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Charging a battery in a basement?

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Bilko

11-23-2005 14:28:37

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I know it may sound crazy, but at the present time I have no outlet outside and no power in the garage. And want to charge the battery before the big storm, and only place I have is the basement.
Good idea or bad, I am thinking bad. Thanks for the help. Mike

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buickanddeere

11-24-2005 17:25:11

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to Bilko, 11-23-2005 14:28:37

The problem is when the floor and therefore the bottom of the battery is cool. And the room air and the top of the battery is warm. A slight difference between the cool and warm areas on the same plate cause different voltage potentials. Current circulates and discharges the battery.

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NEsota

11-24-2005 08:04:32

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to Bilko, 11-23-2005 14:28:37

Jon, I fully agree with what you said about conducting heat from the battery to the cement. The same is true for a battery on the ground. Using any heat insulating material between the battery and what it is setting on will reduce the moisture accumulation and electrical conductivity between posts.

The plates in a battery serve as a conductor and frame-work for the spongy lead that is involved in the chemical reaction. The plates are not involved in the reaction. Years ago as much as 4% of the battery plates were antimony. This gave physical strength to the lead but was an impurity to the lead and largely responsible for the fast self discharge of the battery. The manufactures have improved their casting and other techniques; this has allowed them to drastically reduce the amount of expensive antimony and thus the self discharge rate of batteries.

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Bill Drew

11-23-2005 17:31:11

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to Bilko, 11-23-2005 14:28:37

I set them into a plastic dish washing tub to keep stuff that is on the outside of the battery off the floor. Cheap, easy bit of protection in case something goes wrong.

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Bilko

11-23-2005 15:40:20

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to Bilko, 11-23-2005 14:28:37

Thanks everyone one for your response. See ask a silly question and in return I learned something else. Thanks again guys. Mike from MI

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mjbrown

11-23-2005 14:54:48

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to Bilko, 11-23-2005 14:28:37

There is a REMOTE possibility of the battery exploding but if you don't try to charge it to fast and loosen the cell caps you will be fine. In three plus decades of charging batteries I've had one explode and scatter acid all over, no fire. The gas is hydrogen which is lighter than air and is unlikely to accumlated enough to be a hazard.

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Bilko

11-23-2005 14:49:36

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to Bilko, 11-23-2005 14:28:37

Greg,
Thanks for the information. I was thinking the same thing but wanted to run it by someone else. Guess I will just run cord out the window and put a towel to seal it. Thanks again MIke

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GregCo

11-23-2005 14:38:36

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to Bilko, 11-23-2005 14:28:37

Probably not the best idea. The gas generated during the charging process burns/explodes pretty good. I would run an extension cord out a window and seal around it with an old towel or whatever you have handy and charge it outside.

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wayne2

11-23-2005 15:00:51

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to GregCo, 11-23-2005 14:38:36

DO NOT charge on concrete, place on board!!!!

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4010guy

11-23-2005 16:42:55

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to wayne2, 11-23-2005 15:00:51

that not setting a battery on concreate is an old wives tail.it just dousent matter but its one of thoese rummers that will never go away ha! maybe myth busters will do a segment on it someday!!!

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Nebraska Cowman

11-23-2005 15:12:21

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to wayne2, 11-23-2005 15:00:51

wayne, Is there realy basis for this "old wives tale"?

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Bob

11-23-2005 15:23:15

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Concrete and batteries in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 11-23-2005 15:12:21

Not any more, apparently.

Concrete

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Jon Hagen

11-23-2005 19:43:04

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Re: Concrete and batteries in reply to Bob, 11-23-2005 15:23:15

The guy in the post may be a battery tec,but this time he is wrong.
The reason for not storing a battery on a concrete floor is as real today with plastic battery cases,as it was in the old days of hard rubber or glass cells in a wood box.
Storing a battery with any case material on cold concrete will cool the battery below room temperature because the concrete absorbs heat from the battery making it cooler than room temperature. A battery at less than room temperature will "sweat",in that it absorbs moisture from the air,like a glass of cool beverage. The ever present slight sulferic acid slime coating on the internal and external surface of the battery cover will conduct electricity between the battery posts and slowly discharge it. If the battery is stored off the cool concrete floor on wood or other insulating material,the battery will be much closer to room temperature which will lessen or eleminate the sweating effect. If no sweating takes place,then the conductive acid/water slime layer on the battery cover drys,leaving only dry sulpheric acid crystals which conduct little power,so the battery discharge is much slower. This effect is more pronounced if the battery top is dirty which holds a thicker,and more conductive slime of moisture condensed from the air and sulferic acid.

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RAB

11-24-2005 12:42:19

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Re: Concrete and batteries in reply to Jon Hagen, 11-23-2005 19:43:04

One little obsevation which rather blows up in your face.

You wrote "dry sulpheric acid crystals"

Sorry, but sulphuric acid is a liquid. I have no idea at what temperature it might crystallise, but it won"t bother you, "cos the battery will have long frozen by then.

AND if you try to dry it (sulphuric acid), it would simply absorb water from anywhere. Concentrated sulphuric acid is sometimes used as a dessiccant. It is so strongly "hygroscopic" that it will remove water from solid sugar or wood, leaving behind just carbon (charcoal). Not a substance to be messed with!!!
Regards, RAB

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Jon Hagen

11-24-2005 17:08:30

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Re: Concrete and batteries in reply to RAB, 11-24-2005 12:42:19

Yes RAB,it seems odd to think of sulferic acid drying out and leaving only crystals,yet if you look at the glass stopper and neck of a sulferic acid jug that has been stored in a warm dry place,you will indeed see clear dry frost like crystals. I have seen the same crystals on the top of a lead acid battery stored in a warm dry place.

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doogdoog

11-23-2005 21:17:12

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Re: Concrete and batteries in reply to Jon Hagen, 11-23-2005 19:43:04

Aloha, Sounds good!

Mahalo,
doogdoog

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wayne2

11-23-2005 20:25:27

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Re: Concrete and batteries in reply to Jon Hagen, 11-23-2005 19:43:04

Jon,lets get a picture of you and have it with your post!!! LOL W

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onefarmer

11-23-2005 15:22:07

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 11-23-2005 15:12:21

I have heard of the put batteries on a board tale for years. My understanding is it was based in fact but is now just a legend.

What I have been told is when batteries first came out they were made with a wood case sealed with tar and when places on cement it would draw the electrolite out thru the wood and cause loss of the charge.

With the plastic cases of modern ones this is not a problem.

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BobMo

11-23-2005 16:29:38

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Re: Charging a battery in a basement? in reply to onefarmer, 11-23-2005 15:22:07

I wouldn't be to quick there. Wayne2 may still be using those batteries.....

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