Battery restoration: consequences of overcharging

Proper car maintenance is necessary to keep your vehicle running smoothly. But even with proper care, a car battery loses capacity. If the cause of the malfunction is lead sulfate deposits on the surface of the plates, polarity reversal can be saved as a last resort recovery operation. Experts say that shock surgery can lead to complete internal destruction or partial restoration of the container.

Battery reversal, restoration - video

We suggest you look at an accessible explanation from a specialist about whether and how to revive the battery by reversing it. The author simply provides step-by-step instructions with his own recommendations.

Traditional lead-acid batteries occupy the main share of 12-volt power supply elements in automotive equipment. Experienced drivers are well aware of the shortcomings of such batteries and can, without special examination, determine the moment when they can be taken to a collection point for recycling. This is what users do who have no time to waste time on unnecessary manipulations to get the maximum benefit from a “dead” power supply. Nevertheless, the operation of reversing the polarity of the battery as a restoration of its internal energy potential, although to a minimal extent, can bring some benefit.

History of appearance

The history of the appearance of gel batteries (AB) begins with the appearance of lead-acid batteries. This type of energy storage device was first designed by Gaston Plante, but it certainly didn’t turn out to be ideal or close to ideal. This was largely due to the fact that the first lead-acid batteries were small in capacity and problematic in terms of charging.

The worthy minds of automotive engineering and electrical engineering have been working on improving batteries of this kind for 100 years. Basically, two battery elements could be upgraded:

How to properly discharge a car battery

grid of electrodes;
directly electrolyte.

The essence of the design of this unit was and is the use of a creamy electrolyte, in other words, a gel, which significantly improves the basic properties of the battery. At first, the idea of gel batteries was not received as well as its creators would have liked, but over time the situation has changed. As a result, since the 00s of this century, gel batteries for cars and motorcycle batteries of this type have been slowly “capturing” the area of their specialization and are becoming more and more popular.

Procedure for reversing battery polarity

The operation is carried out in a ventilated room. It is necessary to control the process, adhering to the recommendations. Before charging, make sure that the caps on the cans are removed. The mixture released during the reaction is explosive.

A battery reversal scheme from specialists is proposed.

First of all, the battery is discharged to zero by external resistance, which you should make sure of, and even jumper the contacts to be sure.
We connect the battery to the charger, changing the polarity - red wire to minus, black to plus.

The process can take several days. During this time, the insoluble precipitate gradually dissociates lead ions into the electrolyte solution, and its density increases. At the end of charging, the hydrometer will show operating parameters and the plates will be cleaned. This process is called polarity reversal, and the battery is left to work like this after capacity is restored.

Double battery reversal is a process when, after removing the first charge with any resistance, the device is charged again, but in the forward direction. At this moment, the classic polarity returns, and the car battery restored by reversing the polarity will remain operational for years.

We suggest watching a video about the procedure for restoring a battery using the polarity reversal method.

Confused battery terminals: possible consequences

When and why do you need a duplicate PTS? how to get it quickly, what could be the reasons and problems?

The simplest answer to the question of what will happen if you mix up the terminals of a car battery is short: don’t expect anything good. In the most optimistic scenario, you will have to change the fuses, but often the consequences are much worse. Let's list them.

Closure

The first thing you need to understand is that polarity reversal (this is not quite the correct term, but it reflects the essence of the problem correctly) is a short circuit. And it is always accompanied by visual and sound effects that are impossible to notice: sparks, characteristic clicks, and smoke is not excluded.

If you have a very good reaction, all of the following problems can be avoided by simply withdrawing your hand with the wire. Alas, this does not always happen. So, read on.

Ignition, fire

The most catastrophic scenario occurs if the driver “fell into a stupor” after a hail of sparks began to fall from the terminals after an incorrect connection. Polarity reversal is essentially a short circuit in which the wires begin to heat up, melting the braid. Insulation is not always non-flammable, and if at the point of short circuit the wiring passes close to other flammable materials or comes into contact with technical fluids, the risk of fire increases manifold.

Battery power drop

If you mixed up the battery terminals not on the car, but when you put the battery on charge, then the problems will be localized only by the battery itself and the charger.

If the battery was completely discharged, then connecting it with reversed wires will lead to charging, during which its terminals will change polarity - positive will become negative and vice versa. This procedure is called polarity reversal. In some cases, it is used purposefully, but a drop in battery capacity cannot be avoided.

Another thing is an error with the wires regarding a partially charged battery. Here, most likely, the charger will suffer, and irrevocably. Due to a short circuit.

ECU failure

If a car fire should be considered a catastrophic scenario, since in this case you lose your vehicle, then a burnt-out on-board computer is the second most serious problem. A modern passenger car cannot operate without an electronic control unit, and the unit itself is an expensive thing. Loss of settings is another consequence of a burnout of the BC electronic unit.

Blown fuses

This is the most optimistic option (in terms of money, of course). But, to be honest, you shouldn’t hope that everything will work out just by replacing the fuses. Even if you have a good reaction, before the increase in current burns out the wires designed for a certain resistance, electronics sensitive to voltage changes may suffer.

However, problems can arise with blown fuses, since it is not always possible to immediately determine what exactly is not working. So, in the event of force majeure caused by your mistake in connecting the battery, do not be lazy before the trip to check the functionality of all consumers.

Generator failure

If you mix up the battery terminals, the first person to know about it will be the generator. True, it is well protected against such errors by the presence of a diode bridge, but there are models (mostly outdated or very cheap) where it is missing, and then the generator is the first to be exposed to a short circuit and burns out.

Alarm failure

Since the alarm is usually connected directly to the battery, the likelihood of it burning out is quite high. Especially if its design provides for the presence of triggers - they do not tolerate polarity changes.

Partial melting of wires

We have already mentioned this problem - due to a short circuit, a current begins to flow through the wires in excess of the permissible value. The resistance increases, the metal heats up quickly, and the insulation melts. So you made a mistake - be sure to check the integrity of the wires.

Procedure for reversing battery polarity

A battery reversal scheme from specialists is proposed.

First of all, the battery is discharged to zero by external resistance, which you should make sure of, and even jumper the contacts to be sure.
We connect the battery to the charger, changing the polarity - red wire to minus, black to plus.
We set the voltage to 14.2 -14.8 V, current 2 A. The battery is charged, while the temperature in the banks rises. Heating should not be allowed above 60 0, reducing the charging current and voltage.

We suggest watching a video about the procedure for restoring a battery using the polarity reversal method.

Consequences of incorrect connection

In the practice of auto electricians, there are various cases of battery polarity reversal (incorrect polarity setting). In most cases, it is a consequence of ordinary inattention and haste.

Sometimes during the operation of the car, wires connecting the battery terminals of a different color are installed, which can also lead to an error.

There are cases of incorrect charging. If the battery is almost completely discharged, then there is a possibility of charging the battery in reverse polarity using a charger if its terminals are reversed.

Let us analyze the consequences of incorrect polarity in order of their significance.

Generator failure

Occurs in 90% of cases, especially when the battery is well charged. May cause electrical fire.

Most likely, one of the arms of the rectifier bridge (two diodes) in the generator fails. Sometimes two or three pairs of diodes can break through. When the polarity is reversed, it turns out that they are connected in a direct connection, a large current flows through them, they break through. A broken diode has almost zero resistance. In this case, a huge current flows, which can cause a fire in the electrical wiring or damage the battery.

Some manufacturers include a fuse in the generator circuit to avoid such situations. In any case, if a polarity reversal occurs, it is necessary to check the generator.

Damage to electronic control units

The engine control unit is the most sensitive in this case. If it fails, the engine stops starting. Most manufacturers include power protection in control units in this case and in case of malfunction of the generator.

Usually it is a powerful zener diode connected in parallel to the supply bus. It breaks through when the polarity is reversed and the generator voltage is increased. Repairing the unit consists of replacing this zener diode. In an emergency, you can simply bite out the zener diode, and the unit’s performance will be restored.

Blown fuses

This is a more harmless malfunction. Typically, up to 20% of all fuses installed in the car blow out. Therefore, after reversing the polarity, you should methodically check absolutely all the fuses, from powerful distribution fuses in the engine compartment to interior fuses. Fuses should be replaced with similar ratings, never larger, otherwise they will be ineffective.

After checking the generator and replacing the fuses, reconnect the battery and test run the engine. If the car starts, let it run for ten minutes, then check the degree of heating of the generator. If it has increased its temperature significantly, it means that the diode bridge is broken and the generator definitely requires repair.

Next, they check the performance of all electrical components and systems of the car: ABS unit, air conditioning, climate control, body control, lighting, brushes, car radio, and so on. If everything is in order, during the first trips after polarity reversal, check for the presence of foreign odors in the cabin and engine compartment.

Features of double polarity reversal

If the goal is to rid the electrodes of white deposits and the consequences of strong sulfation, then double polarity reversal will also justify itself. It will eliminate external physical and chemical processes of destruction when changing poles with the return of the old electrical connection configuration. The battery is double polarized in the same sequence. After changing the polarities, you must immediately repeat the set of actions, but in a different order. It is also worth considering that this operation places a large load on the battery and especially on the electrodes. Therefore, it is recommended to perform double polarity reversal only for blocks with dense, durable and thick plates.

What is battery reversal?

To understand the essence of replenishment, regardless of the nature of its consequences with the possibility of a restorative effect, it is necessary to understand the principles of this phenomenon. We should start with the fact that each acid battery consists of several sections - plates that act as electrodes. One group of plates is positively charged, and the second is negatively charged. For example, in the same lead batteries, sections made of lead as such have a “minus charge”, and plates based on lead dioxide are charged “plus”. In fact, malfunctions in the operation of the battery often occur due to uneven distribution of charges, which is associated with a decrease in voltage in one of the groups of electrodes. Moreover, it is the positively charged dioxide plates that are subjected to the greatest load with a more intense loss of energy potential. Obviously, reversing the battery's polarity and restoring capacity by changing the poles can change the situation for the better, but how practical this is in each specific case depends on many factors. For example, experts note that batteries with durable lead plates can sometimes be restored with the return of up to 70% of the capacity.

How is it done, the principle of restoration?

Despite the “sophisticated” words, the method is really simple. A patient is taken, usually this is a battery that has already “died” (as many believe):

Doesn't charge
Boils quickly, literally in a few minutes
Discharges quickly, even with weak energy sources
Capacity approximately 10 to 30% of nominal

It is clear that such a battery will not be able to start the car engine, it simply does not have enough strength. Therefore, reversing the polarity will no longer harm it, let’s try:

We need to discharge the battery to zero, that is, completely. What we do is hang some kind of load on the terminals; usually a car light bulb is enough. If the voltage does not want to drop, then the terminals of the already discharged battery can be bridged.
Next we need to change the terminals from the charger, that is, we connect the negative wire to the positive terminal! Accordingly, negative - to positive.
Charging. The battery, oddly enough, will begin to take charge, and actively, although the battery will begin to heat up very strongly, this tells us that the battery is beginning to transform its “poles”, and the plates inside are also changing.
At first, you can give a large current, say 10 percent of the capacity, but then you should charge with a current of 2 Amperes. I also advise you to hang an additional resistance so that it takes over the main heating. A small resistor is enough.
We wait until the cans boil, at low current.

After this, if your battery is working properly, it will reverse polarity and gain capacity. In the best cases, you can recover up to 90% of the nominal value.

Actually this is the whole process, as you can see it is quite easy. But he cannot always help you.

Short circuits in the network

What happens if you short the battery terminals? Given the ability of starter batteries to briefly deliver current of hundreds of amperes, an object that shorts the terminals (for example, a wrench accidentally caught between the “plus” and the car body) will melt. More massive metal objects can become tightly welded to the terminals or body, causing the battery to go “zero.” At risk are cars where the battery is installed in the trunk - you should not carelessly throw keys or towing lugs there, it is unknown where they will end up under the influence of shaking while driving.

Battery short circuit when hit by a foreign object

Since such short circuits occur hidden from the owner (a key accidentally dropped during repairs can at least be immediately seen), they are the most dangerous - there is a high probability of ignition in the trunk.

With such short circuits, problems with on-board electronics are possible. Standard pre-start heaters on German cars are blocked after this, and their functionality is restored only after forced unlocking from a diagnostic scanner.

Battery reversal, restoration - video

After your battery is completely out of order, that is, it no longer takes a charge and begins to boil after 3 - 5 minutes of connection to the charger, and a regular car light bulb discharges it to zero in a couple of minutes. You are faced with a choice, either scrap it or try to revive it somehow. Now there are many different techniques and one of them is reversing the polarity of your battery. Well, you have nothing to lose...

We must admit that this is a critical measure, when there is nothing left at all! For example, the sulfation of a battery is so strong that it can no longer be destroyed by any desulfation methods! However, if these methods work, I advise you not to get carried away with polarity reversal, as sometimes this can kill your battery.

So let's start with the definition

Polarity reversal is changing the poles of the battery using the method of complete discharge (which is said to zero) and then charging under other poles. This is done to restore battery performance and increase capacity.

That is, in simple words, you swap the plus and minus places, the positive terminal becomes negative, and, accordingly, the negative terminal becomes positive.

As we know, the negative plates are made of lead, but the positive plates are made of lead dioxide.

Consequences of incorrect battery connection

Many people neglect the polarity and connection of terminals. Often this attitude persists until the first incorrect connection. In such a situation, the consequences can be both mild and dire.

Among the most common consequences of incorrect connection are the following:

short circuit;
ignition;
destruction of the battery;
damage to the on-board computer;
destruction of fuses;
generator breakdown;
damage to wires;
alarm breakdown.

The first case is the most harmless - a short circuit in the system. Often it only blows a few fuses, the consequences are inexpensive and easy to solve. But if you turn it off in a timely manner, this won’t happen.

You just have to pay attention to the sheaf of sparks during the connection process

Ignition may occur if an incorrectly connected battery is used for a long time. Small wires ignite, sometimes the fire spreads very quickly.

A simple battery failure is also possible. The plates, under the influence of the reverse charge, will begin to collapse, which cannot be restored. But this is much better than a breakdown of the on-board computer. After all, the cost of a new board is extremely high.

Fuses are one of the lesser evils in this case. If several protective elements burn out, you can replace them in a couple of minutes. And if the generator burns out, then such a purchase will be a significant blow to your pocket. But often it is equipped with special fuses that prevent such damage. If the car has it, then the error will only cost a new diode bridge.

Important! When connected in reverse, the battery is not charged. Its complete discharge and gradual destruction of the elements are possible, which also affects its capabilities. Alarms and wires are also small costs for such an error

They can be damaged and fail within a couple of minutes after connecting

Alarms and wires are also small costs for such an error. They can be damaged and fail within a couple of minutes after being connected.

However, don't worry, most modern cars are protected against incorrect connections. If protection is present, then the consequence will only be the replacement of several fuses.

If you mix up the terminals when charging using a special device, the consequences will also be minimal. The battery here will not be damaged at all, because the first thing that will blow is the charging fuse. This will stop the current flow and protect both elements from destruction.

How to reverse polarity of a battery

Any battery, after working for 2-3 years, loses capacity for various reasons. Some of the cells may shrink due to the crumbled mass. A short circuit will occur and the jar needs to be replaced. Sometimes the electrolyte turns black from the oxidized plate, sometimes high resistance to charging currents creates a white solid deposit on the plates. Sulfation can be removed in different ways, but if plaque remains on the plates, the last resort is polarity reversal. You cannot use the method if there is little electrolyte in the jars; you need to add it. Older battery models have thick lead plates and can withstand polarity changes better than others.

Maintenance-free calcium batteries are cleaned of sulfation using pulsed currents. Polarity reversal is contraindicated for them - you cannot perform a deep discharge and organize a “boiling”. Even measuring the density of the electrolyte in a maintenance-free device is problematic.

What can happen if reversing the polarity of a lithium battery? Such batteries are demanding to operate and cannot withstand overvoltage and deep discharge. The batteries work with balancers and special protection controllers that prevent the safety mode from being exceeded. The devices are not subject to sulfation; polarity reversal is unacceptable.

What problems might you encounter?

The final consequences can be completely different. Polarity reversal is usually performed in the case of moderate sulfation of the plates. For example, in most cases, cheap batteries cannot be restored due to the fact that their plates are of frankly low quality. Also, reversing the polarity will not help when:

one of the plates crumbled;
There is a cloudy electrolyte inside the cans;
There is not enough density inside the battery.

Attention! Therefore, before performing the procedure, it is recommended to check the battery for problems in the banks, make sure that they are clean and transparent, when there is only a slight white coating on the surface. In such situations, polarity reversal is acceptable.

Procedure for polarity reversal

During the charging process, the density in all battery banks should be constantly monitored. Approximate alignment of the values indicates that the memory needs to be turned off. In fact, with a reverse charge, the density in good containers should decrease sharply, but in dead ones, on the contrary, it increases.
Next is the control digit. It is enough to short-circuit the “+” and “–” terminals of the battery.
After this, but with the correct connection to the memory. That is, the positive terminal is connected to the “+” terminal, the negative terminal to the “–”.

All that remains is to control the charging current and the change in density value in the banks. In all of them it should gradually increase.

To truly restore the battery, it is advisable to completely reverse the polarity at least twice.

If this technique does not help restore the battery’s performance, then it has only one road – to be scrapped. Unlike batteries of older modifications, it is impossible to replace a separate jar in new ones. By the way, many experienced motorists consider this one of the main disadvantages of modern batteries. In fact, they are “disposable”, and in reality there are not many options for repairing batteries yourself.

Greetings, friends. Today I will tell you about the most effective way to restore the capacity of lead-acid batteries. During even the most correct operation, the battery loses its capacity every day. And at one point, its charge is not enough to start the car engine. This example worsens with the arrival of cold weather. Naturally, the car owner puts the battery on charge and after some time sees that the battery is not charging, and the charging voltage is as normal - 14.4-14.7 V or higher (12.6 without a charger) .

When does it make sense to reverse polarity?

Of course, polarity reversal cannot be considered as a universal way to repair a battery. We can say that the user does not lose anything from the very attempt to “revive” the device except time and nerves, but there are cases when a positive effect will be impossible in principle. For example, attempts to restore the battery by reversing the polarity will not lead to anything good in the following situations:

If the battery has finally failed as a result of complete physical or chemical destruction. The crumbling of the electrode structure is a clear sign that the block should be disposed of as soon as possible.
The battery housing is swollen and swollen. This is also not a good sign, which indicates that there is no point in trying to disassemble the structure.
The electrolyte has changed greatly in color - its brown tint also indicates the impossibility of recovery.
Closing the plates.

And yet, typical and non-critical violations in the work process or loss of former performance qualities do not exclude success when performing a polarity reversal. It can be applied to blocks that do not take a charge, boil quickly, discharge in a few minutes, etc.

Features of double polarity reversal

After changing the polarities, you must immediately repeat the set of actions, but in a different order. It is also worth considering that this operation places a large load on the battery and especially on the electrodes. Therefore, it is recommended to perform double polarity reversal only for blocks with dense, durable and thick plates.

Reproduction methods

Little Angel's bladderwort is propagated by any of the following methods:

layering;
seeds;
cuttings;
dividing the parent bush.

The vegetative method is the most reliable; the Little Angel variety will take root without problems with a high degree of survival.

The Little Angel hybrid is propagated with seeds mainly in nurseries, even with good germination of the planting material, at least 3 years will pass from planting the seeds to the selection of a seedling for the site. And there is no guarantee that young shoots will retain varietal characteristics.

Measures to protect the battery from polarity reversal

If there is no goal of creating conditions for a change of poles, then in normal operation the probability of such a phenomenon will be quite small. Compliance with standard battery maintenance rules will reduce it to almost zero. However, it would be useful to have an idea of the basic preventive measures to protect the battery from polarity reversal:

Maintaining the unit structure in good condition - the housing must be sealed and clean, which will reduce the risk of self-discharge.
Correct connection of wires to the terminals of the battery and charger. A properly organized electrical wiring diagram virtually eliminates the possibility of pole reversal.
Maintaining normal electrolyte conditions. The sulfation process, in particular, is dangerous not only due to the risks of polarity reversal, but also by increasing the risk of depressurization of the housing.

What are the dangers of the procedure?

Some motorists, having learned about this method of restoring old and worn-out batteries that are susceptible to sulfation, immediately rush to reverse the polarity of the battery.

But there’s definitely no need to rush. It should be recalled that this is an extreme measure that does not always give a positive result.

It also happens that polarity reversal is carried out accidentally. Most often this occurs when lighting a cigarette from another car. In this case, by reversing the crocodile wires, the batteries will be connected in series and the voltage will increase to 24 V. This can lead to:

short circuit;
hand burns;
fires;
explosion of a battery that has less power;
failure of the electronic control unit;
combustion of the diode bridge, etc.

Modern cars provide protection against accidental polarity reversal for the battery and on-board network.

As for the usual polarity reversal, when the battery is connected to the charger, several options are possible. If the plates have not crumbled and there is no short circuit on them, everything will go fine.

When the battery is not intended for such procedures, changing the poles is contraindicated for it, then a failure will occur, not only the battery, but also the charger itself may be damaged. The person nearby will also suffer. It is possible that the housing will rupture and electrolyte, which is essentially dilute but very dangerous sulfuric acid, will come out.

Reversed battery: charge correctly

It is very important to remember that the current when charging a reverse-polarized battery should not exceed 2 A. If the current is higher, the already weakened plates, especially the positive ones made of lead dioxide, may completely collapse

A reversed battery will begin to heat up very quickly.

The maximum heating temperature is 50°C, while 60°C is already the upper, critical mark. Voltage - 14.2-14.4 V.

If the heating temperature rises above 60°C, you should immediately reduce the current to 1.5A as follows: reduce the voltage to 14.2 or even 14 V, but not lower than 13.8 V. Then charge the battery at these values. It should be charged, as usual, to 12.7 V. If a battery of unknown, questionable manufacture is reversed, it is better to immediately reduce the current to 1.5 A, because 2 A is a fairly high voltage.

Of course, during the charging process after polarity reversal, the voltage will increase and the battery banks will heat up. When the cans begin to “boil” and the voltage reaches 14 V or higher, the battery must be removed from charging and checked with a load plug. As a rule, all sulfates dissolve during such intense boiling processes, and the reversed battery restores its capacity to approximately 80%.

Double polarity reversal method: the battery should be discharged again with a light bulb and the terminals should be moved to their original places. Then again discharge the battery to zero and charge again. After such a polarity reversal, the battery can work fully for 2-3 years.

How to determine the polarity of a battery and the dangers of confusing the polarity

Let's look at how to determine what type of polarity a battery has. And here everything is simple, you just need to turn the battery “facing” towards you. You can navigate by the label on the side surface, since it is glued to the front part, or by the terminals themselves. The battery needs to be rotated so that they are located on the near side, that is, facing you. And after that you need to look at which side the conclusions are located. If the “positive” is on the left, then this is direct polarity, if on the right, it is reverse.

And now about the dangers of making the wrong choice of polarity, and what problems this can create. The polarity is indicated for a reason. The fact is that each car has a special seat for the battery, where it is secured. In this case, the wires from the on-board network are supplied from each side and their length is a certain one. All this is aimed at ensuring that you do not accidentally confuse them before connecting. But it is still possible to connect the battery incorrectly due to the same polarity

For example, a VAZ has a straight polarity battery installed, but the owner did not pay attention when buying a new one and bought a “European” battery. When trying to install it on a car, the “plus” turns out to be on the other side, so you end up with a “reversal”, which can cause significant harm

Incorrect connection leads to burnout of electronic devices on the car's on-board network and can cause a fire. It is interesting that not all electrical appliances will burn out, since some of them are particularly not susceptible to pole changes. For example, with an ordinary incandescent lamp it makes no difference how the connection is made, it will burn. As for electric motors, when the poles change, they just start turning in the other direction. But electronic devices will burn out, since “reversal” is unacceptable for them.

Let's say right away that battery manufacturers also take part in preventing possible incorrect connections. And they do this by using pins of different sizes. The diameter of the “positive” terminal is larger than the “negative” one. The terminals that connect to the wires also differ in the size of the holes. Therefore, it will not be possible to attach and secure, for example, the “negative” terminal to the “positive” terminal (unless you use a hammer). Additionally, manufacturers apply embossing on the body indicating which terminal it is.

Something else useful for you:

Battery - do-it-yourself polarity reversal

Before reversing the battery polarity yourself, you should try to dissolve lead sulfate in other ways. Dangerous process in battery design. Russian European manufacturers use thicker lead plates; they can withstand the load of polarity reversal. But short circuits in the cans are not excluded. Therefore, you should fill your hand with a battery prepared for disposal due to sulfation.

The process does not need to use a high charging current, speeding up the process. It is better if the boiling is in small bubbles at a temperature of 50°C. Maintain personal safety, wear safety glasses and rubber gloves.

The results of restoring a battery by reversing the polarity are different. Reviews on this operation are contradictory, but they boil down to the fact that it is better to buy a new battery than to flinch every time it is difficult to start the car engine.

On which batteries can this be carried out?

Sulfation appears as the accumulation of a hard white residue on the plates. There are different ways to remove it. And the extreme solution is considered to be polarity reversal.

Do not use this method under any circumstances if the electrolyte level in the battery is low. First you need to add liquid.

Let us give examples of in what cases it is possible and when it is impossible to carry out such measures to restore batteries, depending on their type.

Old lead-acid devices. We are talking about old-style designs, and not about their service life. Such batteries use lead plates of fairly large thickness. They can withstand the load when changing polarity better than others.
New lead-acid serviceable batteries. Here the thickness of the plates is already much smaller. Therefore, they can begin to collapse earlier than the white coating itself, formed during sulfation. It is not recommended to change polarity here. Or you should carefully monitor the process by applying a minimum current.
Maintenance free calcium batteries. To clean such batteries, pulsed currents are used. The result is pretty good. Reversing their polarity is strictly prohibited. It is impossible to allow a deep charge to occur and the electrolyte itself to boil.
Lithium batteries. Very demanding in terms of operating conditions and maintenance. Such batteries cannot withstand overvoltage and strong discharge. They have a security controller, and if necessary, it activates the blocking. Such batteries do not experience sulfation at all. Reversing polarity is prohibited.

As a result, it turns out that changing the polarity will only be possible on a serviceable lead-acid battery, which uses fairly thick lead plates. But even for them, such a procedure is potentially dangerous.

All other types of batteries are not suitable for polarity reversal.

Self-reversal technology

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The operation is quite simple and is performed in the following sequence of actions:

A general diagnostic of the battery is carried out, during which the electrolyte density is measured, the condition of the electrodes is assessed and the polarity distribution is determined

It is fundamentally important to highlight sections with deep discharge. Wires are connected from the charger, but in the reverse order relative to the previous circuit. In other words, the terminal with “plus” is connected to “minus”, etc.

d. What is important, we are talking about a partial reversal of the polarity of a car battery specifically in relation to electrodes with deep discharge. Usually the operation is performed with 1-2 sections, and the remaining working ones should not be touched. The line with a “plus” is additionally provided with a safe resistance device - for example, a 50 kOhm SDR. This will eliminate the possibility of a short circuit.

How to distinguish direct polarity from reverse polarity?

It is not difficult to establish the difference between direct and reverse polarity. For this:

The battery is positioned so that the sticker and terminals are visible.
Determine the location of the positive and negative terminals.
For European models, the plus is on the right. Direct polarity of the battery differs in that the plus is on the left.

Direct and reverse polarity of the battery is what is taken into account during selection. Additionally, the seat where the power source will be mounted in the future is being studied. The length of the power wires that are necessary to connect the device is also taken into account.

When does it become necessary to define a standard?

Studying the location of the terminals is necessary in the following cases:

When selecting and purchasing a new car battery. Information about the standard, dimensions and characteristics of power supplies is provided to the seller

It is important to indicate all this, since it affects the correct selection. Carrying out the power supply installation process yourself. Connecting a charger to car batteries. How to make the connection depends on whether the battery is removed or not. Emergency starting of a vehicle.

Determination methods without labeling

How to determine the polarity of a battery if there is no marking? Experts distinguish 3 methods:

1. Terminal dimensions

Negative leads differ from positive leads in diameter. The positive terminal is larger.

For a more accurate determination, the negative terminal is alternately connected to the terminals of the battery. The positive terminal is isolated. If defined incorrectly, connection problems will occur. Although it is difficult to determine exactly what polarity is using this method.

2.Use of multimeter

A multimeter is a device that is used to set positive and negative terminals. Before measurement, the constant voltage mode is set. The probes that are connected to the multimeter are connected one by one to the terminals. When connected correctly, the monitor displays “12 V”. Results may vary if the connection is made incorrectly.

3. Plaque on the terminals

When checking operating power supplies, positive findings are examined. They usually have a white or green coating on them.

Battery - do-it-yourself polarity reversal

The process does not need to use a high charging current, speeding up the process. It is better if the boiling is in small bubbles at a temperature of 50 0. Maintain personal safety, wear safety glasses and rubber gloves.

Chemical method

To desulfate in this way, you will need a chemical solution called Trilon B. This process takes only 1-2 hours, but the difficulty lies in preparing the solution. The cleaning process looks like this:

The car battery is fully charged.
The electrolyte is drained.
The jars are washed with distilled water.
Trilon B solution is poured inside. It should stay inside for about one hour. The process of dissolving sulfates must be accompanied by boiling and gas release. The reaction will complete within an hour. The solution of the old Trilon B is drained. You can fill in a new portion of the solution, although it is not necessary, since the first one should have handled it.
The battery is washed again with distilled water.
Electrolyte is poured.
The battery is put back on charge.

With this method, many car owners are trying to figure out whether it is possible to charge a maintenance-free battery. Of course it is possible, and in this case it is necessary. This recovery method is very effective after a very deep battery discharge.

Battery reversal, restoration - video

There is no need to explain to anyone what a dead battery is. As a rule, its further fate is to a dealer for used batteries (350 - 450 rubles) or to a landfill. But if you know how to restore a battery (and there are several of them), then its life can be extended and used either for its intended purpose (in a car) or for other purposes.

For example, to power some low-voltage lighting circuit. This article will introduce you to one of the battery recovery technologies, called polarity reversal.

The battery consists of individual containers, which used to be colloquially called banks. All of them are connected in series and give a total voltage of 12.6 (for a good battery), which ensures the normal functioning of the car's on-board network (). If in one of them the capacity has decreased significantly (it is called “lagging”), down to zero compared to the others, when the charging current passes (from the charger or generator), the poles “swap” places. This leads to a chain reaction, initiating the failure of the neighboring two or three cans. There is only one solution - try to bring the faulty container back to normal, that is, restore it.

Polarity reversal as a restoration method is applied only to acid batteries. It is not suitable for helium, alkaline, lithium-ion and others.

Types of battery polarity

Manufacturers produce batteries with six types of polarity. They differ in the layout and integration of battery elements. The most common of these are four types of polarity. Two types are used in batteries for passenger cars and two more for trucks.

Batteries for passenger cars

Before determining the polarity of the car battery, turn it towards you (with the sticker). The battery terminals will be on the top of the battery on the side closest to you. Now we look at the location of the positive (+) and negative (terminal) on the battery. There are two options:

1) The positive current lead is on the right, and the negative lead is on the left. This is reverse polarity or European. It is also designated as “0”. The image below shows a top view of a car battery.

Reverse polarity of a car battery 2) The positive current lead is on the left, and the negative lead is on the right. This is the direct polarity of the car battery or Russian. This type of polarity is also designated as “1”. Below you can see a top view of the battery with straight polarity.

Straight polarity of car battery

Here it is also worth saying about the mythical “Asian” and “American” polarities. These do not exist in nature. There are Asian and American battery sizes. Asian type batteries are slightly smaller in width than European ones, and slightly larger in height. Additionally, they do not have a “step” on the top lid. The terminals of Asian batteries may be thinner, and in some cases they are made for different fastenings.

American-type batteries differ in the type of current leads and their location. The conclusions are not on the top plane, but on the side. They are made for bolt fastening. Although there are models that have pins on the side surface, and standard ones on the top cover.

Asian size

American size As for the polarity, for Asian batteries it is reverse or “0”, and for American batteries it is direct or “1”.

Batteries for trucks

On most truck batteries, the current leads are located on one of the short sides of the battery. To determine the polarity of a car battery, turn the battery towards you with the side with the leads and look at their location. There are also two options here:

1) The positive terminal is on the left, and the negative terminal is on the right. This is the polarity of the car battery, reverse or European. It is designated by the number “3”.

Reverse polarity of the cargo battery 2) The positive terminal is on the right, and the negative terminal is on the left. This is the polarity of the car battery, straight or Russian. It is designated by the number “4”.

Straight polarity of the cargo battery

Cargo batteries can be found in a configuration designated by the number “2”. In this case, the battery current terminals are located diagonally on the upper side.

Diagonal pin arrangement

Other types of polarity

There are two more less common types of battery layout, designated by the numbers “6” and “9”. They are shown in the images below.

Polarity 6

Polarity 9

How it's done

Now a little more about how to correctly reverse the polarity on a battery and what you should know about this procedure.

Be sure to choose a well-ventilated room or a room with forced ventilation. The entire process should be strictly controlled, without leaving the battery unattended.

Before starting the operation, the caps from the cans must be removed. The vapors released when the reaction occurs are explosive.

If you decide to reverse polarity for your battery, strictly adhere to fire safety and personal protection rules.

The polarity reversal itself for a car battery is correctly performed in this sequence.

First you need to completely discharge the battery using external resistance. Be sure to make sure that the battery is discharged. To be on the safe side, you can bridge the contacts.
The battery is now connected to the charger. Only here you should change the usual polarity.
The red wire, that is, the plus, is connected to the negative terminal of the battery. And the black minus goes to the positive terminal of the battery.
The voltage is set in the range from 14.2 to 14.8 V at a current of 2 A.
The battery will then begin to gradually charge, and the temperature inside the cans will increase.
Make sure that the heating does not reach above 60 degrees Celsius. This can be done by reducing the current and voltage parameters.

If polarity reversal for your car battery is performed correctly, the reverse process of sulfation will occur. That is, the insoluble precipitate will begin to gradually decompose, and the density of the electrolyte will increase. Upon completion of the procedure, you can see completely working indicators on the hydrometer, and the plates will become clean.

As an external resistance, when polarity reversal is performed by changing the polarity of the battery from the car, you can use a regular light bulb.

Having completed the polarity reversal, you need to leave the battery on the charger to fully restore capacity.

Double polarity reversal is a process in which the first charge is removed by resistance, the battery is charged again, but with the correct position of the terminals. That is, normal polarity is applied, when plus goes to plus, and minus connects to minus.

If everything is done correctly, then the battery after restoration can last for many more years. But you should resort to such measures only when no other methods help, and there is no money to buy a new battery.

Methods for determining positive and negative outputs

What to do and how to distinguish the purchased battery if the manufacturer could not be identified? There are two main standards that relate to the arrangement of contacts

If you pay attention to what is written below, you will always be able to figure out the negative and positive outputs without much difficulty. So, what does the positive terminal mean and what are its main characteristics - it is usually 19.5 mm in diameter

At the same time, the negative one has a standard diameter of 17.9 mm.

Every car enthusiast can reasonably note that equipment is needed for measurements, at least a caliper. What designation or other identifying method can help if such a tool is not at hand? The simplest method is using a glass of ordinary water. We lower and immerse both wires at some distance from each other. After a while, you can notice how small air bubbles begin to bubble near the negative terminal.

Even if you had to buy a battery with reverse polarity, it doesn’t matter, because today there are special adapters from direct to reverse polarity on sale in order to achieve the correct placement of current leads (extension cords).

Friends, this will conclude our discussion of the nuances of batteries in cars and polarity. I have also written a whole series of articles on the selection, checking and frequency of engine oil changes. We will be glad to meet you in subsequent materials. Good luck to all!

It is impossible to start the engine in a car without a battery, so it is important to keep this device in working condition. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine the polarity of the automatic transmission, this phenomenon is especially often observed when installing a reverse-polarized unit

Driving a vehicle with incorrectly connected terminals is dangerous. Therefore, before connecting, you need to accurately determine which side is positive and which side is negative.

Reasons for natural polarity reversal

As already noted, its consequences are the most negative. To prevent this, you need to know what can cause a polarity reversal.

Abnormal (i.e. non-reducible) sulfation.
Incorrect battery connection. This often happens when the positive and negative terminals of the charger are connected to the wrong terminals of the battery, but to the charger itself of an old modification, without a protection circuit against possible polarity reversal.
Failure to comply with the rules of care and maintenance of the battery (dirt on the case provokes self-discharge), lack of control over the degree of battery discharge.
Incorrect operation of the generator and a number of others, depending on the characteristics of the electrical circuit of a vehicle of one modification or another.

Location of current carrying elements

Most often you can find two combinations of terminal locations. This is the polarity, which can be:

Direct, when the positive terminal is on the left and the negative terminal on the right. Sometimes this distribution of current outputs is indicated by one, which can often be seen on batteries from domestic manufacturers. Finding the markings is quite simple; just turn the battery face down so that the current carrying elements are located at the bottom. If the plus is on the left, then it is straight polarity. Such batteries are installed on Russian cars. A striking example is Priora.
Reverse, when the positive terminal is located on the right and the negative terminal on the left. Often this type of polarity is designated zero, which is considered a purely European development. The process of finding information about the location of the poles is the same. If the minus is on the left side of the label, this indicates reverse polarity of the battery. Most often, such batteries are found in foreign cars.

How to distinguish batteries

Often in the conversations of car enthusiasts the phrase about the mythical Asian and American polarity pops up. In fact, these are rumors: such things do not exist in nature. Most likely, the concept of location of current leads is confused with battery sizes. Asian-type batteries are distinguished by more compact sizes, the absence of a protrusion on the top cover of the device, and thin terminals. American batteries also have characteristic features - the location of current-carrying parts on the top panel.

As for the polarity of the battery, Russian and European can be easily distinguished by the location of the terminals or markings (0 and 1). Otherwise, the layout, box dimensions, number of cans and other external features are identical, so even an experienced motorist can get into trouble without looking at the label. In order not to guess, it’s easier to contact the seller, who will select a battery that matches a particular car brand.

Batteries for trucks

The terminal arrangement system on batteries for trucks is not much different from cars. Both terminals are on one of the short sides of the box. Determining the polarity of the battery is simple; you need to look at the location of the terminals:

If the current terminal marked “+” is on the left side, then this is reverse (European) polarity, which can also be marked with a three.
If the positive current-carrying element is placed on the right, then this is direct (Russian) polarity. Some manufacturers may designate it as a four.

Frequently, batteries for trucks are found with a layout that is marked with the number 2. In this case, the terminals are located diagonally on the top panel.

Trucks can be equipped with one of two types of batteries, but the terminals are usually located on one of the short sides. In this case, you can also determine whether the polarity of the battery is direct or reverse visually:

You need to turn the battery so that it faces the viewer with the side on which the terminals are located and pay attention to which of the current leads will be on the left and which on the right. If the “plus” is on the left, then this is reverse polarity, which in the case of trucks is often called European. The number “3” was chosen to designate it. If there is “minus” on the left and “plus” on the right, this is straight polarity, which can also be called Russian

Such batteries are marked with the number “4”.

So, the two polarities of batteries for passenger cars are designated by the numbers “0” and “1”. To designate batteries designed for installation in trucks, the numbers “3” and “4” are used.

Uncommon battery types

There are batteries that are designated by the number “2”, but they are not used so often. The arrangement of the current leads on them can be called diagonal: in one corner on the top cover there is a terminal with a minus sign, and in the opposite corner there is a terminal with a plus sign. In this case, the surface of the cover can be compared to a boxing ring, and the terminals themselves can be compared to boxers at the beginning of a round.

It is also worth mentioning two less common types, which are marked with the numbers “6” and “9”. If a six is indicated, it means that the terminals are located on the cover in two corners, but not in opposite, but in adjacent ones. If a nine is indicated, then the “plus” and “minus” are opposite each other.

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Design and principle of operation

The contents of car batteries are placed in a durable plastic case. Inside it there are two lead plates with charges with plus and minus signs, as well as a liquid electrolyte in the form. Not only lead can be used as a material for making plates. For example, in many modern batteries they are made of nickel or cadmium alloys.

When a certain amount of current is supplied to the battery, it begins to accumulate energy and convert it into electricity. When the capacity limit is reached, the battery becomes an energy storage device with an output voltage of 12 V.

When recovery is not possible

If the electrolyte inside turns out to be black or brownish-brown, it is most likely impossible to restore the battery. If the battery is swollen and swollen, it should be disposed of immediately.

The plates may crumble or fall apart altogether, as a result of which one or more “cans” may short-circuit in the battery. After a short circuit, restoring a car battery is also not recommended. Therefore, you should always look at what happened inside the battery before restoring it - of course, observing possible safety precautions.

To avoid letting the power source reach this state, follow the rules for using batteries.

Reasons for natural polarity reversal

As a result of regular deep discharges, when operating at high temperatures, large crystals of lead sulfate are deposited, which do not fully participate in chemical reactions due to their size. Over time, the number of such crystals increases, and the battery capacity decreases. This process is called sulfation.

Sulfation of plates

Sulfation is the main reason for a decrease in battery capacity and an increase in internal resistance. Large sulfate crystals destroy the material of the plates, which leads to their shedding and interelectrode short circuit. Ultimately, the battery becomes completely unusable.

At a certain moment, the amount of lead sulfate on one of the electrodes may exceed the norm, and a change in polarity will occur, that is, when measuring the residual voltage, a minus is formed at the anode, and a plus at the cathode. This phenomenon is called battery polarity reversal.

When charging such a battery, the polarity reversal is eliminated at the initial moment of time, then the charging process itself begins.

Basic battery problems

The positive and negative plates of the battery are placed in a closed plastic container, into which the electrolyte, which is a solution of hydrochloric acid, is poured. Together with the lead plates it forms a so-called galvanic couple. The terminals receive current from the generator or charger. When it accumulates in sufficient quantities, the battery itself turns into a source of electricity.

Losses of electricity spent on start-up and other needs are replenished using a generator. However, after a certain time, the accumulated reserves become insufficient for normal operation. During operation, the plates become aging. In some cases, the battery can be revived. But to do this, you first need to accurately determine the cause of the non-working condition of the battery in order to restore the car battery at home. Most often, the battery fails due to sulfation of the lead electrodes. In the case of deep discharge, the crystals do not have time to dissolve. In addition, sulfation occurs due to regular undercharging and prolonged storage of the battery in a state of complete discharge. It is easily determined visually; just unscrew the plugs and look at the plates, covered with a light brown coating.

In other cases, in the presence of sulfation, the battery begins to boil quickly when charging; when fully charged, it does not rotate the starter motor and dies within a few minutes even under the slightest load. The body becomes covered with a white coating and returning to its original state is already problematic.

Another well-known cause of battery failure is the destruction of the plates and their further shedding. The main external sign is the black color of the electrolyte. If many grids are destroyed, repairing such a battery becomes impossible and it can no longer be restored.

Battery malfunctions are often associated with short circuits of adjacent plates. They become deformed or crumble, and sediment forms at the bottom of the housing, causing a short circuit in one of the sections. In this case, the electrolyte in this jar does not boil during charging, or boiling occurs very slowly. The voltage does not rise at all or rises extremely weakly. In this case, it is unknown whether the device can be returned to its original state. Sometimes the battery fails due to electrolyte freezing. This happens when the battery is in the cold and in a state of severe discharge. If the hull is torn by ice, then the plates are most likely also deformed and shorted. If the case is intact, the battery should be defrosted in a warm place and then try to solve the problem of how to restore the battery.

Before starting repairs, the housing must be cleaned. Dirt is removed from its surface, after which it is washed with a soda solution to neutralize the electrolyte. The terminals are cleaned of deposits with medium sandpaper. Sometimes, after cleaning the terminals, the battery immediately partially restores its functionality.

Is it possible to change the polarity on a car battery?

Nowadays, most manufacturers strive to eliminate the possibility of incorrect connection. For this purpose, the negative and positive terminals are made of different sizes. The wires from the on-board network have a certain length and can only be attached to the required sides. But car owners have the opportunity to bypass the protection by connecting the contact through an adapter.

Battery adapter

As a result, the plus becomes on the wrong side, a polarity reversal occurs, which is dangerous for all car systems. Of course, some car owners specifically reverse the polarity of the old battery in order to extend its life. But this operation must be performed at your own peril and risk, and the consequences are often unpleasant. Polarity reversal is only possible under the following circumstances:

The banks are in good working order and do not short out.
Inside the battery, normal electrolyte density is maintained.
The plates are quite thick and have no damage.

If you urgently need to replace the battery, you can install the device with inappropriate polarity. In this situation, the battery must be installed so that the wire with a positive charge reaches the terminal. The negative one is mass; it is attached to the body, so it can be extended. To do this, the old wire is disconnected, and a new one with a larger cross-section is fixed in its place. Unfortunately, the positive one cannot be unscrewed and cannot be replaced or extended.

Causes of malfunctions and methods of elimination

The main causes of malfunctions are:

Batteries remaining in a discharged or undercharged state for a long time;
Regular charging with high currents;
Frequent absolute discharges;
Low electrolyte level;
Increased electrolyte density;
Temperature changes.

To restore normal battery operation in the presence of abnormal sulfation, you must:

Long-term battery recharge for 3 hours;
Restoring the battery by reversing the polarity.

Fully understanding the processes occurring in the battery and troubleshooting methods will help prevent breakdowns and maximize the life of the battery.