Battery question

[curtiscapk]

Okay guys and gals,

I brought both my batteries home in November to keep em charged.

One is 2 years old or less and I noticed the sides are kinda sucking in. Is this normal?

The other is less than a year and kinda looks the same but not as bad.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Battery question

I have never seen a battery where the sides "suck in". At least in my expirence, they should not do this.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Battery question

Never saw a battery where the sides suck in. Maybe just due to cheaper plastic. I have seen plenty where the sides go out, or crack. Neither of these are good. I would charge it periodically through the winter and load test it after charge.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Battery question

What type/brand of batteries?
They might have been like that new.
If you can go see brand new ones on the shelf you might want to see if they are the same as yours are now.
Could be that the ribs inside are just a tad too weak. Probably nothing that will be cause for worry though.

I have seen my batteries bulge out on the large sides. Due to me torquing the hold down clamp too much.

 

[Bearfan]

Re: Battery question

All that said, I would definitly monitor it and not rely on it too much until it's been thouroughly tested .

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Battery question

I concur with Jeep Man

 

[curtiscapk]

Re: Battery question

Sorry guys,

I posted this on the other forum too.

I looked on their site and found this.

actually I looked on their website and found this.

Case Flexing - Sonnenschein Batteries.

This flexing of the casing walls generally indicates normal functioning of the battery.
It is the process of internal recombination of the hydrogen and oxygen back into water
which gives the very low gassing feature of the cells; This makes unnecessary, the
"topping up" with water which conventional batteries require.

The process is achieved by the use of a pressure valve in each cell which completely seals
against contamination of the cells by external air etc.

The valves act as safety devices against high internal pressure development but allow a
max. working pressure of approximately 0.1 bar to develop within the cells, as internal
gasses recombine.

This slight pressure can cause a slight bulging of the certain battery casing walls.

Conversely, during deep discharge or when the battery is not in use, slight self discharge
and chemical reaction inside the cells can result in a negative pressure - since the valves
will not allow pressure to equalise from outside. This often results in a normal "sucking in"
or contraction of the casing walls .


So it is normal.