TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3 EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 16.15 DATE: April 10, 2016
SUBJECT: MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERIES
What is a "Maintenance Free" battery? A "Maintenance Free" battery is only partially true. In an deal world, if a "Maintenance Free" battery is placed in a properly maintained charging system, the battery can have a very long life without doing any thing to it.
But we don't live in an ideal world, so very few things are properly maintained. If the charging system for charging "rechargeable" batteries allows more current to go into the battery then what it was designed, then both the charging system and battery may need to be looked into.
"Maintenance Free" and "Conventional" batteries are designed just a little different. The biggest difference is in the type of lead material used in the metal plates of the two batteries. Both batteries use the same electrolyte, or liquid, which is a combination of about 10 percent Sulfuric Acid and 90 percent distilled water.
The electrolyte in both type batteries should cover the metal plates. Over the life of the batteries, charging and discharging, converts the water in the electrolyte into Hydrogen and Oxygen gases, which escapes from the battery. Usually the Sulfuric Acid in the electrolyte doesn't convert to a gas. As the water is converted into Hydrogen and Oxygen, and the gas escapes, the level of the electrolyte starts dropping below the metal plates, and out of site. The reduced electrolyte reduces the batteries ability to charge and discharge.
When the electrolyte is so low the battery isn't able to charge, we think the battery needs to be replaced. This isn't always true. Since the Sulfuric Acid may not have been converted to Hydrogen and Oxygen, it's still in the battery, and in the lead plates. Just adding distilled water to the battery to bring the electrolyte back over the metal plates usually will bring the battery back to life.
So just inspecting the electrolyte, and adding distilled water from time-to-time to the battery or batteries, may give them a longer life.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
District 3 ARES District Emergency Coordinator
WCEC
Wood County WV