Charging car battery reverse polarity

[cubman]

This is the first I have ever heard anything like this. My brother's friend charged an old battery and tried to install it in his truck. When he connected the terminals there was a bang and he didn't know why. When he tested voltage at the terminals it read reverse polarity. If the battery is dead, is it possible to charge the battery backwards ?
red - black +
Will it take and hold a charge ?

 

[winnie]

Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_acid_battery

Lead-acid batteries work with a lead anode and a lead-oxide cathode, with sulfuric acid reacting on both sides. A lead-acid battery can be reverse charged.

-Jon

 

[hillbilly]

Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_acid_battery

Lead-acid batteries work with a lead anode and a lead-oxide cathode, with sulfuric acid reacting on both sides. A lead-acid battery can be reverse charged.

-Jon

That's a new one on me....never thought about it.
Something new to investigate.
steve

 

[winnie]

I should add that by "Can be reverse charged", I mean "Are capable of taking some amount of charge with reverse polarity, though not necessarily efficiently, with high capacity, nor with long useful life."

NiCd batteries will 'reverse charge' to some extent, however this is know to cause significant damage to the cell, for example.

-Jon

 

[brian john]

We have had cells reverse polairty in a battery string, WHAT a mess acid blew everywhere.

 

[RUWIREDRITE]

Battery

Battery

Hi all,
My son did me a favor once bought me a new garden tractor battery for my wheelhorse tractor. The only problem was, he installed it backwards when he put it in. I didn't notice it for a while till the tractor sat and had to recharge it. I recharged it the way the teminals were attached and it lasted for over two years that way till finially dying.I wasn't about to correct it midstream due i thought it would explode if i did.I finally bought a new one and all is fine now.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[hockeyoligist2]

My Dad has a 54 ish A-C tractor with a positive ground. After it sits all winter he pulls it out and charges it. Since he can't see very good sometimes he puts it back in backwards. The generator keeps it charged, the starter turns the right way, amazing to me! The battery is about 8 years old now and still kicking it over like new!