|
Todd has done a great service in pointing out the dangers of charging or jumping batteries. However, there are some flaws in his letter. First, a six volt battery will NOT explode just because it�s being jumped with a 12 volt battery. Since a lead acid battery converts lead sulfate into sulfuric acid during the process of charging, hydrogen gas bubbles up from the positive plates and oxygen gas bubbles up from the negative plates. Hydrogen gas is very explosive especially with oxygen present. It doesn�t require a rocket scientist to figure out what will happen if a spark occurs in the presence of those gasses. The point is: No spark, no explosion! What will happen if a 12 volt battery is continually used to jump a 6 volt battery? Think of volts as pressure. If you want to put air into a tire, you need to have an air pressure source that�s greater than the pressure in the tire. In order to charge a 6 volt battery, you need an 8 volt charging source. Certainly, 12 volts is greater than 8 volts. With the additional voltage push of 12 volts instead of 8 volts, the 6 volt battery will heat up and its liquid contents will evaporate. Batteries are charged best at a 2 volt greater push and a 3 to 10 amperage rate. At that voltage and amperage, lead sulfate can easily dissolve at its own rate to form sulfuric acid. Using a 12 volt battery to jump a 6 volt battery will cause a much higher charging rate. Instead of dissolving, the lead sulfate will clump to the plates, and the 6 volt battery will soon be rendered useless. That�s called a sulfated battery. That�s a good economic reason for NOT using a 12 volt battery to jump a 6 volt battery.
Second, comparing alternating electrical current (AC) to direct electrical current (DC) is like comparing apples to oranges. AC is at a constant voltage, and it alternates between positive and negative poles (sine wave) 60 times per second. DC is NOT at a constant voltage or amperage, and it does not alternate. For that reason, it cannot be argued that jumping a 6 volt battery with a 12 volt battery is the same as plugging a 110 volt TV set into a 220 volt plug. When hooked together, the 12 volt battery will drop below 12 volts and the 6 volt battery will exceed 6 volts. The potential difference will not be two to one. Regardless, if you value your appearance and health, keep sparks away from ANY lead acid battery that�s being charged or jumped! Using a 12 volt battery to jump a 6 volt battery greatly enhances the presence of hydrogen gas.
|
