white powder on batteries

Tundra57

I am in the process of adding two more 200w golf cart batteries to my 2019 Tab400. I took out the old two battery case.

The underneath of the top was grey with a light powder which is totally dry. Its all over the top of the batteries too.

When i lifted out the bottom half of the old battery box, underneath you can see where the powder came into the tab through the bottom air inlet.

No idea why.

Anyone seem anything similar?

Denny16

Wash your battery off with a water baking soda solution, the white powder is from battery acid vapors and condensation.  Wear rubber gloves when doing so.
cheers

falcon1970

But be very careful not to get any of the baking soda solution IN the battery.  Baking soda is a base and it will neutralize the acid in the battery.

Bayliss

@Tundra57, after you clean the battery terminals, you might want to spray some NCP2 Battery Corrosion Preventative on both your trailer and tow vehicle battery posts.  You should be able to find a small can at any local auto parts store, or on Amazon.

CrabTab

Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) works well on battery terminals to keep them from corroding too.

GatorEgg

After you put the cables back on if not specific battery corrosion preventative, coat terminals with any grease.

Tundra57

Thanks for all the battery info. However it is not acidic. I have seen that before, i used to maintain locomotive batteries. There is no corrosion and the powder is not crystalline. it is some kind of inert powder. I should have mentioned, these are sealed glass mat batteries which have a gas pressure vent only. You can mount them sideways - they are sealed. If they are blowing off the internal electrolyte, then they should be scrapped. They vent hydrogen if they are charged too fast for the gases to recombine at the electrodes and that is why there is a ventilation system fitted.