Recommended way to clean battery terminals - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: PICmonster
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2013, 03:43:48 pm
content: Dear AllI have a question, what is the recommened way to clean any battery terminal on the actual battery not on an appliance contact, I can't seem to find a recommended consensus on this anywhere!!Some information I have seen says no to liquid cleaners, some say no to brushes as they can scratch the surface of the battery terminal so I am at a loss.We are talking about 3V coin cells in particular here, I would of thought that using a contact cleaner would be fine as long as it leaves no residue of course but it would be good to find it this mentioned somewhere in the world.Can anyone point me in the right direction please.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2013, 03:51:13 pm
content: 3V coin cells? Just start trying stuff. If you damage it buy another.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 11, 2013, 04:39:03 pm
content: Well as said; normally those 3V button cells have a grease film over them when new, and just require a wipe-over; so I am wondering if you need to clean this cell and it's used ? most likely it has seen end of useful life !

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2013, 05:00:38 pm
content: i think a pcb cleaner sponge, aka "magic eraser" in supermarket should work

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2013, 06:04:44 pm
content: Clean dry cloth moistened with IPA, and then wiped clean and polished with another one. The John Wayne style toilet paper or kitchen wipes also works well.

author: casper.bang
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2013, 07:01:39 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on April 11, 2013, 06:04:44 pmWhat a waste of India Pale Ale.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2013, 05:31:59 pm
content: Quote from: casper.bang on April 11, 2013, 07:01:39 pmIt's all right, I use beer as a marinade for cooking, or as a bread ingredient. Knowing how it is made ( intimately) I tend not to want to drink it as a liquid.

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2013, 07:08:31 pm
content: If this is a car battery, you can pour a little baking soda on the terminals and let the humidity get at it. After that, take a wire brush to it. Should be fine

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2013, 08:12:20 pm
content: Quote from: smashedProton on April 12, 2013, 07:08:31 pmSoda, such as Coca Cola, works for car battery terminals as well.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2013, 08:52:23 pm
content: Coca cola is acidic ( phosphoric acid, which is very often used to clean aluminium bulk tippers), I know that in the US such things are called soda's. The best thing for crusted car battery terminals is hot water and if needed a bit of soap.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2013, 09:15:36 pm
content: Quote from: G7PSK on April 12, 2013, 08:52:23 pmHad to look up "aluminum bulk tipper".Had no idea what you meant (I recognize them as dump trucks or dump trailers if it's not a permanent part of the vehicle).I do recall that Coca Cola is acidic (IIRC it also contains carbonic and citric acids), but it really does work on battery terminals. I found it to be quick, inexpensive, and seemed to do a better job than baking soda based from what I recall.Terminals were probably too corroded for hot water and soap (they were rather bad), but soap being a base didn't even dawn on me. DOH!

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2013, 09:54:58 am
content: It is surprising how a few miles of water (read thousand's) can change what is a common language, in the UK a dump truck is a small vehicle used on building sites sometimes 4 wheel drive sometimes only 2, when 2 wheel drive its the front ones with rear steering occasionally on tracks as well, used for moving spoil on site. What you call a dump truck in the US is a tipper lorry here both rigid and articulated then come the bulk tippers with higher sides which are used for lighter materials such as grain etc.There ought to be an Australian, British US dictionary.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2013, 10:08:20 am
content: An electric toothbrush and tooth paste do the job well enough, give it a quick rinse and you're good to go.

author: Frantone
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2013, 03:30:42 pm
content: I have always used a dry pencil eraser to clean battery contacts.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2013, 10:08:59 pm
content: Quote from: Frantone on April 13, 2013, 03:30:42 pmOooh finally someone with something inside the head

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2013, 10:22:11 pm
content: I guess it all depends on the scale you're looking at; if you're doing 3,000 coin cell batteries, i'd use something that does the rubbing automatically, like an electric toothbrush, for 3 cells or even 30 an eraser is probably fine. If you step things up to much larger cells with proportionally larger terminals, something with a bit more "scrubbing" is needed and i most certainly wouldn't do it with an eraser.