| By :
Lawrence Reaves
A car flooded-cell battery will last for years, so long as it gets maintained properly. While you are driving your car the alternator keeps your battery charged, but the method it uses to charge your battery is different from the method a battery charger charges. This can make the difference of how long your battery will last before it needs replacing. Additionally, flooded-cell batteries, as the name suggests, contain fluid in each cell. The cells contain two lead plates and it is imperative that the plates remain covered in fluid. The fluid is sulfuric acid, which is corrosive and burns skin and clothes. If the level of the fluid falls so the lead plates get exposed they dry out and sulfation occurs. Sulfate crystals form on the plates and if the fluid level isn't replenished then the damage can become irreversible. However, keeping your battery maintained is a fairly straightforward job then you know that when you go to start your car on a cold frosty morning, the battery will have the energy to start your car. Topping-up your Battery Firstly, it's sensible to wear a pair of protective gloves before topping up your battery. Although very unlikely, you don't want to get the acid in the cells on your skin. Secondly, all battery manufacturers suggest you disconnect the negative (black) battery cable from the battery before attempting to service your battery. However, the problem with today's cars is that they have so much electrical equipment that ideally needs to be connected all the time; you may decide not to disconnect the cable. Remove the plastic caps on the top of the battery; there are six of them and they usually unscrew. Look carefully inside the cells and you will see a maximum marker. This is where the fluid level needs to be. If you find any of the cells have fluid up to the marker then you don't need to do anything. If you find the level of fluid in any of the cells is below the marker, then you need to pour in distilled water until it reaches the marker. Don't overfill the reservoirs and only use distilled water; tap water contains impurities which can affect the cells ability to charge correctly. Once you have topped-up the cells, leave the cell caps off while you charge the battery. When you charge a battery using the trickle-charge method, gas bubbles start rising to the surface of the fluid and if the caps are on pressure can build-up. Charging your Battery Connect the cable clamps on the end of the cables from the battery charger to the battery terminals. The red cable attaches to the positive terminal and black cable to the negative terminal. Set your charger to trickle or slow charge and turn it on. Leave the battery to charge for at least 12 hours or until the charger light indicates your battery is full. Don't forget to replace the plastic cell caps once you've charged your battery. If you do this every few months, especially during the winter period you will keep your battery in good condition.
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