battery charging - remove or keep vent caps in place

[sunnystag]

I've been charging car batteries regualry for 20 years (due to various older cars). And from instructions from my teenage days, always loosened the caps on the top to "stop pressure building".

Now come the stag, and the battery fitted where the PAS pump has to come out........ So I am tonight charging in situ ( cables disconnected), this battery has the screw in vent caps, and i can not get them off as they are undert the metal bodywork.

Just googled whether to loosen them or not, and most sites say leave them inplace! however i found one that says undo!

Whats the correct thing to do? Hope mine ain't goin to explode.

[stag74red]

imported post

Hi,

you dont need to remove the plugs on modern batteries when charging (different internal contruct etc). But still ensure that the area is well ventilated.

If you think about it the battery is constanly being charged when on the car (engine running).

If you still want to undo the plugs use a Rachet/socket driver with screwdriver bit.

Also be very carefull when removing the battery leads - earth lead first then positive.

To isolate the car electrics from the battery, when attaching charger, just remove the earth lead.

Hope this helps,

Mark.

[sunnystag]

imported post

thanks Mark, that re assures me

from reading up looks like moderns have valves to vent at high pressure.