Battery Maintenance Corrosion Protection
Battery corrosion is a serious business, which is why most major industrial companies recommend the use of NO-OX-ID on backup battery systems and critical electrical connections. Industrial battery companies prefer NO-OX-ID for field applications because they cannot afford to replace a battery cell due to overheating and failure due to corrosion and neither can you!
UPS – The Uninterrupted Power Systems (UPS) ability to deliver instant power on demand is vital to the telephone, cable and computer industry. A power spike from the commercial AC lines or power failures affects computer memory and therefore unacceptable by the computer user. The loss of data in computer memory is a loss of time and money. NO-OX-ID A-Special is your coating of choice for automotive battery and UPS Battery Terminal Connections. NO-OX-ID is not grease that can be washed off and breakdown in the presence of water or acid, it is a moisture and corrosion-resistant rust preventive compound.
Corrosion is the root cause of many UPS electrical system failures. Over time if you do not use NO-OX-ID, corrosion can build up in electrical connections. You can observe over time oxidation on both similar and dissimilar metals connections, but the galvanic cell formed in dissimilar connections is more severe.
How to prevent Auto Battery Corrosion
- Disconnect the connector from the terminal. When taking the battery out first disconnect the negative terminal (-), then disconnect the positive (+).
- Examine the battery cables and clamps for excess wear or corrosion. Should damage appear extensive, replace the cables and clamps to avoid future problems.
- Check the battery case for cracks and the terminals for damage. If you find either, replace the battery.
- Secure the loose cables so that they don’t accidentally flop back onto the terminals.
- Degrease the terminal post.
- Neutralize the area – this is normally done with baking soda & water (1 lb. / 1 gal.)
- Use a toothpick size steel wire brush to buff the face of the terminal post until the face is bright lead.]
- Dry everything off with a clean, disposable, lint-free rag.
- Next, apply a light coating of NO-OX-ID A-Special to all four faces of the terminal post.
- Reattach the cables to the battery. When reattaching the battery, first connect the positive (+) connection then reattach the negative terminal (-).
- For maximum protection, apply NO-OX-ID A-Special on the outside posts and clamp to slow down the formation of corrosive deposits. Cover all exposed metal surfaces.
- Replace the rubber boot or plastic shield that covers the positive terminal. If you don’t have one, go and buy some from your local auto parts store.
Why Maintain Battery Terminals?
Routine maintenance of UPS back-up systems is of utmost performance so that they are ready to perform when called upon.
- Clean the cells: The terminal posts are normally covered with NO-OX-ID A-Special. The baking soda and water solution will have no effect on NO-OX-ID. Spray the terminal post with a battery cleaner/degreaser and wipe off with a paper towel.
- Once the area is degreased observe battery and the hardware for problems. Also is there any growth near the terminal post?
If the color is turquoise or blue/green it is copper sulfate. It may be either wet or dry to the touch. This condition usually appears on the terminal post, nut and washer combination and resembles fungus growth. The immediate corrective action is to neutralize all the affected areas with a baking soda and water solution. Most often people replace the terminal bolt, washers, nut, and intercell connectors because using existing previously corroded hardware will generally result in a reoccurrence of the problem. Then apply a light coating of NO-OX-ID A-Special to all four faces of the terminal post.
If it is a black/brown stain then it leads dioxide. This stain normally starts at the positive terminal post and will eventually creep to the intercell connector. This lead dioxide stain is an insulator and is normally dry to the touch and cannot be neutralized. Having this insulating material on its face means you either have or are going to have an electrical problem. A simple field solution is to de-grease the terminal post lightly with a Scotchbrite pad then neutralize the area. Use a toothbrush size steel wire brush to buff the terminal post until it is bright lead. Then apply a light coating of NO-OX-ID A-Special to all four faces of the terminal post.
If the negative post the grease material looks white or yellowish you could have a lead sulfate problem. If it feels like a gritty paste then you could have 2 problems, the first is insulation and the second is corrosion. This usually means you have a broken seal, you can initially try to neutralize area but this often requires replacement of cell.
In conclusion, a connection properly protected with a rust preventive lubricant such as NO-OX-ID should last for years. Most standard greases are gelled light oils designed for lubrication, not corrosion. Have you ever opened a container of grease and seen a puddle of oil on top? If it is separating in the high-stress environment of a sealed can, how long do you think it will last in an electrical connection?
NO-OX-ID A-Special is made of high molecular weight, long-chain compounds whose oils have low volatility. That means that the product will not breakdown that even if your connection heats up higher than normal you will still maintain protection.