Batteries are delicate to handle and at the same time very dangerous. Batteries have an electrolyte inside them. The electrolyte is made up of water and acid.
The acid in this case is sulfuric acid which is very dangerous and can cause acid burns when not handled properly. The battery can also cause electric shocks. In cases where there is a battery short-circuit, extensive damages can occur.
A battery consists of individual cells welded together in series. Each welded cell has several plates joined together. These connections are delicate to disconnect and should be handled with the proper care.
Batteries are enclosed in a casing and when this casing is subjected to excessive force it can break. A broken case will allow the electrolyte to leak. When the electrolyte leaks, damage like corrosion and the battery will weaken.
Some of the safety measures that can be observed include:
Issue Batteries From The Store Using The FIFO Method
FIFO stands for First In, First Out. With this in place, the oldest batteries will be used first. Batteries degrade naturally with time, meaning the longer they are stored without use, the shorter their lifespan. You should, therefore, aim to store batteries for the shortest time possible before they are used.
When the battery store management is done well, management of the battery stock becomes easy and even identification of stock dates becomes easy.
Ensure Unfilled Batteries Are Used Last
When the battery is not filled with any electrolytes, they don’t undergo any chemical reactions and need no major maintenance. If you have filled and unfilled batteries in store, use the filled ones first. You should not put the filled and unfilled batteries together while in the store.
Store Filled Batteries At Full Charge
A battery that is partially charged may freeze when temperatures are low leading to complete damage to the battery.
When batteries are stored with a low charge, they undergo sulfation and the battery cells and plates will be damaged beyond repair. You therefore need to test all the filled batteries and note their charge level. For the batteries to keep full charge you can have a trickle charger connected.
Where Filled Batteries Are Stored In The Room;
There is proper ventilation to let out excess heat.
Ensure that the ventilation is sufficient enough to allow the flow of air into the environment. This will avoid the build-up of excess hydrogen gas which is released from the batteries as they self-discharge.
Check Charge Levels From Time To Time
The battery will lose charge through self-discharge from time to time. The charge level is likely to drop even when the battery is full at the checking point. The rate of self-discharge however slow, as time elapses, the loss will be significant to have the battery damaged through sulfation.
It is advisable to connect a battery tender to have the battery at full charge or charge the battery every 6 months if not in use.
Measure The Battery’s specific Gravity
The specific gravity of the acid will give the level of concentration of the acid. Apart from that, it also indicates the charge level of the battery. The electrolyte has a mixture of water and acid at 65% and 35% respectively. The specific gravity of this mixture when the battery is fully charged is 1.26-1.28
When the specific gravity gets low, it indicates that there is more water than acid in the mixture. When the specific gravity is beyond those figures, it implies that the acid in more than water in the mixture.
When sulfuric acid is over diluted it means there will be fewer sulfur ions available to react with the electrodes and lead plates. When the acid is more concentrated it means it has more sulfuric acid. When the battery has more sulfuric acid, corrosion of the battery plates and electrodes will occur.
Perform Open-Circuit Voltage Test From Time To Time
To know the potential level between the battery terminals when the battery has no load connected then an open circuit voltage test is done. When the battery is fully charged, the open circuit should read around 12.6 Volts. A battery should not be allowed to fall below 12.3 volts. The battery must be recharged immediately if the levels go below 12.3 volts.
Filled Batteries Should Be Transported In An Upright Position
To prevent the electrolyte from spilling this upright position is recommended. You need also to make sure that the batteries are protected from tilting and too much vibration as transportation goes on.
About the number of batteries you can stack in a pallet, you can refer to the manual from the manufacturer.
Use A Well-Ventilated Vehicle To Transport Filled Up Batteries
Reactions take place inside the battery even when there is no load connected. This means some amount of hydrogen gas will be produced. When many batteries are being transported, it means the concentration of hydrogen gas will rise. As we have mentioned in our previous articles, concentration levels of above 4% are dangerous and can ignite with the slightest spark.
Have Acid-Neutralizing Agents And Fire Extinguishers
In case of acid spills, the concentration needs to be neutralized. Batteries when not handled well can explode and fire can start. The vehicle in which the batteries are being transported should be well equipped to be able to deal with fire incidences.
Conclusion
Batteries need to be handled with the care they deserve. Filled batteries should be stored appropriately and the personnel handling the batteries should have the right PPE. Some of the PPE include an apron or overall, for the clothing, acid-resistant gloves for the hands, and eye goggles for the eye.