A battery must have an electrolyte for the chemical reactions to take place. The electrolyte is made up of battery acid which is sulfuric acid diluted with distilled water. The acid (sulfuric acid) provides the sulfate ions that are very important during the reaction.
As a reconditioning technique new battery acid can be added to an old battery. What this does is that it will give new impetus to the battery and when the battery is charged using a slow charger, the battery will probably regain up to 70% of its rated capacity
Acid is highly corrosive and can cause acid burns and care must be taken when handling the new acid and the old battery. Although not proven, it is thought that prolonged exposure to battery acid can cause cancer. When handling an acid battery you need to have the right protective gear on.
How to Add Acid To Battery?
Personal protection is needed when handling acid. You will need the following:
- Rubber gloves. The gloves should preferably be rubber glass because rubber is resistant to acid. When acid comes into contact with the skin, it can cause acid burns and therefore it is very important to have your hands protected.
- Eye goggles/ glasses – Your eyes need to be protected from acid spillages When acid gets into the eye, it can cause severe irritation and blindness. Large quantities of acid in the eye can cause permanent blindness. It is for these reasons that you need to protect your eyes.
- Protective clothing – Protective clothing includes an overall, apron or dust coat. The protective clothing protects your body from coming into contact with acid and also protects your clothing from acid spillages.
To add a new acid to an old battery you can follow the below procedure;
Step 1: To access the battery cells, have the battery caps opened. This is an easy procedure and will not require you to have any special tools. Once your hands are protected you can just open the caps by use of hand.
Step 2: Have the acid of the old battery drained. To achieve this, you need to turn the battery upside down over a container that will collect the old acid. This container should be made of plastic to avoid reactions. Using a metallic container can cause a reaction with sulfuric acid.
Step 3: Have the battery cleaned. You can do the cleaning by use of cleaning agent. The importance of using a cleaning agent is to have the sulfate crystals removed which might have been deposited at the bottom of the battery.
You then need to close the battery caps then shake the battery for at least 2-3 minutes. Next, open the caps and pour the mixture inside the very container you had poured the old acid into.
This liquid is hazardous and should be disposed of appropriately following the state’s guidelines of hazardous waste disposal.
Step 4: Have the battery in an upright position then use a funnel to add the new acid into the old battery. Ensure the acid is mixed with the appropriate ratios.
To confirm that the ratios are right, you can measure the specific gravity of the acid with the help of a hydrometer. The specific gravity when the ratios are done right should range from 2.6-3.0
Step 5: Make sure that the acid is added up to the required level. Most batteries that have a transparent case will have markings showing the minimum and maximum levels.
You need to put the acid up to the maximum level. In case there are no markings to guide you, you need to fill the battery cell up to 75% full.
Step 6: You can now connect your battery to the charger. The charger should remain connected to the battery for at least 10 hours and give a voltage above 13 volts.
If the battery suffers sulfation, the battery will need to be charged for long i.e. at least 7-10 days so that the sulfates are broken down.
Does Battery Acids Expire?
The answer to this is No. Battery acid doesn’t expire unless under special circumstances where the acid has reacted with another substance. When acid reacts with another substance, its chemical composition changes.
However, if the acid is stored in a place where no contaminants are coming into contact with it, then it will stay in good condition indefinitely.
When acid is put in the battery, it reacts with lead to form lead sulfates. When the battery is connected to a charger the lead sulfates are broken down and the process is reversed.
As the battery gets old, however, there are complex compounds that will be formed and will not break down even during charging. In most cases, these compounds settle at the bottom of the battery or the electrodes. This process is called sulfation and weakens the electrolyte.
When sulfation happens, you need not add more acid into the battery as that will worsen the situation because the concentration levels of the acid will increase and can corrode the plates and shorten the lifespan of the battery.
The best thing to do when sulfation happens is to change the electrolyte wholly. You need to wash the battery cells. The washing should be done using a cleaning agent then add new battery acid that is mixed in the right ratios.
Can I Reuse Old Battery Acid?
At the recycling plant upon receiving old acid, there are two possibilities:
- The battery acid is processed with sodium so that sodium sulfate is formed. This sodium sulfate can then be used to manufacture dyes, fertilizers, and other industrial products.
- The battery acid will be disposed of. Before the disposal, the acid is neutralized with the use of the right agents.
This process is a very delicate one and requires specialized personnel. NEVER should you try to add any chemical to the old battery acid.
The acid we are talking about is sulfuric acid to be specific. Sulfuric acid is highly corrosive and reactive and adding chemicals into it without having proper knowledge poses adverse risks to yourself, your property, and your entire surroundings.
Final Thoughts
The idea of adding new acid to an old battery is a good one but comes with dangers and risks to the person handling the battery and to the entire environment where the process is done.
To avoid fatalities and other damages, proper care should be taken. It is advisable to just buy a new battery when in a position to pose yourself to the risks associated with adding new acid into an old battery.