SLA Batteries on their side?

[mcrcat]

Hello again all,

I bought (4) 12v 18AH SLA batteries but measured wrong when I bought my battery box. I can fit 3 of the batteries in the case, and the 4th will fit in the box if I lay it on its side.

Can I use a SLA battery on its side?

Thanks in advance,
Victor

 

[bob58o]

Since it is sealed, I'd guess it is fine on its side.

 

[itsid]

Nope it's NOT!

they're still gassing out when getting hot, and the vent is still on the top for all I know.
(the vent must never be blocked internally by acid [you'd make a hot acid squirt gun])

'sid

 

[anickode]

They will function that way if they get turned sideways, but they should not be mounted that way, especially to charge.

As the electrolyte slowly vents off, what will happen is instead of the level dropping and progressivelt exposing more of the top of each plate, and slowly diminishing the capacity, it will fully expose an entire plate in each cell and destroy the battery completely in a rather short amount of time.

That's one of the main reasons SLA batteries go bad so quickly in many things like big handheld spotlights and stuff.

AGM batteries are a more appropriats type to be mounted sideways, though it's still not ideal.

 

[itsid]

yepp..

AGM are a bit better for this, but on sudden temperature changes and such the glass fibre still releases a bit of electrolyte (which then is free to block the vents when stored/used/charged in the wrong direction)
no problem when storing, huge problem when charging and somewhere in between when using

'sid

PS So boat type gel cells and of course LiPo are the only ones that I'd consider safe to use in non-upright orientation [well gel cells I wouldn't want to use upside down to be honest.. although that should work IMHO]

 

[mcrcat]

Ok guys thanks for the replies. I will order a new battery box and rework the mount.

Victor

 

[anickode]

Nope it's NOT!

they're still gassing out when getting hot, and the vent is still on the top for all I know.
(the vent must never be blocked internally by acid [you'd make a hot acid squirt gun])

'sid

Oh and just a quick note regarding the vents on an SLA battery. It does not have a vent, but the cells are capped with light duty rubber caps that allow pressure to escape out from underneath. If the battery is sideways or upside-down, it will drive a small amount of the acid out. It's usually a fairly small amount that dires before it escapes from under the cover, but a whole lot of small amounts add up to a ruined battery. The caps are located underneath the top cover which is typically just snapped in place, and sometimes lightly glued in a couple spots.

You can drastically extend the lifespan of SLA batteries by prying the cover off the top (doesn't take much) and removing the rubber caps so you can maintain the electrolyte level normally like any other battery. Then simply reinstall the rubber caps and put the cover back on with a couple small dots of super glue to hold it in place.

I built a portable 12v power bank for camping and tailgating using a bunch of SLA batteries and I do this every 6mo or so. It's been 4 years of fairly regular charge and drain cycles, and the batteries are still going strong.

 

[snowball]

I've been running an SLA on it's side with terminals up for 5 years and I've had no issues. The only thing it says for safety is do not mount upside down for emergency venting purposes. However this is just one battery, I wouldn't mount more than one in a box sideways.

 

[itsid]

snowball, you are talking about a starter battery?
(99.x% idle and onyly a few seconds of relatively high loads)
or a battery under constant load ( providing 10+Amps 90+% of the time)

Since that makes a huuuuge difference
it's not even comparable if you pull 2Amps all day (say for powering lights or a radio or alike) and a motor (which draws ten to twenty times the amperage most of the time)

'sid

PS and how do you dare to call it venting, when anickode just told us it's not a vent it's a pressure release LOOL

 

[snowball]

It runs during the summer months averaging 8A while coasting and up to 40A under acceleration. Still holds charge almost as it did 5 years ago. No issues with those vents or battery life

Don't exceed its charge rate (I don't go over 2A) and treat them kindly and they should be okay. It will be obvious if they are malfunctioning.

 

[TT540]

Snowball probably has an SLA that is AGM.

I use a lot of the smaller 12V 12AH batteries and also the 12V 16AH in modified power wheels that are AMG variety of SLA. With deep cycles running them down to about 5 volts under load and then recharged using an AGM setting. I run most of mine on the side and have only had one leak a little. These things get bounced around a lot too. Lifespan wise, I have gotten three years out of a couple and only 1 year out of a couple. All over the map. I think brand has the most to do with that.

For the Razor E350 scooter (the big one with the seat) the two 12V 12AH batteries are laid on their side from the factory.

From a physics standpoint, I do agree that the terminals (and thus the ports under the cover) should go up. But I think you can install them any which way but loose and be successful because those ports only gets used in extreme situations. I have even ballooned some battery cases.

 

[itsid]

Thanks snowball for making that clearer.

'sid