How to refill a Bosch battery
Many modern batteries are made mostly maintenance-free. These batteries do not have access to the jars, as there is no need to refill water. The disadvantage of this technology is that if for some reason the water evaporates from the jars, you will either have to buy a new one, or engage in restoration.
Why a maintenance-free battery may need to be serviced
Maintenance-free batteries have almost no water evaporation due to the fact that during charging, the boiling electrolyte inside the cans condenses back into liquid through the labyrinth cover.
At the same time, if for any reason they break the rules of operation (charging with high currents, use of defective alternator, etc.), then a lot of steam will accumulate in the tanks, which will be released through pressure relief valves to avoid the explosion of the case.
Labyrinth Lid Design
Please Note! The only reason maintenance may be required is the evaporation of liquid from the jars. If this happens any battery can be made serviceable.
Modern batteries can be used for over 5 years with virtually no deterioration in performance, but cheap maintenance free models are not always able to last even half that long. In order to extend the period of effective use of such batteries, many car owners make attempts to make the product maintainable.
Experienced motorists, knowing in advance that cheap serviced batteries will not last long, immediately after the purchase make holes in the housing to monitor the electrolyte level and its density. For many car owners, it’s just a matter of habit.
Battery manufacturer Rocket
Rocket batteries are made at the plant Global Battery, which is located in South Korea. This facility has been producing acid batteries for over 60 years. The company entered the international level in the 80’s of the last century and now exports its products to 140 countries of the world.
Since 1994, the company has commissioned a second plant with state-of-the-art equipment. The company is located in the city of Gwangju, which is the sixth largest in this country. The company employs over 1,000. employees, so the total capacity of the plant reaches 3.5 million. Rechargeable batteries per year. The manufacturer’s official website can be found at: http://www.rocketbatt.com.
Where Rocket batteries are used
Rocket acid batteries are used as starter batteries in various cars and motorcycles. Due to a wide range of products, each truck or car owner can find the most suitable model.
A large number of sizes allows you to select the device for any vehicle. Most batteries are made with forward and reverse polarity. Terminals can be both European and Asian (type ASIA).
Such well-known car manufacturers as DAEWOO, Hyundai, Kia use Rocket batteries to equip new cars at the factory.
Most of the batteries are made for Asian cars with ASIA type terminals (thin terminals, sticking out over the body).
Battery cover removal
How to remove the cover on the maintenance free battery? With serviceable battery everything is clear. there to access the electrolyte is enough to have at hand a screwdriver, through which you can unscrew the plug.
If the battery has a single cover, you will need a screwdriver to remove the cover. However, there are some batteries, the removal of the cover. strip on which will lead to the failure of the battery. Next we will consider the question. how to remove the top battery cover on the most popular models.
Varta battery
Warta batteries are widespread due to their high quality and affordability. The information. how to remove the cover from the battery Varta be useful to many car owners.
With serviceable batteries Varta all is clear, if you want you can open them, for this you need only have a tool. As for the maintenance free Warta batteries all their upper part is protected by the lid. Such design can be detachable or monolithic. In case of monolithic construction the upper lid is “fixed” by welding. Is it possible to remove the cover of the Varta battery??
To remove the top cover you will need a tool. In the case of fixing the cover by means of grooves, you have to unfasten the fastener and make the dismantling. When you press the battery. it is difficult to disassemble it. Careless action can cause damage to the battery. Therefore, it is better not to dismantle the Varta battery to preserve its integrity.
It turns out that the cover with a Varta battery can not be removed. However, if the Warta battery needs to be topped up, it can be done with a drill, awl or screwdriver.
Although you can not remove the lid, but it is possible to drill holes to refill the fluid is quite realistic.
To do this, the following is done:
- Varta battery case is freed from the stickers;
- On the cover it is necessary to find the stamping of the plugs;
- use an awl or a drill to drill holes in these places.
The procedure of drilling out the battery housing Varta quite simple, but requires a responsible approach to it, otherwise it can lead to unnecessary financial costs for the purchase of a new battery.
Prolonged use of the battery significantly degrades its properties, over time you will need to replace the battery. If a sealed battery is installed, you should not be in a hurry to “write it off”. Knowing how to open such a model as Varta D43 or Varta C15, you can “reanimate” it in the shortest possible time.
Initially from the battery Varta D43 or similar model is required to remove the cover, following the specified scheme. Once this is done you will have access to the battery’s components, so any repair will not take a long time.
On closed models of Warta batteries, there are special indicators for determining the electrolyte level. Most batteries have translucent casings or markings that allow you to check the electrolyte level in the tanks. It is also not necessary to remove the lid to check the electrolyte, you can use a tube, syringe or other object that is dropped into the can. Acceptable liquid level is 1 to 1.2 cm above plate level.
Varta battery
Warta batteries are widely spread because of their high quality and affordability. Information. how to remove the cover from the battery Varta be useful to many car owners.
With serviceable Varta batteries everything is clear, if you want you can open them, it is enough to have a tool. In the case of maintenance free Varta batteries the whole upper part is protected by the lid. This design can be removable or monolithic. In the case of the monolithic construction the upper cover is “fixed” by welding. Is it realistic to remove this Varta battery cover?
You will need a tool to remove the top cover. In the case of fastening of the cover by means of grooves it is necessary to unfasten it and make dismantling. When you press the battery in, it is difficult to dismantle it. Careless actions can cause damage to the battery. This is why it is best not to dismantle a Varta battery to maintain its integrity.
It turns out that the cover of the Varta battery can not be removed. However, if for maintenance of the battery Warta need to refill the working fluid, it can be done with a drill, awl or screwdriver.
Although you can not remove the lid, but it is possible to drill holes for fluid refill is quite realistic.
To do this, the following is done:
- The case of the Warta battery is freed from the stickers;
- on the lid you need to find the stamping of the plugs;
- Use an awl or a drill to drill holes in these areas.
The procedure for drilling out the Varta battery housing is quite simple, but requires a responsible approach to it, otherwise it can lead to unnecessary financial costs for the purchase of a new battery.
Prolonged use of the battery significantly degrades its properties, over time you will need to replace the battery. If a closed battery is installed, you should not be in a hurry to “write it off”. Knowing how to open a model such as Varta D43 or Varta C15, you can “reanimate” it in the shortest possible time.
Initially from the battery Varta D43 or a similar model will need to remove the cover, following the specified scheme. Once this is done, access to the battery cells will be open, and any repairs will not take a lot of time.
On closed models of Warta battery for determining the level of electrolyte there are special indicators. Most batteries have translucent casings or markings that allow you to check the level of electrolyte in the tanks. Also to check the electrolyte level it is not necessary to remove the lid, you can use a tube, syringe or other item that is dropped into the jar. Acceptable liquid level is 1 to 1.2 cm above the level of the plates.
Repair with your own hands. how to repair the battery correctly
Once you get to the electrolyte, you need to check three parameters:
- Color. The electrolyte must be clear and free of foreign matter. Destroying lead plates give the fluid a darker color.
- Level. As water evaporates, electrolyte level drops, reducing power. Each battery has a different fluid level, but all batteries must have the plates submerged in electrolyte.
- Density. It is checked with the special device. areometer. When charged, the battery has a density of 1.27.
Important! Wear personal protective equipment when working with electrolyte! Wear safety glasses, gloves, and respirator. Electrolyte splash in the eyes or on the skin will cause chemical burns.
To perform diagnostics on a maintenance-free battery, follow these steps:
- Check battery and vehicle voltage. This is to rule out the chronic undercharging of the battery. With short frequent trips the battery does not have time to charge, with the decrease in temperature capacity falls by 20-40%. Many owners blame quite working equipment, although it needs to be properly exploited.
- Charging the battery. Preferably use a factory-authorized battery charger, preferably with a controller. Use of electronics will improve charge accuracy. If the charger is simple. set the current to about 0.1 of capacity. 60 Ah battery should be charged with current of 5. 6 Ampere. charging lasts. until the reading on the ammeter will not go down to 2-3 amps. A severely discharged battery should be charged with a current of 1-2 amperes (about 1/20 of the capacity) for several days. The voltage should not exceed 15 volts, otherwise the banks will “boil” and could swell.
- Drill holes in the battery cover. Check electrolyte level with improvised dipstick. If the battery is made of light plastic, it is possible to check the level by shining a flashlight through the battery.
- Checking the density with areometer.
- After checking and refilling, the battery must be closed tightly.
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How to correct the condition of the electrolyte
There are three options for correcting the density of the electrolyte:
- Low density at normal level. We take away with areometer all the content of the jar and pour it into the glass container. Add concentrated acid to bring the density to the recommended level. Pour the electrolyte into the jar until it is saturated.
- If the electrolyte level is low, the density is high. Add distilled water, stirring the electrolyte with a glass rod. After work, measure the density.
- At normal level, high density. Drain the electrolyte, add distilled water, fill to the level.
Important! The density of the electrolyte is its main characteristic. All battery operation depends on keeping this parameter normal.
For battery maintenance, all electrolyte may be poured into a glass or enameled container, stirred and the density checked. Pour the normal electrolyte back into the jars, and if there is not enough, top up with fresh electrolyte of the appropriate density. Add to all jars evenly, so that the amount of fresh sulfuric acid is the same in all jars.
Operation after service
A maintenance free battery loses its sealing properties after opening. It is best not to use if the construction is upside down or if it is parked in the passenger compartment.
Any tampering with the labyrinth lid will lead to loss of trapping and condensation of distilled water vapors. Repair turns a maintenance-free battery into a serviceable one. You’ll need to look in the battery more often.
The battery maintenance should be completed by charging. It is discharged by connecting several power consumers, and then charged. low currents. After two or three charging cycles, it is advisable to check the battery with a loading fork. If the capacity of the battery has dropped drastically, decide to replace it.
How to turn a maintenance free battery into a serviceable one
The time comes and the car owner is no longer satisfied with the characteristics of the battery. If you have a sealed battery, don’t throw it away and buy a new one. You can make it serviceable by opening the lid the way we described above. This will allow a number of procedures to be carried out in order to maintain the performance of the power source.
the possibility of checking and changing the electrolyte level is one of the signs of the battery serviceability. Closed cell batteries have an indicator which allows you to see the electrolyte level. Some casings are made of translucent materials or are characterized by labels which help to keep track of the amount of solution in all jars. The electrolyte level can be checked using a special tube or syringe inserted into the holes made in the lid. The normal amount of solution relates to 10-12 millimeters of liquid above the plates.
Do not forget that not only the acid level but also its density is an important characteristic of battery performance. You can get the data about the density of the solution with the areometer. Take a syringe, put it through the hole in the lid, and draw the electrolyte from the tank. Pour into the areometer and look at the readings. If the density is too low (less than 1.22 g/cm3 at up to 6°C) the battery will not work properly, it indicates that the electrolyte is low and must be topped up. If the solution is too low or too thick you should add more distilled water.
Read more about the density correction in our article: How to use the areometer correctly.
Check the electrolyte level with the clear tube.
Please note, too much electrolyte leads to unfortunate consequences: sulphation and plate degradation.
The figure shows the values of electrolyte density at different conditions.
After completing the work of refilling the water or acid solution, the holes in the cover must be sealed with sealant.
Safety precautions
Is it safe to say that the maintenance-free battery can be successfully rebuilt into a serviceable one?? Of course, a sealed battery can be rebuilt! If the purpose of opening the battery is to get lead for fishing or hunting, then observing a number of precautions, you can easily handle with just a hammer.
Safety precautions
Is it safe to say that from the maintenance-free battery you can make a serviceable one?? Of course, a sealed battery can be rebuilt with! If the purpose of opening a battery is to get lead for fishing or hunting, then by observing a number of precautions, you can easily manage with just a hammer.
It is a common practice of “Western” motorists to go to a service station for any minor detail. service, while domestic car owners try to repair the car themselves. One of the car units that need maintenance is the battery. Access to the electrolyte is required for its maintenance. Modern batteries are categorized into batteries with and without access to the electrolyte.
Maintenance free batteries
In the 90’s the development of battery manufacturing has stepped forward. While previous batteries required monitoring of the electrolyte level, according to manufacturers, this is not necessary with today’s models. Manufacturers call these batteries maintenance-free, according to them, they do not require control of the electrolyte. However, this is far from the case, these batteries do require maintenance.
“Maintenance-free” battery. this is the model of the battery, which does not require topping up water. But this type of batteries has a serious disadvantage. if it is fully discharged several times it loses its capacity. After that it can be thrown in the trash.
Find out how long you need to charge your battery
Batteries without access to the banks are widespread relatively recently. The charge level on these is checked by a hydrometer or “sight glass”.
In most cases, the lack of maintenance of such batteries is fraught with battery failure.
The main disadvantages of such batteries include:
- difficulties with electrolyte level control;
- Inability to control the density of the electrolyte;
- The need for flawless operation of the machine’s power grid.
Some types of batteries have markings of minimum and maximum working fluid levels to monitor the electrolyte level.
Maintenance-free batteries
The development of battery manufacturing has advanced in the 1990’s. If the old batteries needed to monitor the electrolyte level, according to the manufacturers, there is no need for this on modern models. Manufacturers call such batteries maintenance-free, according to them, they do not require control of the electrolyte. However, this is far from being true, these batteries still require maintenance.
A “maintenance free” battery is a battery model that does not require topping up with water. But this type of battery has a serious drawback. if you fully discharge it a few times, it loses its capacity. After which it can be thrown in the trash.
Find out when to charge your battery
Battery with no access to the banks have become widespread relatively recently. Charge level is checked by hydrometer or “sight glass.
In most cases, lack of maintenance of such batteries is fraught with battery failure.
The main disadvantages of these batteries include:
- difficulties with electrolyte level control;
- impossibility to control electrolyte density
- the need for a flawless operation of the machine’s electrical system.
Some types of batteries have markings for checking the electrolyte level.
Removal of battery cover
So how do you remove the lid on a maintenance free battery?? With a serviced battery everything is clear. there to access the electrolyte it is enough to have a screwdriver at hand, through which you can unscrew the plugs.
If the battery has a single cover, you will need a screwdriver to remove the cover. However, there are battery packs where removing the battery cover. the bar on which will cause the battery to fail. Next, consider how to remove the top battery cover on the most popular models.
Charging the boschov model plus
Before you charge the car battery at home, you need to prepare the tools for the work. After removing it, clean the battery terminals with a terminal brush, a mixture of baking soda and water to neutralize the acid. If there are many growths on the battery terminals and posts, wear protective goggles and a mask to prevent airborne corrosion from touching the eyes, nose and mouth. You should not touch your face until your hands are washed. This model of battery is maintenance free, so it will not be possible to open it to check the acid level. Instructions for safely charging a car battery:
- Start charging the battery immediately after discharge.
- Charge the battery with the battery charger, following the instructions for the specific device.
- Check if the charger is suitable for operation.
- Verify that the charger is off.
- Connect the positive cable of the device to the positive terminal of the battery.
- Connect the negative cable of the device to the negative terminal of the battery.
- Set it to the slowest possible charging speed.
- Turn on the charger and set the timer.
- When removing the device, turn it off first, then remove the positive and negative cables.
- After charging is complete, the battery panel display will appear.
- Connect the device to the car and check the operation.
- If the driver is not going to drive the car after charging, check the battery level after 12 hours to make sure there are no problems with the battery itself.
If the battery charger does not work, it may have a serious breakdown and need to be inspected or repaired.
How long does it take to charge a dead battery??
Maintenance-free battery is good, but if you kill it once and it does not live long after that (especially in winter).
Dream. I’ve never let my FORD down. I charge it once every six months as a precaution.It’s on the kopeck.
Maintenance free doesn’t mean it’s not rechargeable!
Hello please tell me, I have the same battery and charger, a year ago also did this procedure is ok, but there was a different battery.I reconnected it but the diode that should be blinking just keeps on blinking?Or it starts flashing later?The self-diagnostic shows that the z.it’s working.and the heat is not too much the same for you?
I have not flashed on this particular charger. one of the lamps is only changing color. To be honest I only charged it once and I can’t really remember now.)