Hello,
Posting this on here to avoid the level of confrontation attributed to the many car groups.
I've taken my battery off the car to give it it's low current top-up charge as it's been standing for about 4-6 weeks with a parasitic drain from the car electrictronics.
It's a Calcium battery where the 6 cells have screw plugs so any evaporated water can be replenished with distilled. 60Ah, 590amps cranking. It's been taken down to a good 20% of maximum charge. It's about a year old. This will be it's first real deep drain discharge, with a lead acid being capable of only about 15-20 deep drains in it's lifetime. It's never been 'abused' up until now. All cells are good and reporting an equalised voltage level.
The various information on the net has been referenced, such that it's been on charge at 4A for the previous 24hours. It's now reached about 13.7volts on the charger (started at about 11v), and about 12.5volts off the charger allowed to stand for 30 minutes. Roughly indicates a 75%+ capacity based on a Calcium enriched LA battery.
Two questions; Q1. The liquid levels have shot up, almost level with the top of the battery??? Q2. No bubbling is apparent??? (as has traditionally been witnessed when approaching full capacity)
There's no heat, nothing. What I will say is that when it was flat that the electrolyte tasted not far off water (no I didn't drink it!!), and now it's tasting more like acid. (yes I do stick 9volt batteries on my tongue to see if they're good instead of faffing about for a tester).
I'm guessing that the chemical reaction converting the crystals back to electrolyte has occured??
This liquid level having increased is pretty amazing?? Never ever witnessed it before. That's the real question here, why?
Thanks kindly,
AC.