Hi,
I have just bought two! new dry batteries for my MGA and some bottles of
acid.

Can anyone suggest what precautions I should take.

My wife shall be getting nitrile gloves for me and I shall at last find
a use for the lab coat saved from school 20 years ago. I'll dig out some
goggles.

I'm planning to fill them outside, with the kids out of the way.

Do I need to charge the filled batteries before use, or are they ready
to go?

thanks

dan

Dan Smithers wrote:
> Hi,
> I have just bought two! new dry batteries for my MGA and some bottles of
> acid.
> 
> Can anyone suggest what precautions I should take.
> 
> My wife shall be getting nitrile gloves for me and I shall at last find
> a use for the lab coat saved from school 20 years ago. I'll dig out some
> goggles.
> 
> I'm planning to fill them outside, with the kids out of the way.

Seems to me that you're taking all reasonable precautions already.  If 
you spill any acid, wash it off with plenty of water, it concentrates as 
its water content evaporates and splashes will burn through clothing 
eventually .
> 
> Do I need to charge the filled batteries before use, or are they ready
> to go?

They are supplied 'dry charged' so they should be ready to go.
> 
> thanks
> 
> dan


-- 
Ian Edwards

In article <g4i1su$ovd$1@aioe.org>,
   Dan Smithers  wrote:
> I have just bought two! new dry batteries for my MGA and some bottles of
> acid.

> Can anyone suggest what precautions I should take.

Are there not instructions provided?

> My wife shall be getting nitrile gloves for me and I shall at last find
> a use for the lab coat saved from school 20 years ago. I'll dig out some
> goggles.

> I'm planning to fill them outside, with the kids out of the way.

> Do I need to charge the filled batteries before use, or are they ready
> to go?

You can't charge an 'empty' battery. No current can flow without the
electrolyte. They are usually supplied 'dry charged'.

If the acid you've got is concentrated (SG 1.835) this is a pretty good
guide :-

 You need an SG of 1.260

Slowly add 1 part of acid to 3.2 parts of distilled water in a glass
container, stirring as you go using a glass rod. DO NOT add water to acid. 

Leave to settle for a few hours then trickle charge overnight.

-- 
*To steal ideas from *one* person is plagiarism; from many, research*

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
>  DO NOT add water to acid.

This is *very* important.  You stand a real risk of getting boiling acid 
in your face if you do.

Jim

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <g4i1su$ovd$1@aioe.org>,
>    Dan Smithers  wrote:
>> I have just bought two! new dry batteries for my MGA and some bottles of
>> acid.
> 
>> Can anyone suggest what precautions I should take.
> 
> Are there not instructions provided?

No instructions.

>> My wife shall be getting nitrile gloves for me and I shall at last find
>> a use for the lab coat saved from school 20 years ago. I'll dig out some
>> goggles.
> 
>> I'm planning to fill them outside, with the kids out of the way.
> 
>> Do I need to charge the filled batteries before use, or are they ready
>> to go?
> 
> You can't charge an 'empty' battery. No current can flow without the

I was thinking of after filling with electrolyte.

> electrolyte. They are usually supplied 'dry charged'.
> 
> If the acid you've got is concentrated (SG 1.835) this is a pretty good
> guide :-
> 
>  You need an SG of 1.260
> 

The acid that I got is 38% (1.28 S.G.) from memory.

I remember the "add acid to water not water to acid".

What about disposal of the evidence (bottles). Can I just throw them
away, or should I rinse them in a bucket of water first?

Jim Warren wrote:
> Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
>>  DO NOT add water to acid.
> 
> This is *very* important.  You stand a real risk of getting boiling acid 
> in your face if you do.
> 
> Jim

*All* the sulphuric acid I've ever received with new batteries¹ for my 
MGB, is already mixed to the correct specific gravity.  No supplier in 
their right mind is going to ship concentrated H2SO4 direct to the public.

¹ Three pairs now since 1982.

-- 
Ian Edwards

In article <g4i6on$du7$1@aioe.org>,
   Dan Smithers  wrote:
> >> Do I need to charge the filled batteries before use, or are they ready
> >> to go?
> > 
> > You can't charge an 'empty' battery. No current can flow without the

> I was thinking of after filling with electrolyte.

Ah - sorry, misread your post. 

> > electrolyte. They are usually supplied 'dry charged'.
> > 
> > If the acid you've got is concentrated (SG 1.835) this is a pretty good
> > guide :-
> > 
> >  You need an SG of 1.260
> > 

> The acid that I got is 38% (1.28 S.G.) from memory.

That's fine to use as is. But make sure your memory is correct. I know
mine seldom is. ;-)

1.28 SG is correct for a dry charged battery - the SG of a fully charged
one ranges from 1.270 - 1.290 

> I remember the "add acid to water not water to acid".

> What about disposal of the evidence (bottles). Can I just throw them
> away, or should I rinse them in a bucket of water first?

Giving them a good rinse in plenty water won't harm. Just use a plastic
bucket. ;-)

-- 
*No radio - Already stolen.

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dan Smithers wrote:
> Hi,
> I have just bought two! new dry batteries for my MGA and some bottles of
> acid.
> 
> Can anyone suggest what precautions I should take.
> 
> My wife shall be getting nitrile gloves for me and I shall at last find
> a use for the lab coat saved from school 20 years ago. I'll dig out some
> goggles.
> 
> I'm planning to fill them outside, with the kids out of the way.
> 
> Do I need to charge the filled batteries before use, or are they ready
> to go?
> 
> thanks
> 
> dan

Adding to whats been said!

The supplied acid should be the correct concentration just to fill the 
batteries.

Buy yourself a battery hydrometer and check the charge, if its not fully 
charged then top them up with a battery charger.

Safety, if you do happen to spill the acid just dilute it with lots of 
water. Plus wash the battery tops off after you fill them.

Service the battery boxes before you replace the batteries.

Oh! BTW you forgot the safety eyeware.

r

Ian Edwards wrote:
> Jim Warren wrote:
>> Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
>>>  DO NOT add water to acid.
>> This is *very* important.  You stand a real risk of getting boiling acid 
>> in your face if you do.
>>
>> Jim
> 
> *All* the sulphuric acid I've ever received with new batteries¹ for my 
> MGB, is already mixed to the correct specific gravity.  No supplier in 
> their right mind is going to ship concentrated H2SO4 direct to the public.
> 
> ¹ Three pairs now since 1982.
> 

I didn't know that.  I have always bought batteries already filled.

It doesn't do any harm to advise playing safe though.

Jim

Rob wrote:

>> a use for the lab coat saved from school 20 years ago. I'll dig out some
>> goggles.
>>

> 
> Oh! BTW you forgot the safety eyeware.
> 

Thanks for the reminder. I was thinking of wearing the goggles on top of
my head to ;-)

In article <486cbfcb$1_2@news.peopletelecom.com.au>,
   Rob  wrote:
> Dan Smithers wrote:
> > Hi,
> > I have just bought two! new dry batteries for my MGA and some bottles of
> > acid.
> > 
> > Can anyone suggest what precautions I should take.
> > 
> > My wife shall be getting nitrile gloves for me and I shall at last find
> > a use for the lab coat saved from school 20 years ago. I'll dig out some
> > goggles.
> > 
> > I'm planning to fill them outside, with the kids out of the way.
> > 
> > Do I need to charge the filled batteries before use, or are they ready
> > to go?
> > 
> > thanks
> > 
> > dan

> Adding to whats been said!

> The supplied acid should be the correct concentration just to fill the 
> batteries.

> Buy yourself a battery hydrometer and check the charge, if its not fully 
> charged then top them up with a battery charger.

> Safety, if you do happen to spill the acid just dilute it with lots of 
> water. Plus wash the battery tops off after you fill them.

> Service the battery boxes before you replace the batteries.

> Oh! BTW you forgot the safety eyeware.

Goggles?

> r

-- 
*Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <486cbfcb$1_2@news.peopletelecom.com.au>,
>    Rob  wrote:
> 
>>Dan Smithers wrote:
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>I have just bought two! new dry batteries for my MGA and some bottles of
>>>acid.
>>>
>>>Can anyone suggest what precautions I should take.
>>>
>>>My wife shall be getting nitrile gloves for me and I shall at last find
>>>a use for the lab coat saved from school 20 years ago. I'll dig out some
>>>goggles.
>>>
>>>I'm planning to fill them outside, with the kids out of the way.
>>>
>>>Do I need to charge the filled batteries before use, or are they ready
>>>to go?
>>>
>>>thanks
>>>
>>>dan
> 
> 
>>Adding to whats been said!
> 
> 
>>The supplied acid should be the correct concentration just to fill the 
>>batteries.
> 
> 
>>Buy yourself a battery hydrometer and check the charge, if its not fully 
>>charged then top them up with a battery charger.
> 
> 
>>Safety, if you do happen to spill the acid just dilute it with lots of 
>>water. Plus wash the battery tops off after you fill them.
> 
> 
>>Service the battery boxes before you replace the batteries.
> 
> 
>>Oh! BTW you forgot the safety eyeware.
> 
> 
> Goggles?
> 
> 

Missed that in the first instance  - thanks Dave :)

>>r
> 
>