Cleaning Battery Terminals

[av-mech]

Friends,

I had been noticing that the battery terminal on the negative side of the battery was starting to corrode.  I have the battery on a constant trickle charger because I don't run an alternator.  My battery will last about 6.0 hours while running all avionics.  It will go about 8 if I don't use the transponder.  Anyhoo, I decided that I needed to clean the terminals up and this is what I did.  See pictures below.

1.  Used soft brush to knock off loose corrosion
2.  Disassemble connections
3.  Spray with CRC brand battery terminal cleaner on battery stud and all connectors

              a.  the areas that turn pink are the areas with that contain corrosive acid.
              b.  Watch out, this stuff will stain paint and hands with a yellow color

4.  Flush with water to nuetralize
5.  Inspect for any corrosion not removed, brush with wire brush if needed to remove
6.  Dry with compressed air
7.  Reassemble connections
8.  Spray with CRC brand battery terminal protection

[MikeD]

Hi,

Another quick way is to remove battery, pour boiling water over terminal(s), place dish under cable ends and pour boiling warter over the corrosion then use whatever terminal protection you have.  You will find that the corrosive bits just melt away and leave the terminals really clean.  Don't burn yourself with the hot water

MikeD (U.K.)

[av-mech]

Mike,

Does the boiling water have any neutralizing effect with regards to the acidic corrosion?

[MikeD]

Arnold,

I've used this method for many, many years (over 40 yrs!) and have noticed that the boiling water appears to wash out just about everything from the corroded terminal/post.  Sometimes you have to repeat the process to make sure everything is clean.  I've used this method on everything from cars to really heavy earth moving machinery without any problems.

Boiling water (obviously just off the boil) won't hurt anything like a battery post or cable but be careful not to splash it over yourself.

MikeD (U.K.)

[Rick Hall]

I have the battery on a constant trickle charger because I don't run an alternator. ...

When that one craps out (won't be long), plenty of newer battery options abound. I've been running an AGM in my motor scooter for years. It appears to be a similar size to the one in your VE. But no maintenance, and slightly larger capacity than flooded lead/acid.

Odyssey batteries are the current bomb (pun intended). High capacity in a slightly smaller package, longevity, deep cycle, and no maintenance either.

More on the horizon, lithium for one.

Oh, warm, but not boiling hot, water and a light brush works for me too. Err, used to A baking soda and water wash is best reserved for bee stings.

Rick

[av-mech]

Rick,

I have been watching and waiting to see how long the battery is going to last.  I did buy a cheaper battery just to get a feel for how the constant trickle charging was going to work.  The good news is that I have been doing this since mid June and I have not yet seen any degradation of the charge or discharge cycle.  I have not been doing any scientific measurments just seat of the pants observations but so far so good.

Well I hear Paul Adrian taxing up with his Long, going to do a dynamic balance on his new Hertzler prop.  Gotta go.........

[dorr]

I thought I had to pay more for these fancy new batteries - but Chris Randall gave me this website:

PPS Batteries – This one?: sales@portablepower.com
 http://www.portablepower.com/enersys_genesis_np33-12bfr-p-163.html

Chris uses the $66 one shown starting an O-320 - the Berkut's standard battery is about twice as expensive and the same size, about 2/3 the size of the aircraft battery Burt had us use iniitially.

Beagle