🚀 go-pugleaf

My backup sump pump (Wayne brand)'s 12 Volt "Marine Stinger" battery, at
about age 8 months began making bubbling sounds (it is hooked to its
recharger, as usual).  I had neglected to keep it full, and so added 3/4
gal.  distilled water.  Now its specific gravity has recovered to 1.250
from 1.125.  It gives a 12.5 on my volt meter, but still it continues to
bubble, slightly less so if I unplug its charger; but charger or no, it
won't stop bubbling.  You can occasionally see a small bubble float up
in one of the (6) cells, but you can stand 3 feet away and still hear it
continiously inside.  I keep it uncapped for fear of a hydrogen build
up.  There is no smell.

Should my battery have a little excercise, e.g. running a CB radio for a
few days, then back on the charger?  Is it going to go "BOOM" and my
house burn down?  It's in a well ventilated area.  I hope that durning
the time the plates were neglectfully exposed to air they got some
coating on them that has already taken 4 months and still hasn't bubbled
all the way off (battery is now 1 year old), but will soon, though I don't
notice any coatings when I peer in to the battery as best I can.  The
battery is room temperature, so its not boiling.  It hasn't really
needed more water.

-- 
Dan Jacobson, Dept. 45262, IH 1D-213, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, IL
(312) 979-6364 (until 10/89 try 4407) danj1@ihlpa.att.com   ihlpa!danj1