Can NiFe cells that have been dry for years be restored?

[Iron Bran]

If the cells have been dry, the iron/steel has likely rusted, and I don't think that is good. I don't know how to remove the rust.

Exactly right. This is the problem with old batteries, we don't know if they have been left dry for any time.

[dant]

Hard to find real Nickel Iron cells!

Damn... I was about to buy a couple of those NH10A lamps on ebay as I thought they may have Nickel Iron cells! It is so confusing that NIFE stopped production of Nickel Iron (NiFe) cells and switched to NiCd without changing the brand name.

[tandrews]

how do I calcuate the amount of vinegar to put with the electrolyte to neutralize it?
my vinegar is 5% acetic acid?

and how will this affect the new new electrolyte? I know what the specific gravity of the new electrolyte fron the lables, but do I still need lithium hydroxide? and if so how much?

Have a look at this to determine an unknown required to neutralize.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BllRQAc76Y0

Note this is theoretical and they are assuming 100% pure.
The world is not so as you know.

Supposing you drain it prior to neutralizing (you wouldn't think of doing it in the cell???), it should have zero effect on the new electrolyte, but you may have meant something else by that.
Keep in mind specific gravity is related to environment to be used in.
See my NiFe LiOh thread for details there and I think your pocketbook will decide if you need LiOH, how much, if at all. You can always add it later.

You have another thread (you are making a quilt methinks) talking about NiCad neutralization. I suggest until you discover your best method of Cadmium laced electrolyte disposal in your area, you may not wish to add volume to your quandry of disposal as some sites charge by volume for handling. They may be indifferent about the base rather then the cadmium.

[Mike90250]

Took about 2 weeks to get better. A situation to be avoided !

[audion_1908]

how long did you skin take to get beter

[audion_1908]

I will be careful, when I was at school I had acid tipped on my back and evon then I knew how to deal with it

[Mike90250]

I have also seen some pics of a large nife battery bank being setup, and the guy got chemical burns on his arms above the gloves by the potassium hydroxide and sweat!

Happened to me too, but just a bit different, the dust form the KoH settled on my arm, and it sucked the moisture out of the air, and started eating my skin. No sweat involved - it was actually a cool night.

[audion_1908]

I have also seen some pics of a large nife battery bank being setup, and the guy got chemical burns on his arms above the gloves by the potassium hydroxide and sweat!

[audion_1908]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8bA7CvR4zU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GEyQGKqd5k&feature=endscreen&NR=1

I will be careful, and use ice to slow and cool the exothermic reaction

[Mike90250]

....
(Also look up the hazards involved in mixing acids with bases BEFORE you start.)

I have, thats why I have got some Disposable Nitrate Gloves and a face mask and 5 Litre of vinegar!

You are likely grossly underestimating the reaction of adding acid to base. Good luck, and have a helper with you , with a hose and hand on the valve.

[audion_1908]

Its only a small 8 to 10 ah battery so not much electrolyte neutralize, and because of the cadmium I dont want to risk the enviroment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_poisoning

(Well, you should not rely on a data sheet for NiFe bateries, to prepare mix for NiCad)
the 2 scanned lables are for my battery NH10A and give specific gravity or the new electrolyte and the charge rate, but not that the battery is nicad, or the makeup of the electrolyte.

(Also look up the hazards involved in mixing acids with bases BEFORE you start.) I have, thats why I have got some Disposable Nitrate Gloves and a face mask and 5 Litre of vinegar!

[Mike90250]

Well, you should not rely on a data sheet for NiFe bateries, to prepare mix for NiCad. I would hope the old electrolyte woudl not contain metals, so maybe you should research that a bit more. If no metal, no need to add acids to neutralize - just dilute and ferterlize with it.

Also look up the hazards involved in mixing acids with bases BEFORE you start.

[audion_1908]

I have a data sheet for NH10a nife NICAD battery

I got a data sheet from ALCAD and me nife battery is a nicad one! I also have 2 scanned lables from the lamp from http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/bbs/f...ew.asp?tid=325
Nife-1.jpgNife-2.jpg
being a nicad battery raises some questions like old electrolyte disposal, because of the cadmium, I will have to neutralize it and take it to the dump.

how do I calcuate the amount of vinegar to put with the electrolyte to neutralize it?
my vinegar is 5% acetic acid?

and how will this affect the new new electrolyte? I know what the specific gravity of the new electrolyte fron the lables, but do I still need lithium hydroxide? and if so how much?

my new KOH arrived the other day

[audion_1908]

data sheet

I have got a data sheet for my nife battery and its a nickel cadmium one not nife! and probly 8AH

[audion_1908]

I put deionized water water into my nife battery but I will use distilled water next time, I want to work on the steel cased nife battery first as the glass ones are going to be a real pain as thay are in a real mess, and the steel cased nife battery is only shall 2 cells and probly 10AH, I have found a data sheel and it states the battery it to be chareged at 2.8v to 3.6v for 8 houre and its hard to read but maby 1.5 amps it even lists the specific gravity of 1.150 to 1.200 and nothing about adding oil so I won't?

I am planning on only using potassium hydroxide for the new electrolyte