[AT] Batteries charged backwards.

[James Peck]

How do you handle hydrogen that is given off?

Battery charging on an industrial scale can require hydrogen gas detection.

https://na.bhs1.com/battery-room-ventilation-code-requirements/
________________________________
From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> on behalf of szabelski at wildblue.net <szabelski at wildblue.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2020 9:00 AM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] Batteries charged backwards.

Cecil,

I agree with completely discharging the batteries and then putting the batteries in parallel one at a time with a good 12V battery. The batteries will try to equalize when in parallel.  When you drain the battery, take the load off and let the battery sit for a while, then put the load back on and drain some more.

You should use a battery charger that has a trickle charge feature. This puts a full charge into the battery at first, then drops down to a small charge to top the battery off. You may have to do this several times and should leave the charger on for at least one full day. Don’t rush the job.

You can also check that each cell is good by taking a reading between each cell. A bad cell will indicate a lower charge then the others. Do this with every recharge attempt and note if you’re making any progress.

Don’t know if you’ve ever gone on-line to look for videos on bringing dead batteries back to life, but their are some that show how to drain a battery, rinse it out, then refill and recharge. They appear to work out quite well, but I can’t swear by them since I’ve never done anything like this myself.

Good luck!

Carl
----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Martin <tmartin at xtra.co.nz>
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Wed, 12 Feb 2020 00:24:36 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [AT] Batteries charged backwards.

Hi Cecil
I  consulted a very good friend on the other-side of the isle.
Tony is auto-electrician, of vast car, truck & tractor experience.
He says you MUST discharge the batteries, separately with a bulb.
They need to completely discharged. No measurable voltage.
Then one battery at a time needs to be placed in parallel with another
fully charged 12v battery, they then need to be connected to a 12v
charger...

Tom

> On 12 February 2020 at 15:31 Cecil Bearden <crbearden at copper.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> > I had 2 group 31 batteries out of the tractor that were completely
> > dead.  I hooked them up in series and connected my 24Vcharger to them
> > as It was handy and I wanted to charge both.  After a couple of days I
> > checked them and found that I had hooked the charger backwards.  I
> > hooked a couple of incandescent headlights to drain the battery, but
> > after 3 days they won't light up the headlights, but they still have a
> > lot of spark when shorted with cables..  A guy at my battery shop said
> > I should hook up a 6volt light to them and use that to run them
> > down....  At $100/ea, I need to try to save these...
> > Cecil
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