Battery Corrosion & Effects

 

Battery Corrosion & Effects

Equipment’s needs steady power flow for optimal performance and one thing that significantly reduces and happens no matters what the corrosion is. Corrosion results in extremely poor conductivity and this hinders both the delivery and recharging capacity of the battery.

There may be certain reasons that cause the corrosion on the battery. For example, in a lead-acid battery, the fumes created by the reaction of acid result in a layer of corrosive material on the terminals. Another reason might be the electrolyte leakage. As the battery ages, the terminals start to accumulate the corrosive material because of the electrolyte used in it. Sometimes the conductive materials used in the clamps like copper, which is a good conductor of electricity, develops are the layer of copper sulfate, which is a poor conductor of electricity.

Removing Corrosion

Carbonic acid is a good and cheaper way of removing corrosion as it can be found in soft drinks easily available in the market. Baking soda can also be used for this purpose but be sure to disconnect the terminals as the reaction may increase current spikes, thus damaging the equipment. Vinegar and lemon juice can also be used as they react with the corrosion very quickly.

Preventive Measurement

Using Good Conductive Terminals: Clamps with good compression rates like copper compression terminals effectively reduce corrosion. These clamps are designed such that the entire clamps come in contact with the battery terminal.

Monitoring Battery Charging: Overcharging your battery may result in an excessive reaction of chemicals within the battery and corrosion. An interesting observation is that if the battery's negative terminal is suffering from corrosion its undercharging and is overcharging if the corrosion is more on the positive terminal.

Corrosive Sprays: Corrosion repulsive sprays should be used to minimize the effect; grease and felt pads could also be used instead.

Besides all the preventive and precautions, there will always be a certain level of corrosion developed due to the temperature and the atmospheric effects. The battery placement also plays a role in this and needs to be placed properly above the ground. From time to time, cleaning and maintenance are required for the longevity of the battery.