Batteries over filled

[mike brez]

Checked my batteries today and they are all filled almost to the top of cap. Is it ok to use a turkey baster to remove some water? What affect will it have on batteries?

[dons2346]

You will be removing a mixture of water and acid. At this point, I would leave things alone if there is still an air gap between the water and the cap which it sounds like there is.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by dons2346

You will be removing a mixture of water and acid. At this point, I would leave things alone if there is still an air gap between the water and the cap which it sounds like there is.

That's what I'd do.

[Murf2u]

If the unit is plugged in it could be that there's enough bubbles in the cells to raise the liquid levels.

If it was plugged in when you checked, unplug it and leave it for 24 hours then check again.

[Hikerdogs]

Keep a close eye on the batteries. If they are too full (closer than 1/2" to 5/8" from the top of the fill hole) the acid/water solution will bubble out the vent holes in the caps and make a real mess. It happened once in our previous motorhome. I ended up removing some solution with a turkey baster as you suggested. There was no ill effect to the batteries. They lasted over 8 years.

I also had to remove the batteries wash them down and repaint the battery compartment where the acid ate away the paint.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by mike brez

Checked my batteries today and they are all filled almost to the top of cap. Is it ok to use a turkey baster to remove some water? What affect will it have on batteries?

mike brez
Yes, (and with detrimental affect).

I added distilled water to my 4 12V house batteries when they where discharged and they boiled out electrolyte/acid when/as they where re-charging.
A local battery shop sucked out, and disposed of, the excess electrolyte.
Those 4 batteries are still in my coach and functioning normally 7 years later.
BTW, the shop tech warned me to never top off the electrolyte when batteries are not fully charged.
Mel
'96 Safari

[TQ60]

You could remove some with a battery hydrometer and place it in a glass container with plastic lid.


LABEL THE CONTAINER IN LARGE PRINT!!!!

Then equalize the batteries or place a 10 amp to 30 amp charger on them overnight.

Then let stand for a day with ground removed to prevent parasitic loads.

If voltage brlow 12.5 to 12.6 repeat.

Once voltage is good recheck water and return harvested water as needed.

Save harvested acid water and fill battery as needed until all used up.

This is why you only add water to charged battery.

[Tha_Rooster]

They didn't get overfilled by themselves, have you tried letting them sit and check again.

[mike brez]

Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster

They didn't get overfilled by themselves, have you tried letting them sit and check again.

I just purchased it a couple months ago. Don't know who filled them.