When charging, the battery boils - is this normal or not? Find out why electrolyte boils when charging a battery

Table of contents:

When charging, the battery boils - is this normal or not? Find out why electrolyte boils when charging a battery
When charging, the battery boils - is this normal or not? Find out why electrolyte boils when charging a battery
Anonim

Many car owners are faced with the fact that the battery boils when charging. Someone is not embarrassed, but some, on the contrary, turn off the charger (charger). There are several relevant ways to restore battery energy to 100%. The bubbles may or may not be present. Let's figure out how to charge the battery, and whether this phenomenon should appear.

battery boils while charging
battery boils while charging

Electrolyte boiling: normal or not?

So, after you have connected the charger to the battery terminals, you notice that several or all the jars containing liquid begin to behave unstable. This is quite normal, but there are some nuances. If you just connected the battery and found several cans boiling, then such a device can be thrown away. This phenomenon suggests that there are closed plates and it is unlikely that such a battery will be of any use.

If you notice that the battery boils when charging, then do not be afraid - this is normal. ByBasically, it's not boiling. The formation of bubbles in the jars indicates that explosive gas is being released, in other words, electrolysis is taking place. In this state, the electrolyte has a normal temperature and does not rise to the maximum limit (above 45 degrees Celsius). Let's figure out why bubbles appear.

why does the battery boil
why does the battery boil

Why is the battery boiling?

As a rule, gas begins to be released when the battery is already fully charged, and now you will understand why. Since we have a limited capacity, we cannot endlessly accumulate electrical energy stored in a chemical form. Therefore, when the battery is fully charged, all incoming energy is converted into explosive gas.

You should understand that under no circumstances is it recommended to charge a maintenance-free battery with a clogged gas outlet tube. This is due to the fact that the battery is boiling, and the energy cannot leave, since the lid is closed. More than once there have been cases when the banks of the battery were simply torn apart. However, you can still recharge, but you should try not to charge the battery more than 80-90% of the maximum. Now you know that the process of bubbles appearing is quite normal. As soon as they begin to form, you need to turn off the charger, after which you can replace the battery.

Preparatory work before recharging

electrolyte boils when charging
electrolyte boils when charging

Before starting the process, you need to remove the battery and put it on a horizontalsurface. It is desirable that everything be done in a ventilated room, as poisonous, moreover, explosive gas is released. Next, you need to unscrew all the banks (this applies to serviced batteries). This can be done with a large flat screwdriver, sometimes even with your hands. We should see the electrolyte: if its level is lower than usual, then add water (distillate). After you have fully set the normal level, you can connect the charger.

The main thing here is not to confuse. We connect the plus of the memory to the positive terminal, well, and the minus - respectively. The charger has two wires: red and black, "+" and "-". The battery is charging, we are watching. If the battery capacity is 60 Ah, and the current is 6 amperes, then 10 hours is enough to fully charge the device. But note that if the battery boils while charging and it started at the very beginning, then this is a clear signal that you need to reduce the current. This way you can avoid damage. However, you need to understand that the battery should boil while charging, but not too intense.

the battery should boil when charging
the battery should boil when charging

A little about proper charging

Modern batteries involve the use of a current equal to 1/10 of the total volume. So, a 12V 60 Ah battery needs to be charged with a current of no more than 6 amperes. But this method is not always used. For example, the exception is the complete discharge of the battery. In this case, you need to use a lower voltage, about 2 amperes. Occasionally, a forced method of charging the battery is used. Needless to say, this is extremely negative.affects the device, since we use a current equal to 60-70% of the total capacity. If the battery is 60 Ah, then we charge at about 40-45 amperes. It is highly likely that the temperature of the electrolyte will rise to 45 degrees Celsius, in which case the process must be stopped.

There is also an equalizing method. In some cases, it is most preferable, since it allows you to completely restore the active masses of the battery. The current in this case is 0.1 amperes. Therefore, recharging in this way will take a very long time, but this will not affect the functionality of the device.

A few important points

Not everyone knows that after the battery starts to boil, it can be charged for some more time. As practice shows, on average, it is 2-3 hours. After that, the battery can be considered completely ready for operation. If, when charging the battery, the electrolyte boils for a longer time, this will lead to oversaturation and further destruction of the device. You can also check the density of the electrolyte, if it is in the range of 1, 28, then the battery is charged, if lower, then not yet.

battery boils
battery boils

Do not forget that with a long release of bubbles, the electrolyte gradually boils away, so it is advisable to disconnect the battery from the charger in time. It is also strongly not recommended to place the battery near open sources of fire for obvious reasons. Charging should preferably be carried out indoors so that the battery is not exposed to rain or dirt. I would also like to say that you should not place the battery onunstable surfaces, especially when recharging.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you should have a basic understanding of why bubbles appear. As noted above, this is quite normal, but the process must be controlled and overcharging must be prevented. The process of electrolysis of electrolyte water is observed when charging with direct current. If you use the equalization method, then the appearance of bubbles may not be. As for the forced method, then, on the contrary, boiling may be too intense. In conclusion, I would like to say that you need to comply with all the requirements and rules described in this article, and then everything will be in order. If the battery boils while charging, this is a signal that the battery is almost charged and should not be left in this state overnight, as this can lead to negative consequences.

Recommended: