13 replies to this topic

[Poppet2]

I've just received my new battery and want to test it in the car, however there is a label on it saying:'

DANGER!, Remove Transport BUNGS IMMEDIATELY.

If I do this, then find the battery is no good, would that invalidate my warranty?

While I'm at it, how the heck do you get them out?

Edited by Poppet2, 15 April 2014 - 02:40 PM.

[cal844]

Wheres the bungs? On the battery terminals?!

[s3swiss]

usually mean the small plugs fitted to the overflow/expansion outlets at the top sides of the battery. Normally 1 or 2 small red plastic plugs that can just be pulled out with pliers. May be taped up for security.

As the battery has acid in it, the supplier bungs these holes up so if Mr UPS/Yodel etc leaves the battery on its side, all the acid won't run out!

Once with you, remove the bungs and don't tip it on edge, upside down etc etc!

If you had a battery/alternator fault and the charging current was such that the acid electrolyte started to heat up in the battery, the small hole allows the gas (hydrogen chloride - yikes!) to escape.

Some batteries use an 'overlfow' type pipe to direct that possible liquid elsewhere.

[Poppet2]

Thanks, I removed them and all is well.

[tiger99]

Minor correction, not hydrogen chloride (unless the car has an accident involving sea water) but sulphur trioxide SO₃, equally unpleasant, perhaps more so. H₂O (water) + SO₃ = H₂SO₄ (sulphuric acid).

[Captain Mainwaring]

Minor correction, not hydrogen chloride (unless the car has an accident involving sea water) but sulphur trioxide SO₃, equally unpleasant, perhaps more so. H₂O (water) + SO₃ = H₂SO₄ (sulphuric acid).

 

 

Minor correction - not Sulphur Trioxide - Sulphur trioxide is formed by burning sulphur and then recombining the sulphur dioxide with excess oxygen over a catalyst - the product is then bubbled through fuming sulphuric acid to continue to produce concentrated sulphuric acid

 

A over charged battery free gasses hydrogen and oxygen. 

Hydrogen is produced during normal charge and discharge cycles

[andy159]

usually mean the small plugs fitted to the overflow/expansion outlets at the top sides of the battery. Normally 1 or 2 small red plastic plugs that can just be pulled out with pliers. May be taped up for security.

As the battery has acid in it, the supplier bungs these holes up so if Mr UPS/Yodel etc leaves the battery on its side, all the acid won't run out!

Once with you, remove the bungs and don't tip it on edge, upside down etc etc!

If you had a battery/alternator fault and the charging current was such that the acid electrolyte started to heat up in the battery, the small hole allows the gas (hydrogen chloride - yikes!) to escape.

Some batteries use an 'overlfow' type pipe to direct that possible liquid elsewhere.

 

 

Minor correction, not hydrogen chloride (unless the car has an accident involving sea water) but sulphur trioxide SO₃, equally unpleasant, perhaps more so. H₂O (water) + SO₃ = H₂SO₄ (sulphuric acid).

 

 

 

Minor correction, not hydrogen chloride (unless the car has an accident involving sea water) but sulphur trioxide SO₃, equally unpleasant, perhaps more so. H₂O (water) + SO₃ = H₂SO₄ (sulphuric acid).

 

 

Minor correction - not Sulphur Trioxide - Sulphur trioxide is formed by burning sulphur and then recombining the sulphur dioxide with excess oxygen over a catalyst - the product is then bubbled through fuming sulphuric acid to continue to produce concentrated sulphuric acid

 

A over charged battery free gasses hydrogen and oxygen. 

Hydrogen is produced during normal charge and discharge cycles

 

minor correction,  it makes bad smelly air

[69k1100]

Hydrogen and oxygen as water, else you could never re-charge the battery as the gas would escape!

Also it is lead acid, water is only half the output, the other Half is lead sulfate.

Smelly air is usually hydrogen sulfide, or rotten egg gas.

[Captain Mainwaring]

Hydrogen and oxygen as water, else you could never re-charge the battery as the gas would escape!

Also it is lead acid, water is only half the output, the other Half is lead sulfate.

Smelly air is usually hydrogen sulfide, or rotten egg gas.

 

 

The gas does escape - when the battery is fully charged the the only thing left is electrolysis liberating oxygen and hydrogen...Oxygen and hydrogen on their own don't simply combine to make water - 

[Captain Mainwaring]

 

usually mean the small plugs fitted to the overflow/expansion outlets at the top sides of the battery. Normally 1 or 2 small red plastic plugs that can just be pulled out with pliers. May be taped up for security.

As the battery has acid in it, the supplier bungs these holes up so if Mr UPS/Yodel etc leaves the battery on its side, all the acid won't run out!

Once with you, remove the bungs and don't tip it on edge, upside down etc etc!

If you had a battery/alternator fault and the charging current was such that the acid electrolyte started to heat up in the battery, the small hole allows the gas (hydrogen chloride - yikes!) to escape.

Some batteries use an 'overlfow' type pipe to direct that possible liquid elsewhere.

 

 

Minor correction, not hydrogen chloride (unless the car has an accident involving sea water) but sulphur trioxide SO₃, equally unpleasant, perhaps more so. H₂O (water) + SO₃ = H₂SO₄ (sulphuric acid).

 

 

 

Minor correction, not hydrogen chloride (unless the car has an accident involving sea water) but sulphur trioxide SO₃, equally unpleasant, perhaps more so. H₂O (water) + SO₃ = H₂SO₄ (sulphuric acid).

 

 

Minor correction - not Sulphur Trioxide - Sulphur trioxide is formed by burning sulphur and then recombining the sulphur dioxide with excess oxygen over a catalyst - the product is then bubbled through fuming sulphuric acid to continue to produce concentrated sulphuric acid

 

A over charged battery free gasses hydrogen and oxygen. 

Hydrogen is produced during normal charge and discharge cycles

 

minor correction,  it makes bad smelly air

 

 

Try reverse charging a fully flat battery if you want that.

[coopdog]

 

 

usually mean the small plugs fitted to the overflow/expansion outlets at the top sides of the battery. Normally 1 or 2 small red plastic plugs that can just be pulled out with pliers. May be taped up for security.

As the battery has acid in it, the supplier bungs these holes up so if Mr UPS/Yodel etc leaves the battery on its side, all the acid won't run out!

Once with you, remove the bungs and don't tip it on edge, upside down etc etc!

If you had a battery/alternator fault and the charging current was such that the acid electrolyte started to heat up in the battery, the small hole allows the gas (hydrogen chloride - yikes!) to escape.

Some batteries use an 'overlfow' type pipe to direct that possible liquid elsewhere.

 

 

Minor correction, not hydrogen chloride (unless the car has an accident involving sea water) but sulphur trioxide SO₃, equally unpleasant, perhaps more so. H₂O (water) + SO₃ = H₂SO₄ (sulphuric acid).

 

 

 

Minor correction, not hydrogen chloride (unless the car has an accident involving sea water) but sulphur trioxide SO₃, equally unpleasant, perhaps more so. H₂O (water) + SO₃ = H₂SO₄ (sulphuric acid).

 

 

Minor correction - not Sulphur Trioxide - Sulphur trioxide is formed by burning sulphur and then recombining the sulphur dioxide with excess oxygen over a catalyst - the product is then bubbled through fuming sulphuric acid to continue to produce concentrated sulphuric acid

 

A over charged battery free gasses hydrogen and oxygen. 

Hydrogen is produced during normal charge and discharge cycles

 

minor correction,  it makes bad smelly air

 

 

Try reverse charging a fully flat battery if you want that.

 

 

[Rog46]

You only produce hydrogen and oxygen if you overcharge the battery. Modern charging systems avoid this, but you still need a vent in case something goes wrong (otherwise the battery would explode to release the pressure)

Old charging systems regularly overcharged the battery and topping the battery up with distilled water was a weekly task, the batteries had removable screw plugs in each cell to allow this. With modern charging systems the batteries are now made "sealed" and topping up is not possible.

I've often wondered how modern batteries survive on classics with a dynamo charging system and no way of topping them up!

[Captain Mainwaring]

You only produce hydrogen and oxygen if you overcharge the battery. Modern charging systems avoid this, but you still need a vent in case something goes wrong (otherwise the battery would explode to release the pressure)

Old charging systems regularly overcharged the battery and topping the battery up with distilled water was a weekly task, the batteries had removable screw plugs in each cell to allow this. With modern charging systems the batteries are now made "sealed" and topping up is not possible.

I've often wondered how modern batteries survive on classics with a dynamo charging system and no way of topping them up!

 

 

You'd be lucky if you ever got a dynamo to overcharge much

[s3swiss]

every day is a school day (but without the free milk - ask your parents!)