DIYbanter - View Single Post

wrote:
Everybody, and I mean everbody puts down a barrier so when they put a
car battery down so it's not in contact with the ground, or cement. Now
normally the battery will sit on steel (in the car) which is a
conductor.

They say that being on the ground kills the battery. How does a
nonconductor (concrete) being in contact with another nonconductor
cause this ? I refuse to believe it, but I do not put said batteries on
the ground. (I am a firm believer in Murphy's Law)

Is this myth or mystery, and if true, just how in the hell can it be
true. I'm considered pretty advanced when it comes to electronics, but
this belief is so ubiquitous, that says there might be something to it.

If anyone can shed some light on the process whereby the "ground" can
discharge a car battery please enlighten me. I've now heard this again
and have considered buying two brand new car batteries and chargers
with which to gain empirical evidence. Sometimes when I get curious
about something I have a hard time letting go of it.

Can anyone either explain this so I can STFU, or debunk it so I can run
my mouth ? I've been hearing this for about 30 years now and have
dropped the subject numerous times. That is no longer good enough.

Or are we talking about something like the pyramids or whatever ? I
know some physics but I am by no means a physicist. I'm having a hard
time believe this "myth" and I would like it cleared up in my lifetime,
so I asked.

Thanks to anyone that can set my mind to rest on this annoying subject.

JURB

ok lets get one thing straight... we are talking about an old and i mean
old "myth"... now years ago most cars had a chunk of wood under the
battery to stop them from touching the steel.. I think this can all be
cleared up with this thought.... new batteries ..not affected.... old
batteries... well regular batteries from years ago required water top
ups... they had a lot of seepage and evaporation and even spillage (oops
i over filled it) and acid from a battery on concrete well its not
pleasant... also if the battery was wet and dirty it could cause some
current leakage however i would believe it still wouldnt matter what it
was sitting on...

HERE IS WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE REAL REASON
Long time ago someone stored a battery on concrete..... forgot to
periodically charge it and it went dead ... so it was blamed on the
concrete. because they forgot to charge it ....