Reasons Why Batteries Fail - Holiday Navigator 2003 Owner's Manual

1. Physical Condition:
Active material flakes off the plates and falls to the bottom of the
cell. This is normal, but sediment accumulation under the plates
can short out a cell. The plate separators fail to insulate positive
and negative plates in a cell and the cell becomes shorted, ruining
the battery.
2. Insufficient Electrolyte:
This allows exposed portions of the plates to sulfate rapidly. This
reduces the battery's ability to accept a charge and the battery
capacity is reduced. Accelerated erosion of the lower portions of
the plates occur from higher than normal acid content due to water
loss. Only the water evaporates, not the acid. The battery also has
a higher internal resistance when low on water. Add only distilled
water. Fill each cell to the bottom of the vent well when the battery
is warm. Filling a very cold battery with water to the bottom of
the vent well will cause overspill when the battery warms up and
the plates expand. A Battery Formula For Failure: the battery has a
higher internal resistance when low on water, therefore: high
resistance = more heat = shorter battery life!
3. Sulfation:
When a battery remains discharged for too long the accumulated
lead sulfate in the plate material solidifies and cannot reenter the
electrolyte. When a battery is left in a discharged state the lead
sulfate will crystallize. Charging the battery does not move the
crystallized lead sulfate off the battery plate. The battery is damaged.
4. Overheating:
The chemical reaction inside of the battery is increased when the
battery temperature rises above 125º F. This increases the corrosion
of the plates and reduces the battery life. When overheated, the
battery plates tend to buckle and destroy the structural integrity of
the battery.
5. Freezing:
When the electrolyte freezes, ice formed dislodges the active
material from the plates. The battery case may crack and the
electrolyte will leak out when thawed. It is especially important to
keep a battery at full charge in cold weather to prevent freezing. The
high specific gravity of a fully charged battery does not freeze as
easily. Never attempt to charge a frozen battery. Warm it up first.
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Electrical Systems - House
Reasons Why
Batteries Fail
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