Can a Bulging Battery Be Used?
2 Answers
A bulging battery is not recommended for continued use. Below is relevant information about battery bulging: 1. Hazards: A bulging battery can easily lead to reverse polarity in later stages, where the positive terminal becomes negative and the negative terminal becomes positive. This can cause the charger to burn out and damage the controller. If the protection functions of the controller and charger are not comprehensive enough, it may even lead to a vehicle fire. 2. Causes of Bulging: The main reason is excessive charging or discharging current, which causes the temperature inside the battery to rise rapidly. If the gas cannot be vented in time, the pressure builds up to a certain level, resulting in bulging or deformation.
A swollen car battery must never be used again. This is a common issue I encounter when modifying cars. Swelling indicates that the internal electrolyte has decomposed, producing a large amount of gas and causing expansion. Once the battery casing deforms, it is prone to cracking, leaking, or even exploding and catching fire, posing a serious risk to driving safety. Especially for lead-acid batteries in the high-temperature environment of the engine compartment, swelling should raise immediate concerns about voltage instability affecting the starting system and electronic devices like the air conditioning and radio. I recommend disconnecting and removing the battery immediately to avoid short circuits damaging the vehicle's electrical system, then promptly visiting a professional auto repair shop to replace it with a new integrated battery from brands like Bosch or Varta to ensure durability. For long-term use, avoid overcharging or frequent deep discharges, and regularly check the voltage with a multimeter to maintain it around 12.6V to prevent recurrence. Safe driving is always the top priority.
