battery Problem White paste on terminals

[cjd]

Can anyone tell me what is going on with my batterys? I pulled them to charge last night, and there was a thick white pase on one, and a white dried powder on the other. (they are working fine, just seemed a touch run down last time I started them)

This appears to have happened over the last two weeks, and I am pretty amazed at how thick it is. Also the paste struck me as weird.

We have not had much rain, and the underfloor compartment is damp, but not super wet.

I keep the boat in a slip. I keep the battery select switch on BOTH when the boat sits

Thanks

chris

[Glen E]

both? No.......put the switch to off when the boat sits...and read here how to care for batteries using dielectric grease

better yet, I'm sure you may have other areas you can improve upon - read the "12V bible for boats" - off amazon

[cjd]

Originally Posted by Glen E

both? No.......put the switch to off when the boat sits...and read here how to care for batteries using dielectric grease

better yet, I'm sure you may have other areas you can improve upon - read the "12V bible for boats" - off amazon

I actually do lube up the terminals when I put them in (this spring), and in 20 years of boat ownership, I have never seen this kind of build up. I did used to keep my switch off, but in this boat, I seem to have gotten in the bad habit of not switching it off. I suspect it is because the selector is under the floor (and not in plain sight).

Did this occur because I left the battery switch on?

[gecsr1]

Use vinegar and water solution to disolve the corrison, when you get that type of corrison , there's a possible ground inbalance, check and make sure all your connections are good and clean. You can use grease one the termanls or get that battery terminal spray. also if you have flooded batteries make sure all the cells have water and filled to the proper level.