danj1@cbnewse.ATT.COM (Dan Jacobson, Naperville, IL) (10/16/89)
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