteries.
Bite the bullet and visit a caravan shop or do a google on leisure, traction or deep cycle batteries.
Robin
Well-Known Member
Ten years is pretty good and 105Ah batteries aren't that pricey, why not treat yourself to some new ones! Adding acid and other tricks is a waste of time IMO, sorry.
LittleShip
Well-Known Member
Talk to these people, very helpful and can supply whatever you will need.
http://www.adverc.co.uk/index.asp
http://www.adverc.co.uk/index.asp
boatmike
Well-Known Member
It is possible to drain flush and refill any battery which can give it extra life assuming that the plates are in reasonable condition and not eroded or bent. Deep cycle batteries don't exactly lead a protected life however and it's unlikely they will be much good anyway. It's not an easy amateur job and frankly at 10 years of age I agree with the other posters. Buy some new ones!
VicMallows
Well-Known Member
Agree with boatmike. You can get 105Ah batteries for £39 at caravan oulets/TowSure/etc, and in my experience will last as well as any.
Many, many years ago I used to look after miners lamps. Changing the electrolyte on the NIFE (nickel-iron, but really nickel cadmium) ones was certainly worth while; doing so on the lead-acid ones was a waste of time. Interestingly, the miners always prefered the NIFE ones! (except for the really old miners at a 'safe' mine who prefered acetylene!).
Vic
Many, many years ago I used to look after miners lamps. Changing the electrolyte on the NIFE (nickel-iron, but really nickel cadmium) ones was certainly worth while; doing so on the lead-acid ones was a waste of time. Interestingly, the miners always prefered the NIFE ones! (except for the really old miners at a 'safe' mine who prefered acetylene!).
Vic
trouville
N/A
105amphrs a bit big! but i saved my batteries buy connecting them and leaving the on an 18w solar panel without a diod. There 55 and 65 amp hr and each has its own panel.
4/5 years ago i was about to throw them overboard.But not being able to replace them i connected my 85w solar panels to them and after a few days they were 14.6v
I topped up the water and left them with my 18w panels since then ive taken off two panels and charge them both with one 18w one week one next the other and there still at 14.6v on charge!!
They are about 8 years old and i found them on the key,by a bin, i asked the skipper if they were for the tip and he said i could have them as they were two seasons old!
4/5 years ago i was about to throw them overboard.But not being able to replace them i connected my 85w solar panels to them and after a few days they were 14.6v
I topped up the water and left them with my 18w panels since then ive taken off two panels and charge them both with one 18w one week one next the other and there still at 14.6v on charge!!
They are about 8 years old and i found them on the key,by a bin, i asked the skipper if they were for the tip and he said i could have them as they were two seasons old!