How to store a lead acid battery when not used for a longer period?
• Discharge the battery completely at a slow rate with a lamp and recharge for storage. • Discharge the battery completely, dump the acid and refill with distilled water. • Charge the battery dump the acid and refill with distilled water. • Never stop charging the battery. Discharging the battery completely weakens the structural integrity of the active mass, which becomes loose and can shed easily. A cycle this deep damages the battery. Discharging a battery, dumping the acid and refill with water not only harms the environment but also, because lead sulphate is already formed, leads to sulphation. Dumping the entire electrolyte out of a charged battery is not possible because at least 50% is stored in the plates and separators. Although half of the acid is removed, the battery will nevertheless sulphate. Keeping a lead acid battery on a regular charger will overcharge the battery and damage it by positive plate corrosion. Only when the charger starts and stops at pre-set safe voltage
