Battery Tipped And Spilt Some Acid

[KrazyKong]

I had a battery on charge in the garage that got tipped over. I didn't realize it immediately but i was on it's side for no less than an hour. It's an Exide sealed battery, you know those yellow top ones you see in K-Mart. Now the battery is good, but it got low due to alot of cranking. So I figured it would be good to give it a nice trickle charge.

I don't want to cause any damage to this battery by doing the wrong thing. So am asking advice on how to check the water levels, and if I should put in some Inox Battery Conditioner as well?

Should I get one of those glass tube things with the rubber ball on the end to test the avid levels too?

[t_revz]

If you can open the top you can put some distilled water in an charge it up.but don't fill it right up. Usually about an inch from the top. You don't need a hydrometer to check it. If you can't open it how much leaked out?

[KrazyKong]

It didn't seem like alot leaked out. Not sure on the measurement, but at least a couple of tablespoons full. The smell was quite strong when I cleaned it up.

Is there a more precise measurement to fill it up to, or just go an inch from the top?

[89CAL]

Alot of them you usually fill till they just touch the bottom of the caps because they usually sit down in the battery a bit. But I don't know if all are like this

[KrazyKong]

I'm just reading on the Exide website how my battery is supposed to be spill resistant. Hmm time to give them a call I think. Maybe somethings wrong with the battery. Granted it should have ever been on its side, but it's fairly new and supposed to be a decent one.

[Simon-S14]

Its a wet cell battery so it will have a breather hole. So not totally sealed at all.

Just fill it up as mentioned above and charge it again

[t_revz]

Ah it's not a sealed battery. All batteries will have a breather so don't stress. When you remove the caps the plastic below the threads goes down about another inch. Fill till it just reaches the plastic.

[KrazyKong]

Ah ok. Seeing as how it looks like I'll have to top it up now, has anyone used this?

Are for the outside of the battery, is dishwash soap ok to scrub it to get any of the acid water stuff off it?

[t_revz]

Water or add soap if you really wanna get bling on it. I would just put the hose on it

Have never used that stuff. Adding distilled water then charging will turn it into acid. Cheap n easy

Just read product statement and it's designed for rarely used batteries to prevent them dying from sitting stagnant.

Edited June 5, 2012 by t_revz

[Simon-S14]

best thing for neutralising any acid spill is hot water and bicarb soda mixed together

[KrazyKong]

Thanks for the tips and info guys. Managed to clean up the spill. As for the battery it seems ok. Just topped it up with demineralized water.