Fresh Battery Leakage

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by PawnBoy, Mar 9, 2016.

  1. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    So I picked up a new battery yesterday, a pretty normal, maintenance free, fill on your own when you get home, new battery. So I filled it up when I got home as per instructions, put it on to charge at 2A (battery's instructions said 1A, but I don't have a 1A charger), made sure it didn't explode on me in the first hour (and the charger pretty quickly said it was charged and reduced charging at 0A) and then left the charger on until it was time to go to sleep (instructions said 12hrs at 1A...), at which point I went to disconnect it from the charger and noticed that there was some moisture around the base of the battery and then on further inspection some fluid lying in a recess on top of the battery and some droplets clinging to the side of the battery. The battery wasn't warm, or distorted, just... not dry.

    So... did I do something wrong? Is the battery screwed?
     
  2. Pliskin

    Pliskin New Member

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    Sounds like you R/R...

    Kidding. It sounds like a bum battery, but that is odd. Can't image the 2v trickle vs. the 1v trickle would make that much of a difference?
     
  3. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    Well, I googled around and found a more in depth instruction set for prepping another brand (but same type) of battery, and they specifically say not to fully seal the battery until the first charge is done, despite my battery instructions not saying anything about it.

    Anyway, I called the place I bought it and they said they'd give me a new one, so I'll get that done tomorrow.
     
  4. ragincanadian

    ragincanadian New Member

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    When I bought mine I asked them if they could charge it (Canadian Tire). They said they do not have a charger small enough so all they do is fill it up with acid and let it sit overnight. It was a kid behind the counter so naturally I thought he must be ignorant and asked for someone higher up the accountability chain. GM of automotive comes up and gives me the same line. I wasn't satisfied so I asked if he was okay with swapping out the batteries when it no longer has the power to crank after a couple test fires, to which he said was no problem *with receipt.

    Wouldn't be an issue if my motomaster charger would freaking work.
     
  5. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    Yeah, so my second battery did the exact same thing. I let it site for well over an hour after I filled it, but when I charged it it wee'd a little onto my garage floor again. I tested the battery after and it was making a healthy amount of voltage, so I just cleaned it and installed it. It's working fine so far and my theory is that the electrolyte expands a bit when charging, and the there must be a small excess of it that gets pushed out on the first charge. On closer inspection it looked like the came out the top of the battery, at a tiny seam that might actually be a pressure release valve or something.

    Also, I realized afterwards that I have an RC battery charger that's capable of charging lead acid batteries at small amperages...hopefully I'll remember that next time.
     
  6. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    So why buy a batter that has acid in it that can spew everywhere, that battery design is old hat, we have moved on and the Glass Matt batteries are way better now
     
  7. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    Accord to the documentation... It is an AGM... So maybe it's just excess electrolyte that didn't get absorbed?
     
  8. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    Fill on your own when you get home sure doesn't sound like AGM
     
  9. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    Well, from another AGM manufacturers website: http://www.yuasabatteries.com/batteries.php#

    "And to remain factory-fresh the AGM battery is shipped dry along with its own pack of high-gravity acid that's added at the time of installation"
     
  10. bigbadbass

    bigbadbass New Member

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    OP, why the secrecy as to the exact brand and model #?

    I've got the "fill your own at home" Yuasa AGM in both my VFR and Ducati and a lady friends EX500.

    No issues going in to season #2.... expect a long lfe.


    Fill your own assures they are fresh, not sitting on a distributors shelf, activated, for a year somehere.
     
  11. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    Well there you go never heard of that type but somehow sounds like manufacturers spin to me, I'll stick to the AGM's I know
     
  12. bigbadbass

    bigbadbass New Member

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    ^ and what brand would that be?
     
  13. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    Motorbatt I have found to be about the best over the last few years, have bought many over them, probably more than 20 and have had 2 duds that were replaced without question, they were old stock. I got sick of replacing wet acid batteries often only 6 months old, would never go back
     
  14. bigbadbass

    bigbadbass New Member

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    motobatt def quality, good track record
    I've had similar good results with Yuasa AGM

    a robust, well functioning charging system adds to enhance battery life as well
     
  15. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    I just got a basic Royal Distributing YTZ12S battery. "CRANK" is the brand (?).
     
  16. fatbastard

    fatbastard New Member

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    Nothing wrong with Yuasa as a brand, they're OEM in plenty of bikes. When you filled the battery and before you charged it, did you leave the sealing cap loose to allow for off gasing ?
    On the first charge you will get more off gasing so the cap should be left loose for the first charge and if the cap was actually properly fitted, it would pressurize the battery which might result in a little leaking. I don't think you've killed the battery, I guess you'll know when you install it and try to run the bike.

    If the cap was off, it may just be that you got a bit of acid mist coming over as it would be off gasing faster at the 2A charging rate than the 1A. As the bubbles hit the surface and pop the bubble collapse is quite violent and some very fine acid droplets get spat out, you essentially get an acid aerosol. You get it in electroplating shops and electrowinning processes pretty commonly.
     
  17. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    So I actually read the Yuasa instructions online after my first incident, and noticed that they recommended leaving the caps loose for the first charge, but the instructions that came with my "CRANK" battery didn't mention anything about that, and in fact said the exact opposite, to put the caps on securely before charging.

    And the battery works fine, it ran my bike all last week without incident, and was holding over 13.5V at full charge. Its definitely a step up from the previous battery which was only keeping 12.4V at full charge.
     
  18. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    There ya go. Every battery I've ever gotten new, and charged, outgassed and has some electrolyte mist and bubble out. No big deal. Very common, even with the AGM that you buy and add electrolyte to.
     
  19. ragincanadian

    ragincanadian New Member

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    Link for one that fits the 86 VF500?

    Cause I would LOVE to use something non spillable
     
  20. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    Update on this thread. The second battery, that also leaked, ended up with inconsistent capacity/voltage. I got a replacement (same brand) that seems to be performing well, so I would recommend anyone else that has this issue also get their battery replaced. I ended up leaving the battery caps on loosely during the first charge (even Royal Distributing recommended this, as opposed to the instructions) and also charged it with my programmable RC aircraft battery charger, on its 12V lead acid mode, set to 1A charge. So far the new one is working wonderfully.
     
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