CAR BATTERY HYDROMETER with thermometer

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member
Years ago I had a good hydrometer with a built in thermometer. I think the rubber deteriorated. I'm not sure what I did with it.

I did a search for the old school hyd w/ thermometer and came up with nothing. Where did you get yours?

I have a cheapie with floating balls. Would like to have a better one.
 
Hello Geo-TH,In

What a novel idea! Battery testing with temperature compensation!. Sure brings me back to the old days with open top batteries,

Guido.
 
I bought one locally like you describe. Maybe carquest or NAPA ? It may have a thermometer inside there ? I know it has marks with the specific gravity on the float.
 
Guido,
I had one, like to find another.

What do you mean old day. I still buy cheap Excide with open tops. They still work for me. Oldest one is 7. I haven't replace one in after buying a batteryminder over 4+ years ago.

I'm thinking the batteryminder does a better desulfating batteries when it around 30 vs 90. There is a probe on charger that compensates for temp. I noticed yesterday the charging voltage was a tick over 15v. In summer it closer to 14.5v.

My oldest battery, open top interstate, came on Farmall C when I bought it about 6 years ago. No date on battery. Battery is sitting on bench. I tried to connect batteryminder to it. Red light came on. Wouldn't charge. Even a smart charger wouldn't touch it. So I put in parallel with 2 old mower batteries. Batteryminder would then charge/desulfate just fine. Cheap hydrometer show all cells are healthy. Go figure. Only time will tell if old interstate will hold a charge.
 
napa does have a glass hydrometer for batteries but no thermometer. They also have a plastic unit. Glass and plastic about the same price at napa but the plastic unit is NOT accurate.
 
Hello Geo-TH,In,

1961 to 1965 Chrysler dealer mechanic. Five gallon bag of electrolyte. Dry charged batteries with top straps between cells. Does that qualify as the old days? Used single cell load tester besides the hydrometer you are looking for,

Guido.
 
That is close to old days. I have, or at least did have, one of those load testers for individual cells. That was pretty slick back then.
 
That's what NAPA told me. An old guy working there went to the back room and found one with a thermometer. $12 tax included. Looks like the old one I had. The one the rubber rotted and fell off.

I like it better than the cheapie ones. I can use it to add water to cells with too. Which I need to do as soon as I get a gallon of distilled.
 
Hello Pete 23,

That was the tool to use. Although it only tested individual cells. Man! it does not seem that long ago. But it was way back then hey!
A refractometer would be my choice now. Would be good for coolant testing as well,

Guido.
 
Guido:

"Old days"??? When I was in Jr. High School ('59-'62), we used to rebuild those kind of batteries in Electric Shop. Melted the Tar off the battery top, pulled out the old plates, thoroughly cleaned the Case inside & out, installed new plates, melted & poured fresh Tar over the top, after the Tar had cooled we placed the moulds on top and then cast new Terminal Posts and top straps with molten Lead.

Doc :>)
 
Hello Dr.Walt,

I would have been in secondary school in the old country in 1959.
Here is some recycling that I have done.
The bigger cell pack is still waiting for a cell
Got some on the bench as well,

Guido.
a184629.jpg
 

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