Foreign Materials (Powder-like) Build-up in Battery Terminals

White powder on the batteries could be a result of venting possibly caused by over-charging or discharging the cell below 0 volts.

The white powder is the result of NiCad electrolyte presence depending on your battery type (you didn't mention the type so I took a guess) Disconnect the batteries and use a small wire brush to clean off the powder, you can probably just swipe most of it off - wear gloves

It is Valve regulated lead acid battery.

Mahesh

These are lead acid batteries, 2V per cell.

There is often a film of sulphuric acid on the electrodes, either from creep or tiny bubbles bursting. This could slowly attack the lead and make lead sulfate.

use a stuff brush and warm water and remove this white stuff. Then rinse and dry them and rub lightly with 100 grit sandpaper ( make sure you just take of a slight bit, just to shiny lead), Do the same with the inside of the terminal you attach. Then place a little vaseline on the terminal, making sure there is enough that it will extrude out the bottom and top as you attache the terminal, and leave that excess there. do not wipe it off. That excess will act to minimze acid creep and white deposits.

Exess white deposits can cause a high reistance connection and melt the connector off the wire in a worst case scenarion.

You should do this each fall, as the system needs the lowest possible voltage drop in fall/winter...when most gradual summer battery failures surface in a no start condition when it is cold as hell out....batter power falls dramatically at 0 F or so.

Greetings.

Vasoline will solve the problem for a while. Chances are heat will melt it away in time.

My dad was born in 1906 and had used axle grease to coat the battery posts, cables, and cable bolts after he had cleaned them down to shiny lead. This keeps air from getting to the lead and causing lead oxide formation. You will be able to get maximum current through these now.

In lead acid batteries a common procedure used to clean and neutralize the sulphate on the top of the batteries is applying a solution of warm water with baking soda with a brush over the top of the cells. Be sure that all vent caps are closed tightly to prevent this solution from getting into the cells. When finished, rinse the cells with warm water. Good luck.

I have allways used felt rings that are treated to prevent corrosion they are availible at most autoparts stores but vaseline or greese works although the felt is by far the best .

I clean my batteries with "Coca Cola." Then Seal the connections with either "NoaLox" or "Ilsco" De-ox. You have to be concious of your grease application as it will conduct current with DC voltage causing possible shorts.

All correct in the verious ways of fixing the problem.

Coca-Cola is by far quickest nuetralizer in this process, no matter which type of terminals you are using. However, if you are using copper leads to lead tabs on the batteries, it is best to remove the leads and clean them all real good, then applieing the NoaLox to the terminals before you reconnect them together. A felt pad around the base of the tab is worth the time before connection are made. If you are using copper leads, you have the oxidation of dissimular metals being magnified by the acid leakage/sweat during usage. Common n all type of lead acid batteries due to heat.

Good luck.

I never tried Coca-Cola, rather baking soda.

Just wanted to add that the corrosion is also a current path that drains power from the battery, ain't nothin' like a clean battery !

OVERCHARGING a battery is a death sentence, dramatically shortens the life. Many cars have insulated batteries now to keep from having to "cook" them so hard during winter. If dash has a voltmeter, you'll notice how applied regulator voltage drops off as the battery warms up.

I worked at a "big" truck garage years ago, overhauling alternators and starters. Battery boxes with metal covers always fostered corrosion growth and drained batteries, but boxes made of plastic of fiberglass were not so bad and "junk" trucks with a wooden battery box ( because the original cancered away ) seemed to keep the batteries pristine the longest!

The white powder is lead oxide and is caused by antimony in the lead plates to strengthen them. As most people say, clean it off with a water/baking powder solution to neutralize it and ensure to keep it out of the cells and wash it off with water. But, disconnect the batteries first before cleaning; if batteries have a grounded connection, disconnect the ground first. Break all connections and clean them using the solution and wire brush. Make sure to clean the inside of the terminals and get everything tight when reassembling. Again, if grounded, reconnect the ground last.

Pour boiling water on the terminals, it will get rid of the powder

It is more likely to be copper sulphate, which forms by acid to copper terminal reaction and acid slowly eats away the copper terminal and copper wire. Avoid spilling of acid and wipe clean when you fill distilled water and do not make it to overflow.