Can a flooded battery still be used if it gets water inside?
2 Answers
If a battery is flooded with water and not treated promptly, it may become unusable. Although batteries contain water, it is different from regular water. The water inside a battery is usually distilled or high-purity water, with very low conductivity, making it essentially non-conductive. However, common water in daily life contains various metals and trace elements that conduct electricity, so water ingress can cause short circuits and other issues in the battery. Below is an introduction to car battery discharge: 1. Introduction to discharge: Car battery discharge can lead to battery sulfation. If the discharge is severe, it may even render the battery unusable. Battery discharge, also known as deep discharge, occurs when the voltage drops below 10.50V, causing sulfuric acid and lead plates to form lead sulfate. If not charged in time, lead sulfate can crystallize. Over time, these crystals may not decompose even after recharging, a condition known as battery sulfation. 2. Solution for discharge: After a car battery is discharged, it should be immediately charged using a battery charger. If a regular charger fails to charge the battery, a repair device with high-resistance repair must be used to raise the voltage above 10V for successful charging.
A couple of days ago, I encountered flood conditions while driving, and water entering the battery is no small matter. The battery contains sulfuric acid electrolyte, and when water seeps in, a chemical reaction occurs, producing corrosive substances that can lead to terminal rust, electrical short circuits, and even overheating or explosions—just thinking about it is terrifying. I remember one time after a rainstorm, upon inspection, I found the battery had water seepage, and the car wouldn't start at all, forcing me to call a tow truck. The professionals said the battery was basically ruined in such cases and advised not to skimp on a few hundred bucks. Getting a new battery is much safer, especially in urban areas prone to heavy rain—prevention is key. Safety comes first; taking risks can lead to hidden dangers, ranging from a breakdown to severe damage to the entire vehicle's electrical system.
