Battery Terminal Corrosion

[robbyr]

Who wants to explain what AGM batteries are?

 

[fried1765]

I've been told that it is recommended to change both batteries at once with the same kind or they won't charge properly.

Absolutely correct!
Do NOT replace only one battery!
Replace none, or BOTH!

 

[Beltzington]

Who wants to explain what AGM batteries are?

Google??

Electrolyte is absorbed in fiberglass matting. Supposedly not as susceptible to vibrations and can be mounted in any position. Additionally they are usually high end batteries which should mean better components and manufacturing. Optima was one of the first to take this technology public and their old batteries have lasted me 6-10 years, unfortunately I have read their quality has suffered but there is a lot of competition.

 

[aczlan]

I agree. If one battery is going bad, the alternator will overcharge both of them- producing lots of extra gas and shortening the life of the better one.

Yep, if they are wired together, they need to be replaced in pairs, or you will be replacing the other one in short order.

Who wants to explain what AGM batteries are?

Amalgamated Glass Mat, different construction than a typical lead acid battery. Better in some ways, much more expensive though.

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

Personally, I can't say that I have had enough bad luck with regular batteries to justify the extra cost of the glass mat. I can't see any advantage to it, for me.

 

[k0ua]

As a person, that installed battery plants for PBX's for over 30 years you can take my recommendations to heart to discard them. BUT. I still have a supply of NO-OX-ID from my long gone days of installing battery plants. If you use No-OX-ID you will not ever have a corrosion problem on the terminals, If you don't, you may have the problem if there is a small amount of gas leakage around the terminal. I have used the product on everything I own that has a battery, and I can attest that everything I have ever used it on has never corroded. Literally hundreds of connections if not thousands. I have no idea what is in the rather thick grease-like substance, but it claims to be non toxic. The product is made by Sanchem and is available at Amazon and other locations. It is also useful for other no battery related metal to metal connections where no corrosion is desired. I have used it on antennas, and their related mounts and sheetmetal body work. I place ZERO faith in the felt washers and red spray. I have seen plenty of corrosion on batterys with both. Take this for what it is worth, but every PBX battery manufacture sends a supply of No-OX-ID with each battery installation kit. There is always more than is needed to coat the terminals, and the coating is a one time job over the 20 year estimated lifespan of the battery plant. This is how I have obtained my stocks of the product. I have never purchased any. The race now is will my stocks run out before my lifetime runs out or not. Time will tell.

 

[3Ts]

Yep, if they are wired together, they need to be replaced in pairs, or you will be replacing the other one in short order.

Well, I guess I'll be picking up another battery in the morning.

I got everything cleaned up and the battery replaced. I checked the charge voltage at both batteries. The replacement read 14.39 and the other battery read 14.41 which is well within the accuracy of the voltmeter.

Is that NO-OX-ID the same stuff that is used on aluminum electrical wire connections?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I can't say that I have ever had corrosion using the felt washers. And I really don't like using the red spray just because it's so messy and atttracts dirt. GMs side mounted terminals really seem like a great idea, no? No stupid lead to lead clamps and the connections are away from the top of the battery.