Expert: Mike Fulcher - 4/30/2008

Question
I recently bought a new lead acid battery and was given the battery and a container of electrolyte/acid.  The instructions called for me to put the acid into each cell, wait 60 minutes and then trickle charge the battery.  With my understanding of the workings of a lead acid battery, I don't understand why it is necessary to charge it?  Indeed a check of the voltage after 1 hour showed it was 12.8 which seems fine.  The only explanation I can come up with is that maybe the acid they provide is weak and the rest of the so4 required is in the battery and consequently needs charging to put it into the electrolyte.  Can you help me understand this?  Thanks, Mike

Answer
I didn't know you could still get lead acid batteries that way.  The manufacturers keep the acid and battery separate as a way to increase the shelf life.  Long term without use the lead plates react with the sulfuric acid and irreversibly reduce the capacity.  In your case, the trickle charging is probably necessary to beak down any oxide layer on the lead plates that might limit performance prior to use.