SOT: Car battery conundrum

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Yes. Carry a testing kit everywhere you go - just for the sake of saving pennies over de-ionised water. It's just the sort of thing I'd expect from you.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

It was certainly said to effect plug life. Also to make body corrosion better (or worse)?

But not all UK makers used positive earth - and pretty well none elsewhere.

Rolls Royce never used positive earth.

Think also very old UK cars were all negative earth - the change to positive being in the 1930s?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Motorbikes have been using alternators for ages - much longer than cars. Low current rectifiers weren't a problem. High current ones were - until silicone diodes arrived.

[Fredxxx]

I said £50 not £20.

suggests an average weekly wage of £8 in 1951, other links suggest a lower average wage.

suggests a average full weekly wage in 2006 was £500 per week

What size screen are you thinking off? This would cost 1/2 in real terms of the £20 radio you mentions:

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Yup. Although I'm not convinced it made much difference on most cars. ;-)

At one time the LT terminals were marked CB and Ign. Later ones went to plus and minus.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Not surprising considering a dynamo becomes a motor if left connected to the battery.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Yup. Dunno if there are any accurate self zeroing DC clamp meters.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Even the very worst politician seems to understand debate better than you.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

It's so long ago I topped up a battery I can't remember when. Must be an extremely backward country you live in if it's still needed. Cuba?

Your replies get more stupid by the moment. Is it Scotch or Vodka?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Why an I reminded of Adam?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Aberdeen tap water was said to be suitable when I was a kid there in the

50s.

However, it's all a bit irrelevant. Not had a car battery that ever needed topping up for over 10 years. They changed the design to help stop loss of electrolyte, and modern charging systems prevent overcharging and subsequent gassing.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

You've excelled yourself there. It's the name all car batteries are known by. Same as Ni-Cad, etc.

Except of course in your tiny warped mind.

[Ian Jackson]

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

Nevertheless, when the battery's getting a bit on the old side, it's probably still worth prising out the 'sealed-for-life' plugs, and having a quick look.

That said, last year, when I eventually got around to looking at the (original) battery in my 2004 Focus, the plates were still well covered.

[Ian Jackson]

I'm no longer confident that I know what 'lead-acid' are called!

[Fredxxx]

Lead acid is fine. The basic chemistry is the same over a range of batteries designed for different applications.

The acronym SLA is used for the sealed variety so even Mr Trotter would understand the term "Lead Acid".

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Of course some are advertised as 'calcium' these days. Nothing new with advertisers trying to confuse.

[meow2222]

Lead acid, SLA, VRLA, AGM, accumulators, secondary cells, flooded cells, etc

NT

[Fredxxx]

An excerpt from a paper: There are five basic plate alloys used today.

1. Pure Lead used in standby long duration batteries with low current demands
2. Lead-Antimony used for cycling applications and often for heavy equipment starting batteries
3. Lead-Calcium (dominates the U.S. market) for flooded standby and VRLA designs
4. Lead-Selenium (dominates the European market) for flooded standby and cycling applications
5. Lead-Tin for VRLA

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Yes - all basically lead acid. No need to worry about the varieties for the purposes of this dicsussion. ;-)

[Adrian]

Mebbe not, but it's bloody interesting...

VRLA? "Cycling applications"? "Flooded standby"?