Lead Acid Battery pH

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Mrinny Commentator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Delhi - India Posts: 77	Lead Acid Battery pH 12/11/2007 8:25 AM
	I am designing a programmable battery charger for Pb-acid batteries. The problem is that, the water inside the body must be replenished each month. Any water loss affects the battery badly. Since I am monitoring all sorts of parameters such as battery temperature, charging etc. I wanted to figure out a cheap way of making sure that the pH within the batery remains as close to the required pH. If anyone could help give me ideas that I can automate this water filling too, it will be very helpful. The design is a part of a power supply unit that uses a dsPIC microcontroller and thus can allow considerable level of code. P.S. I know of similar stuff used in aquariums but i doubt the probe life in such highly acidic conditions. __________________ Whenever I find the key to success, someone changes the lock
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PWSlack Guru Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on. Posts: 32175 Good Answers: 839	#1 Re: Lead Acid Battery pH 12/11/2007 8:39 AM
	Why lead-acid? Why not try Ni-Cd batteries with their zero maintenance demands? __________________ "Did you get my e-mail?" - "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw, 1856
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Mrinny Commentator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Delhi - India Posts: 77	#2 In reply to #1 Re: Lead Acid Battery pH 12/11/2007 8:44 AM
	These are large truck batteries actually. Ni-Cd might just be too small. They are to power a 12V supply at 10Amps for at-least 2-3 hours. __________________ Whenever I find the key to success, someone changes the lock
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PWSlack Guru Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on. Posts: 32175 Good Answers: 839	#3 In reply to #2 Re: Lead Acid Battery pH 12/11/2007 9:24 AM
	Consider switching to marine 'domestic' storage batteries instead. These have a gel-based electrolyte and require negligible maintenance. Unlike a motor starter battery, which is designed to give a lot of current for a short time, the marine domestic battery is designed to give a lower current over a much longer time. 30Ah is well within the capabilities of a single battery pack. UK retail prices start from about £55GBP each, including taxes. __________________ "Did you get my e-mail?" - "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw, 1856
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Mrinny Commentator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Delhi - India Posts: 77	#4 Re: Lead Acid Battery pH 12/12/2007 3:53 AM
	Do you mean the 'Low maintainance' types? They are known to have a very low life and sometimes ruin themselves very early. I do not know that for myself but all the reviews are pretty bad. There will also be a risk of pressure build up causing cracks and leakage since these batteries will be placed out of human reach. Do you have a website i could visit for where you told me about the above battery? __________________ Whenever I find the key to success, someone changes the lock
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Andy Germany Guru Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 50.390866N, 8.884827E Posts: 17996 Good Answers: 200	#5 Re: Lead Acid Battery pH 12/12/2007 5:39 AM
	Here are some tips that could help:- 1) Use sealed lead acid batteries. Or Gel, which are also sealed. Best are "Leisure" batteries as they are better if ever deeply discharged, normal ones do not like this at all.... 2) never charge to completely full, therefore you need to put a bigger battery in than your needs dictate. When charging make sure that it never drops below 12.6 volts (assuming a 12 volt battery) and never goes above say 13.4 volts when charging, this will give about 70% capacity at best. (Normally one would charge to about 14.4 volts, but some gassing will occur then) 3) prevent major changes of temperature with good insulation. Monitor the temperature with an attached thermometer. 4) read the manufacturers data on temperature and charging and monitor the charge cycle accordingly. High temps mean a lower charging current is needed.If you stick to the voltages I mentioned, you can forget changing the charge as that will be within the allowed range. 5) If not using sealed batteries, remember the gas is explosive, no smoking or naked lights and good ventilation at all times.... __________________ "What others say about you reveals more about them, than it does you." Anon.
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Andy Germany (1); Mrinny (2); PWSlack (2)

You might be interested in: pH Electrodes, pH Transmitters, Lead Acid Batteries

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