This response from the "experts" at TVA is the only one that I've ever
heard about storing batteries on a concrete floor that makes any sense at
all. I can understand that condensation on the battery (because it is kept
cooler than the surrounding air by the concrete) could cause a discharge
path between the terminals. This probably happens many days in the fall and
spring inside your car but the discharge rate is low enough not to be
noticed in normal daily driving patterns. Over the period of several days
(weeks??) the discharge could be enough to deplete the battery.
In regards to running a battery in a pool of water, yes it would work. The
case is watertight. But don't immerse it with water covering it. Besides
diluting the electrolyte, there would be a current path through the water.
Thanks for the post. As I said before, it is the only logical explanation
that I've heard.
Vic Whitmore
76 Triumph Spitfire
Thornhill, Ontario
----------
> From: DANMAS <DANMAS@aol.com>
> To: Mark.Pelzel@cexp.com; ewcorco@erenj.com; worsley@ebicom.net
> Cc: triumphs@autox.team.net; tr8@mercury.lcs.mit.edu
> Subject: Re: Batteries & concrete (was Battery Chargers ('Maintainers'))
> Date: Tuesday, November 04, 1997 5:45 PM
>
> In a message dated 97-11-04 16:49:20 EST, Mark.Pelzel@cexp.com writes:
>
> > Absolutely
> > do not leave your charging batteries or other batteries in storage on
a
> > concrete floor - concrete will guarantee that they will fully
discharge
> > over a short period even with a small flow..
>
> Mark:
>
> I find that interesting, because I was just asked about that by a member
of
> the MG list. Since I didn't know the answer, I asked The battery systems
> experts at the Tennessee Valley Authority where I used to work. These
guys are
> the corporate headquarters staff specialists, responsible for setting the
> standards and procedures for all aspects of battery power systems at all
of
> the TVA nuclear power plants..
>
> According to them, the only potential for problems with storing batteries
on
> concrete is the potential for condensation due to the cold storage
effects of
> the thermal mass of concrete. Concrete will stay cold long after the air
in a
> room has warmed up, thus the moisture in the warm air will condense on
the
> floor, and the batteries, creating a possible discharge path between the
> terminals. Typically, this is only a problem when the doors to an
unheated
> room are opened on a warm spring day, after a several days of cold
weather..
> Heating the room dries out the air, so condensation is not a problem from
that
> standpoint..
>
> As the battery cases are totally watertight, they should be able to
function
> perfectly well standing in a pool of water, so I don't understand how
concrete
> could be any worse. As I said, though, this is outside of my range of
> knowledge, so I would be interested in hearing more from you on this. If
that
> is true, what is the mechanism for the increased discharge?
>
> Dan Masters,
> Alcoa, TN
>
> '71 TR6---------3000mile/year driver, fully restored
> '71 TR6---------undergoing full restoration and Ford 5.0 V8 insertion -
see:
> http://www.sky.net/~boballen/mg/Masters/
> '74 MGBGT---3000mile/year driver, original condition
> '68 MGBGT---organ donor for the '74
>
>
|