The lead-acid battery you see in a car or any other automobile is basically used for starting combustion engines and other electrical equipment of the vehicles. Out of so many advanced rechargeable battery options these days, the lead-acid battery is still the top-rated commercially used rechargeable battery in the market for any battery-led vehicle or electronics equipment.
And one of the most popular reasons for that is its easy manufacturing process that keeps the battery price at a highly affordable range. In addition to that, it provides high surge power that is required to start the combustion engine with sheer electrical force.
There are hundreds of articles suggesting hundreds more ways how to make battery acid. But if you want to do it from scratch following a few simple steps, this article is for you.
So let’s first know what battery acid is before you start making it.
Battery Acid Simply Explained
In simple terms, Battery acid is a mixture of water and sulfuric acid that formulates electrolytes for lead-acid batteries. Here sulfuric acid itself is the electrolyte that is the formulation of lead sulfate materials and is known as mineral acid. This acid can be highly corrosive and needs to be stored in a glass or non-reactive container for safety as it can cause severe skin burns. The sulfuric acid in a diluted form is not battery acid. The water must be mixed in a concentrated form of sulfuric acid.
And here it comes how you are going to do that. How are you going to make battery acid? Let us show you the way.
Warning: Before we tell you how to make battery acid, we want to make you aware of the fact that the acid-making process can be very risky for beginners. In that case, you can buy readymade electrolytes from the retail stores or make battery acid at your own risk.
How To Make Battery Acid
- Safety comes first. For the sake of your own safety, wear a mask, gloves, and eyeglasses. Try to wear a full sleeve shirt while you make the battery acid. Because a tiny drop of acid on your skin can cause severe burns.
- Take a clean plastic container and pour water into it. Generally, battery acid contains 80 percent water and 20 percent sulfuric acid. In addition to that, the ratio of water and acid may depend on the gravity level. For instance, to obtain a 1250 gravity battery, a 4:1 ratio will be suitable.
- Now pour 4 liters of water into the container. Make sure the water is free from minerals and other metal objects that can be a constraint for chemical reactions.
- For 4 liters of water, you will require 1 litre of sulfuric acid. Pour in slowly into the water. You are not recommended to pour the whole acid at once to avoid any hazardous chemical reaction.
- Stir the mixture well and Keep the mixture stored in the container for 8 hours to allow the acid to cool down.
- Using the hydrometer, check the gravity of the electrolyte. If the gravity is at the desired level, you are done.
Now you are ready to fill your battery case with electrolytes made on your own. Congratulations!
How To Get Sulfuric Concentrate?
Sometimes getting sulfuric acid in your hands gets a bit tougher when you are not a laboratory or chemical institution. In that case, you need to make your own sulfuric acid. The only opportunity you get is to buy ready-made car battery acid. And the car battery acid comes in a diluted form from where you need to get rid of the water and extract the sulfuric acid concentration.
There are basically two ways you can follow to get concentrated sulfuric acid from dilute sulfuric acid. One is considered to be the safest method and another one is the quickest method for professionals mostly. But you can follow whichever you feel convenient.
The Safest Method
In this method, you can concentrate diluted sulfuric acid by keeping it in a glass container for a few days. For your own safety and to make the acid free from external dust and other materials, slightly cover the container.
When you keep the diluted sulfuric acid in a container, the extra water in the acid evaporates over time and you get the sulfuric acid in a concentrated form.
The Quickest Method
In the quickest method, you need to boil the sulfuric acid to reduce the amount of water in the solution. But here, you can not do the boiling in any normal glass container except borosilicate glass. This special kind of glass will protect you from acid fumes and will protect the container from breaking itself due to heat.
When the boiling is done, meaning the water has been completely evaporated, there will be white vapor steam. This indicates you need to cool the acid down before you mix water to make battery acid.
Warning: Be aware of inhaling the acid fumes. It can cause burning in your throat.
Frequentlyl Asked Questions (FAQs)
How To Neutralize Battery Acid?
The acid itself is dangerous for anything it spills on. It can contaminate your garden’s soil, burn your soft and moisturized skin, and spoil anything it leaks into. But if you have baking soda near your hands, you will likely be able to control the damage by neutralizing the acid. Just a sprinkle of baking soda on the acid can cool it down.
Should I Need To Add Acid Into My Battery?
Basically, in a day to day battery consumption, only the water gets consumed by the battery, not the sulfuric acid. That’s why you are always recommended to add distilled water into the fluid to keep up the suitable electrolyte level. Adding more acid will damage the lead plate and reduce the lifetime of the battery.
Conclusion
For the easy manufacturing process, it’s very common for people to make an attempt to make a lead-acid battery on their own. In the manufacturing process, there are basically a few components in a lead-acid battery.
Among all the elements making battery acid can more likely be critical and dangerous if you don’t have proper knowledge about it. I hope this article is a sure way for you to make your first battery acid batch, even if you are doing it for the first time.
Good Luck. Deal it safe.
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