Topping up batteries - are some 'sealed' (S4 004 Bosch) ?

jpaul

jpaul

jpaul

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I had to charge the below battery after inadvertantly draining it
(had been repairing a power window mechanism, it was probably the testing that did it - inititally thought the radio had also broken, when that went off, but then realised it was the battery :))

Anyway I can't see a way into the battery to inspect the cells or re-fill it, like all the previous batteries I have ever had - am I just not looking hard enough and need to break a few plastic welds ?
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https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/bosch-s4004.html

Battery type: Sealed Calcium

http://www.challengebatteries.com.au/battery-faq/

What is a “Calcium” battery?

A Calcium battery is a still a lead acid battery; they are usually sealed maintenance free. Calcium replaces antimony in the plates of the battery to give it some advantages including improved resistance to corrosion, no excessive gassing, less water usage and lower self discharge. Silver is another additive used by some manufacturers, the addition of silver enables the battery to be more resilient to high temperatures.

Calcium batteries require a higher charge voltage than conventional batteries. If used in a deep cycle situation it is advisable to use a charger designed for calcium batteries of has a calcium charging mode to get the maximum life out of the battery.
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You can in a highly unauthorised way force your way in and add more liquid but they were never intended for this and it may not be long term fix.
 
Hotwired said:
You can in a highly unauthorised way force your way in and add more liquid but they were never intended for this and it may not be long term fix.
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previous ones I have owned have been officially sealed too (....admittedly they may not have been calcium ),
but they all have too breathe afaik, so there is some evaporation, hence my desire to look in and top-up

maybe they are genuinely child proof now, though.
 
I remember my dad topping up a battery on a 70's moped i rode around the garden when i was about 12 but i didn't think that had been a thing for years with car batteries?
 
Have you tried charging it? Draining a battery of energy does not normally drain it of fluid. Over charging it, causing gassing and venting drains it of fluid.... or spilling it.

If it takes current on the charger straight away, it's probably fine, but do it promptly.
 
yes I left it on charge ...
I realise draining is not literal, but since it was out off car - was looking to check/refill

utube suggests it is difficult

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Generally SLA (Sealed lead acid) batteries don't need topped up. If they do need topping up it's usually difficult and something bad has happened to them anyway which might make it better to replace them.

Charge it to the usual 14.4V (should be written on them as boost or charge voltage, float voltage will be lower), then take it off the charger, it should drop over a few hours to 13V or 13.1V. Leave it over night or for 48 hours and it should stabilise around 12.9V-13V. If it drops much lower then the battery is not at full health.
 
before returning it to car - Got 12.25V off of it about 2hours after a 10 hour charge (oldish charger), so maybe needs replacing .

Although have not ever had problems starting the car in 6 years I have had battey.

also
If you want peace of mind about your battery go to a specialist battery centre and get them to do a high current drain test. This is the only way to check a battery properly. If you want a DIY check get the battery indoors (charge it if it's not been in regular use) and leave it to stand for a few hours, preferably overnight. Then check the voltage with an accurate voltmeter - the battery must be at normal room temperature for this. If you get less than 12.4 volts your battery is ready for replacement.

Perfect condition = 12.66 volts
75% charge = 12.45 volts
50% charge = 12.24 volts
25% charge = 12.06 volts
Dead = 11.89 volts
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Nice to op is stuck in the 1980's

And they recommend that you replace your battery every 4 years, but you seem to think they last forever....
 
The factory fit battery always seems to last longer than the replacements. I just buy cheap ones now as the expensive brands like Bosch don't seem to last any longer.
 
Haze said:
And they recommend that you replace your battery every 4 years
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they being the manufacturer and the AA ... if you look after them they last longer ... like driving around pot-holes

MonkeyMan said:
as the expensive brands like Bosch don't
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30/09/2011 11:29
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Click to expand...
 
At 6 years old it's a grandad but if there's nothing physically wrong with it and it retains enough charge to start the car I'd keep running it until it starts to struggle.
 
It is completely irrelevant for a battery though, bit of a random statement to make. You'll have our Acme telling people not to drive over speedbumps unless they want to replace the battery every year and a half

Anyway, crack on
 
If the battery is a normal starter battery they are absolutely terrible for running anything off and they do not like to be anything buy fully charged.

A starter battery is designed to sit fully charged for weeks at a time, then dump several hundred amps for a few seconds before being fully charged again.

When they are a few years old even running the Hifi off the battery on a day out for 20-30mins can kill the battery to the point the car won't start.

I would recommend replacing the battery before winter when they are at their weakest.
 
Susbequently read a thread suggesting music is on average 10% of peak music power, so with a 50Wx4 (peak rated) mosfet amplifier,
might expect worst case (max volume, avoiding distortion ) 20W for HU consumption ie. ~2A total
(amp is also 90% efficient)
so - on a half capacity 25Ah battery radio should be good for 12hours.

However, usually leave car parked in reverse and those lights (no buzzer) are themsleves 20W each (!) so down to 4 hours run time.
 
With a brand new, fully charged starter battery you *might* still be able to start your car after half of that 4 hour run time.

With a battery several years old, half it again.

I ran my starter battery down to the point it would not start the car in 15 minutes while in a queue to exit and event just by running the HiFi at moderate/low volume (though I did have a 300W sub). Battery was only about 4 years old and fully charged minus one car start.
 
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