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[sailorboy61]

I have an SLA inherited with a boat I bought. Whilst it charges and I can measure some voltage across it, it 'rattles' if shaken. I am assuming this is some dried out cell material and as such the battery is effectively no good for the designated voltage and current?
 
Tnx

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Doesn't sound good.

Does it hold it's charge overnight ?  Will it drive a motor ?


Ken

[sailorboy61]

Not tried it in a boat recently, but its certainly holding charge, albeit less than rated, sp I suspect its only one dead cell.

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

I suppose it would be ok.  Keep an eye on the voltage I suppose


Ken

[malcolmfrary]

Any rattle on any battery is bad news.  But if it will take, hold and deliver a full charge, it's OK.
With an SLA, just one ropey cell is a dead battery.  That's what "sealed" means.

[cos918]

The battery
is knackered. Any rattle means it on its way out. It will only be holding a limitted charge. A 12v 7ah bat will still show 13v with ony 0.5 ah left in it. Time to think about getting a new battery.

John

[sailorboy61]

Thanks all new battery to be ordered.

[alan colson]

the rattle you can hear is the gel inside the battery that has crystalized. Alan

[ukmike]

I have an SLA inherited with a boat I bought. Whilst it charges and I can measure some voltage across it, it 'rattles' if shaken. I am assuming this is some dried out cell material and as such the battery is effectively no good for the designated voltage and current?
 
Tnx

Simple answer.

Yes.

Mike.

[dreadnought72]

Additional answer - dead batteries make great weights for:

1/ holding things together while glue dries
2/ ballast

Andy

[essex2visuvesi]

Additional answer - dead batteries make great weights for:

1/ holding things together while glue dries
2/ ballast

Andy

And door stops

[john s 2]

Just out of interest. What could be added into a gell cell to revive the gell if its drying out? Many so called maintenence free car batterys fail because of electrolyte loss and just need good old distlled water to keep the cells covered. John.

[Colin Bishop]

Once the plates are exposed they can distort and that writes the battery off. Once a lead acid battery is damaged then there is very little indeed you can do to revive it which is why it is so important to keep to the recommended charging regime.
 
Colin

[grendel]

Just out of interest. What could be added into a gell cell to revive the gell if its drying out? Many so called maintenence free car batterys fail because of electrolyte loss and just need good old distlled water to keep the cells covered. John.

nothing - they are sealed units so no maintenance is possible - the acid is in a jellified form (so it doesnt spill), but this makes it impossible to refill (plus as the battery can be used in any orientation there are no access ports).
Grendel

[malcolmfrary]

Being sealed does not prevent the battery venting under misuse or old age.  It does prevent it from being refilled.  Sealed = sealed for life = when its dry, its dead.  Ready for its new life as ballast or a doorstop or a gluing weight.

[Bill D203]

And door stops

A door stop is Ok but haveing somthing to lob at the local yobs round here would be another use.   As a model battery RIP.