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Battery corrosion

two_travelers
Explorer
Explorer
The metal brackets that hold down the batteries tend to collect a lot of "white" stuff. I've cleaned them many times using battery cleaner and then sparying with battery protector. Terminals themselves are clean it's just the hold down brackets. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?
7 REPLIES 7

Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Moderator
^^^ THIS!

Works great.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910

howdy35
Explorer II
Explorer II
Next time when you need to top off your batteries, put 1.5 oz. of mineral oil in each cell. It cuts down the amount of bubbling from the batteries. I have found it helps the batteries also last a little longer. Happy travels. Arnold
1999 National Tradewinds 7370
2014 Honda CR-V--Toad
Fulltime

Hikerdogs
Explorer
Explorer
Many batteries have the vent in the center of the top plate like this:

https://www.centennialbatteries.com/centennial-commercial-heavy-duty-battery-c-31-10st-group-31

Unfortunately this is also where the battery hold down bracket is positioned. Our Buick Lucerne had this arrangement, but it also had a tube fitted over the vent that extended below the battery case. I copied this system for our house batteries using clear vinyl tubing. The tube is secured to the vent with a small wire tie. It extends below the battery box and a couple inches below the frame rail. Itis also wire tied to the frame rail. The tubing has been in place 2 years and the hold down bracket and frame rail are still corrosion free.
Hikerdogs
2013 Winnebago Adventurer

navegator
Explorer
Explorer
The biggest issue with batteries is over filling and water on the cover, dead short between terminals, second is boiling the water in the cells, the cells need that space betwen the cap and the correct level of liquid, NAPA sells special battery watering bottles that when the special spout is pressed add the correct amount and do not spill, always use distilled water, never tap water it containes minerals that will short the cells and ruin the battery.

To solve the problem off the corrosion take the battery(s) out make a schematic of what other wires are connected and corret position in relation to the polarity, also note how the battery is positioned in the tray in relation to the negative - and the positive + posts on the battery and clean the batterie(s) with a rag dipped in a solution of bicarbonate and water, do not under any sircumstance let this solution enter the cells, the battery will be ruined, the caps are cleaned separate and the battery is cleaned with a rag rinsed in water.

!SHOULD YOU CONNECT THE BATTERY WHRONG THE COMPUTER(s) WILL FRY!

Clean both terminals by dippind in a solution of bicarbonate and water until completlly clean, this means removing the bolt, while cleaning the terminals brush a solution of bicarbonate on all areas where the battery sits and also check under the tray, rinse with running water let dry, paint with rustoleum spray.

Dip in a bucket with bicarbonate and water the tie downs rince and paint, remembering to do the nuts and washer separate, you might need to do the bicarbonate and weater several times, until the last dip or rag or brush is clean water, no green bubles.

To install the batteries get a battery post cleaning brush, this allows you to clan both the cable ends and the battery post, now attach the positive post, DO NOT HAMMER twist on with pressure, the cable ends can be spread with couple of srew dfi ers working in opposition, do not stab yourselfs now instal bolts and nuts and tighten well I mean tight so that you can not move the cable at all a lose cable ratling down the road will blow diodes in the alternator and rememer to connect all other wires that belong to this terminal, now do the same with the negative terminal, once this is done, (NAPA cells small brushes perfect for this) either use vaseline or axle grease and copmletlly cover the terminals even underneath, do not coat the battery top this will onlly create more problems by atracting dust and dirt and that will crate a path for the current to flow from post to post, the end result is a dead battery.

Should the cable ends be ruined to the point of being useless either have new cables installed or have the shop do it, a special tool is used to ensure a correct crimp of the terminal, some of the over the counter terminals are useless, they ruin more alternators than you would imagine.

I hope it helps a little

navegator

Chum_lee
Explorer
Explorer
two travelers wrote:
The metal brackets that hold down the batteries tend to collect a lot of "white" stuff. I've cleaned them many times using battery cleaner and then spraying with battery protector. Terminals themselves are clean it's just the hold down brackets. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?


Not sure what batteries you are talking about. You can buy a plastic (non-corrosive) hold down for your chassis battery(s). Problem solved. You can paint (clean well and use epoxy paint) the metal hold down clamps commonly used on the coach batteries.

Are you overfilling/overcharging the coach batteries? That eventually tends to bubble the acid out of the battery(s) which then gets all over the battery compartment. Rinsing/brushing regularly with baking soda/water solution is your economical friend.

Chum lee

DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Explorer
Coat the brackets with Vaseline

wanderingaimles
Explorer
Explorer
If you are removing the batteries when you clean the hold downs and brackets, try using a mixture of baking soda and water after brushing. The Baking soda helps with the chemical reactions.