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Old 07-10-2007
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SEMIJim SEMIJim is offline
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Additional points of information, vis-a-vis lead-acid battery charging (from a conversation I just had in another venue):

Friend: "The hydrogen is not corrosive (terribly explosive, however) but some oxygen is released, particularly while (over)charging charged batteries, which accelerates corrosion, and sulphuric acid vapors are often present and they are corrosive."

Me: "I bet it's the sulphuric acid vapours you smell, right? Kind of a sharp-edged, acid-y smell?"

Friend: "Yes. Hydrogen and oxygen are odorless."

So, over-charging and charging at too-high a rate may get you one or more of: Explosive hydrogen fumes, oxygen fumes--which accelerate corrosion, sulphuric fumes--which are corrosive in and of themselves, and excessive battery wear.

Jim
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