Frozen Battery - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dads72 · 03-14-2003, 07:01 PM

Is a frozen battery junk, or can it be saved.
Any danger of it blowing up if I try to charge it after it's thawed out?
Thanks

toms68cst · 03-14-2003, 07:36 PM

I would give it a shot unless all the sides are bulged out. If it's sitting in a car/truck let the hood sit open for a while to get the fumes dissapated out. I had a friend of mine get injured from an exploding battery one time. He was jumping or charging a truck that had been sitting over the winter. He wasn't hurt too bad.

Yellow Cheyenne · 03-14-2003, 07:41 PM

I put a trickle charge on a battery that had ran down over a 3 week period (left radar detector on

). It recharged fine and I used it for another 4 years. Can't hurt to try. If explosion is a concern, remove from vehicle (I didn't)

Randy

Xzavior240 · 03-14-2003, 09:02 PM

the battery in my f*rd was froze and had actual ice formed on the outside of it. it was pretty bad. it looked like a glass with something cold in it that had the moisture on the outside. except it was ice not water. charge it slow so that its not pumping a whole lot of juice through it and it should be fine. Im going against what I just said on this but mine got a 200 amp starter charger hooked to it on high. and it didnt even fume. it just melted the ice off and charged as though it wasnt froze in the first place. back in the old times people used to put regular water in them or at least they did back home when theyre low. pretty much the same thing except ice is hard water. you just have to wait until the charger puts enough juice through it to heat it up and melt the ice.

ZOOMY · 03-14-2003, 10:20 PM

Trickle charge is OK, but don't fast charge it. You'll blow it up (literally) or warp the plates. If you have the time it's best to let it thaw out inside first. If the plates didn't warp enough to short out to each other, you should be OK, unless is sat discharged for months beforehand. Then sulphur forms on the plates & it's basically junk because no chemical reaction can take place...Zoomy

Dads72 · 03-14-2003, 10:27 PM

Thanks guys.
It's just a battery, but if I can save a few bucks...
It's in my neighbor's heated garage right now.
Will put the 2 amp trickle charger on it tomorrow.
Thanks again

Dads72 · 03-14-2003, 10:30 PM

Ever hear of putting epsome (sp?) salts in a shot battery to bring it back to life?
Maybe this is an old wive's tale.

Longhorn Man · 03-15-2003, 01:33 AM

None of the battery manufaturers recomend putting anything in the cells except for distilled water.
Another old wive's tail is to put asprin in it.
I think it started as take 2 aspring then charge it and some moron got confused.

03-14-2003, 07:01 PM	#1
Dads72 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 427	Frozen Battery Is a frozen battery junk, or can it be saved. Any danger of it blowing up if I try to charge it after it's thawed out? Thanks

03-14-2003, 07:36 PM	#2
toms68cst Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Bismarck, ND Posts: 4,282	I would give it a shot unless all the sides are bulged out. If it's sitting in a car/truck let the hood sit open for a while to get the fumes dissapated out. I had a friend of mine get injured from an exploding battery one time. He was jumping or charging a truck that had been sitting over the winter. He wasn't hurt too bad. __________________ Unrestored 68 C-10 CST. Original 327. 4-Speed CH465. 50k or so miles. TREASURER, Drum Brake Club.

03-14-2003, 07:41 PM	#3
Yellow Cheyenne Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Eastern Kansas Posts: 488	I put a trickle charge on a battery that had ran down over a 3 week period (left radar detector on ). It recharged fine and I used it for another 4 years. Can't hurt to try. If explosion is a concern, remove from vehicle (I didn't) Randy __________________ '72 Cheyenne. AC, PS, PB, Rear slider window, tilt. Light yellow (grapefruit yellow according to new sales literature from '72) '56 Chevy short step V-8 (My dad bought it new!!) '70 Olds 442 convertible '70 Olds Rallye 350

03-14-2003, 09:02 PM	#4
Xzavior240 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: enterprise kansas Posts: 230	the battery in my f*rd was froze and had actual ice formed on the outside of it. it was pretty bad. it looked like a glass with something cold in it that had the moisture on the outside. except it was ice not water. charge it slow so that its not pumping a whole lot of juice through it and it should be fine. Im going against what I just said on this but mine got a 200 amp starter charger hooked to it on high. and it didnt even fume. it just melted the ice off and charged as though it wasnt froze in the first place. back in the old times people used to put regular water in them or at least they did back home when theyre low. pretty much the same thing except ice is hard water. you just have to wait until the charger puts enough juice through it to heat it up and melt the ice. __________________ 71 chevy C10 LWB 2WD runs and everything 79 chevy 1/2 ton Big Ten silverado gonna part it out since it left me walking. 69 f100 real good shape with lots of go go juice 89 plymouth reliant (daily driver) 86 thunderbird sitting in the weeds almost covered (anyone need parts?) WWW.xschunkofthenet.freeservers.com nothing there I promise " tell me I'm a sinner I got news for you. I spoke to god this morning and he dont like you" OZZY

03-14-2003, 10:20 PM	#5
ZOOMY Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: WIS Posts: 1,752	BATTERY Trickle charge is OK, but don't fast charge it. You'll blow it up (literally) or warp the plates. If you have the time it's best to let it thaw out inside first. If the plates didn't warp enough to short out to each other, you should be OK, unless is sat discharged for months beforehand. Then sulphur forms on the plates & it's basically junk because no chemical reaction can take place...Zoomy

03-14-2003, 10:27 PM	#6
Dads72 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 427	Thanks guys. It's just a battery, but if I can save a few bucks... It's in my neighbor's heated garage right now. Will put the 2 amp trickle charger on it tomorrow. Thanks again

03-14-2003, 10:30 PM	#7
Dads72 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 427	Ever hear of putting epsome (sp?) salts in a shot battery to bring it back to life? Maybe this is an old wive's tale.

03-15-2003, 01:33 AM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	None of the battery manufaturers recomend putting anything in the cells except for distilled water. Another old wive's tail is to put asprin in it. I think it started as take 2 aspring then charge it and some moron got confused.

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