battery "hissing" while charging????

[se7enty7]

I rode my bike to work today.... about 38 degrees.  I left when it was about 33 degrees and guess what... wouldn't start.  The battery seemed like it didn't have enough amperage to actually turn the starter over.  I "roll" started her in 2nd gear.


so.. I put the battery on a 2a charger tonight... and just noticed the battery is making a "hissing" almost carbonated sounding noise (like if you opened a coke and listened to it..) I assume this is like... hydrogen gas?


guess it's time for a new battery.  Where is the best place to buy one that fits like the original (I kind of don't like the walmart-on-its-side battery thing...) anyone know if they sell the correct sized battery?

[70 Cam Guy]

so.. I put the battery on a 2a charger tonight... and just noticed the battery is making a "hissing" almost carbonated sounding noise (like if you opened a coke and listened to it..) I assume this is like... hydrogen gas?

guess it's time for a new battery.  Where is the best place to buy one that fits like the original (I kind of don't like the walmart-on-its-side battery thing...) anyone know if they sell the correct sized battery?

If I remember my auto class in high school, the hydrogen is natural.  When the battery is charging, the hydrogen forms.  That is why you should vent the caps when charging.  ...also keep sparks away

You may not need a new battery.  If you're only riding short trips, the rpm's may not be getting high enough for long enough to charge your battery.  Cold weather also hurts a battery's performance

[MarkusN]

Yep. Electrolysis of water in a lead acid battery is normal when charging. That's why you have that went hose attached. Since it makes water exit the battery in the form of gas you have to top off the liquid level in the battery from time to time.

[TheGoodGuy]

oh that's normal, that's how you tell its charging, keep all the caps on, let the gas escape via the tube.

[mjm]

I rode my bike to work today.... about 38 degrees.  I left when it was about 33 degrees and guess what... wouldn't start.  The battery seemed like it didn't have enough amperage to actually turn the starter over.  I "roll" started her in 2nd gear.


so.. I put the battery on a 2a charger tonight... and just noticed the battery is making a "hissing" almost carbonated sounding noise (like if you opened a coke and listened to it..) I assume this is like... hydrogen gas?


guess it's time for a new battery.  Where is the best place to buy one that fits like the original (I kind of don't like the walmart-on-its-side battery thing...) anyone know if they sell the correct sized battery?

2 amp charger is too big for a motorcycle battery - you can boil it dry in a pretty short time - top off the water with distailled water. charge overnight with a small (1/2 amp or less) charger and then see if it holds a charge before replacing.

[The Buddha]

You dont like sideways ... oh well excuse me.... Mr Hoity Toity Smarty pants  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
The basic theory I have is... the acid is soaked up by some cotton like substance and turned into a goo ... and that goo sits next to the plates and the lead is swapped into and back from the plates ... OK now with gravity acting sideways ... the lead doesn't actually go dowm to the bottom where it will accumulate and settle and possibly short the plates out, It also is likely to stay where it came off from and end up going back to that same spot when the thing gets charged ... making for plates that show very little distegration with charging cycles. So I conclude that even for a sealed battery sideways is better ...
OK so anyone think this theory is BS ... and please point to the right theory then...
Cool.
Srinath.

[se7enty7]

went to walmart.... they sell the correct battery btw.  It's not sealed... it's like the original.  $29.99.  e10brs or something or the other....  I also bought the walmart 750mah trickle charger...

[The Buddha]

Correct battery... at walmart ... OK dont put the bike on sidestand then...
Cool.
Srinath.

[se7enty7]

Correct battery... at walmart ... OK dont put the bike on sidestand then...
Cool.
Srinath.

huh? Why can't it go on the sidestand??

[MarkusN]

Correct battery... at walmart ... OK dont put the bike on sidestand then...
Cool.
Srinath.

huh? Why can't it go on the sidestand??

Only guessing here: Because the Walmart Battery has the hose connected on the left side?

[se7enty7]

Correct battery... at walmart ... OK dont put the bike on sidestand then...
Cool.
Srinath.

huh? Why can't it go on the sidestand??

Only guessing here: Because the Walmart Battery has the hose connected on the left side?

yeah it does... but I don't see why it would matter.  At least.. why it would matter any different then if you were leaning over around a corner

[MarkusN]

When cornering you lean the bike to counteract centrifugal force. Thus the liquid level in the battery stays more or less parallel to the cover of the battery.

Not so when you put it on the sidestand. You lose quite a bit of battery fluid that way. On the ground, if you have properly installed the drainage pipe. On the frame if you have not (hmmmm, yummy!)

[MarkusN]

The basic theory I have is... the acid is soaked up by some cotton like substance and turned into a goo ... and that goo sits next to the plates and the lead is swapped into and back from the plates ... OK now with gravity acting sideways ... the lead doesn't actually go dowm to the bottom where it will accumulate and settle and possibly short the plates out, It also is likely to stay where it came off from and end up going back to that same spot when the thing gets charged ... making for plates that show very little distegration with charging cycles. So I conclude that even for a sealed battery sideways is better ...
OK so anyone think this theory is BS ... and please point to the right theory then...

It is correct and it is not. The chemistry that takes place during charging and discharging strictly takes place in the solution. Nothing that can sediment down. Also, it's not lead that's being swapped in and out of the plates, but sulphur (and oxygen, if i remember right.)
anyhow, you are correct that the cycling causes some erosion on the plates nonetheless, and that conductive particles can work themselves loose from the plates, and these definitely stay better distributed in a battery that lies on its side.
Unfortunately the same is true for gas bubbles forming during charging. I assume they have to take care of those gases with some chemical tricks in sealed batteries (I know they do in NiCads).

[se7enty7]

The basic theory I have is... the acid is soaked up by some cotton like substance and turned into a goo ... and that goo sits next to the plates and the lead is swapped into and back from the plates ... OK now with gravity acting sideways ... the lead doesn't actually go dowm to the bottom where it will accumulate and settle and possibly short the plates out, It also is likely to stay where it came off from and end up going back to that same spot when the thing gets charged ... making for plates that show very little distegration with charging cycles. So I conclude that even for a sealed battery sideways is better ...
OK so anyone think this theory is BS ... and please point to the right theory then...

It is correct and it is not. The chemistry that takes place during charging and discharging strictly takes place in the solution. Nothing that can sediment down. Also, it's not lead that's being swapped in and out of the plates, but sulphur (and oxygen, if i remember right.)
anyhow, you are correct that the cycling causes some erosion on the plates nonetheless, and that conductive particles can work themselves loose from the plates, and these definitely stay better distributed in a battery that lies on its side.
Unfortunately the same is true for gas bubbles forming during charging. I assume they have to take care of those gases with some chemical tricks in sealed batteries (I know they do in NiCads).

well damn. I might return this battery then, and try the one on it's side


it just seems like I'm asking for trouble by doing that... it seems like the fluid might leak out... grr

[se7enty7]

The basic theory I have is... the acid is soaked up by some cotton like substance and turned into a goo ... and that goo sits next to the plates and the lead is swapped into and back from the plates ... OK now with gravity acting sideways ... the lead doesn't actually go dowm to the bottom where it will accumulate and settle and possibly short the plates out, It also is likely to stay where it came off from and end up going back to that same spot when the thing gets charged ... making for plates that show very little distegration with charging cycles. So I conclude that even for a sealed battery sideways is better ...
OK so anyone think this theory is BS ... and please point to the right theory then...

It is correct and it is not. The chemistry that takes place during charging and discharging strictly takes place in the solution. Nothing that can sediment down. Also, it's not lead that's being swapped in and out of the plates, but sulphur (and oxygen, if i remember right.)
anyhow, you are correct that the cycling causes some erosion on the plates nonetheless, and that conductive particles can work themselves loose from the plates, and these definitely stay better distributed in a battery that lies on its side.
Unfortunately the same is true for gas bubbles forming during charging. I assume they have to take care of those gases with some chemical tricks in sealed batteries (I know they do in NiCads).

well damn. I might return this battery then, and try the one on it's side


it just seems like I'm asking for trouble by doing that... it seems like the fluid might leak out... grr

also... the non sealed battery is $29.99... the sealed is 49.99......

[The Buddha]

MarkusN ... Thanks for the correction ... OK erosion of plate will sediment, chemical action will end up in solution... so charging discharging wont hurt just sitting might ... cool.
Se7enty7 ... the walmart battery is OK ... drain on left is not that big a deal, just use centerstand as much as you can ... and what he said about going round a corner ... The thing about a sealed battery ... I have never had one leak... I have popped off the caps on some and screwed with it too ... but never had one leak... The sealed battery is 49.99, however it will last longer... much longer especially under neglect and lack of use... and it will also be more resistant to freeze and generate more power ... (not sure about more power but its peak power decay with age is far less) ... If you have a bike shop nearby or even far away, see if you can sweet talk them into havign a few of their dead ones ... they have them lying in the back usually and have to pay to toss them in a dump... and get a few, charge them one after another, and some of them will come back alive ... It migt take a week with that trickle charger you got...  :lol: ... put a sticky on it and check voltage everyday, and see when it comes up to 13.5... and then take it off charger and still measure it everyday ... it should retain charge mostly for a good 2 weeks ... that is then OK to try it in the bike ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[se7enty7]

............................ it should retain charge mostly for a good 2 weeks ... that is then OK to try it in the bike ...
Cool.
Srinath.

I'm not extremely concerned so much with the cost of the battery.....  I'm okay with the sealed sideways one....  but it's a leakage thing that worries me.


Sounds like the non sealed variety is more apt to leak.  I have the drain hose routed out behind the left passenger footpeg so if it does leak it should get on the bike itself..

[coll0412]

I would be more worried about the plates in the battery more than the acid leaking out if you have it on its side. The plates normally hang down so the only stress is the force acting parallel to the plate.

Now if you tip it on its side, the connnection holding the plates on has a troque being applied to it by the weight of the plate and the distince from the center of mass of the plate. So as you go over bumps you can devolop a crack and through enough cycles(bumping up and down) you would have crack propagation casusing the plate to fall off.
Could be bad

[John Bates]

se7enty7, if your confused check out the YUASA Technical Manual

[The Buddha]

The 916/996 duc has battery sideways ... the sealed battery has some cotton like material in the gap between plates ... The plates arent hanging...
Cool.
Srinath.