Sealed Battery Dynamics
 

As some of you may know, I am on a family medical 'mission' in SoCal.

BIL's car has been in hospital parking lot for going on 3 months. Every time I come down, I drive his car on some search for supplies mission, and the batt has been staying charged. Month ago, needed a jump (small gel cell portable jump). Drove it 40 miles on freeway, and he started it once since then, and ran for 15 minutes.

Last night went to drive it, was DTAD (Deader than a Doornail). Maybe some one can show me a doornail someday...

OK, would not portapak jump, so removed batt and took it to the zone for a charge.

Finally a question is coming.

If a sealed (delco) batt sits DTAD for some time, has it been 'damaged' and won't come fully back?

EDIT; it is still at the zone, have not retrieved it yet.

For so long I have been working with NiCads, and NiMH, my wet cell brain has been emptied.

TIA.

I'd say it depends on how old the battery is. Even tho sealed, IIRC, Delco is still lead plates/liquid acid.

Ask about a solar trickle charger you can lay on the dash...might help with the car left in a parking lot for weeks.

Yes, Lead acid batteries can be damaged enough that they won't come back. The plates get a coating of sulfates, creating a barrier between the acid, and the lead plate. Letting one sit, completely dead, is one of the worst things you can do to a lead acid battery.

Had same problem. After being dead, battery wouldn't take charge...let it on for 24hours. First 18 hours it took only 100mA, then increased and started taking charge. After that it was fine.

Whilst Wayne has been dealing with database issues, the thread has disappeared and been reanswered several times.

Thanks guys, I got the batt back from the zone, they charged it, tested it and said it would go another season.

TIA for the refresh on wet cells!

I noticed that...I retyped my missing post.