Materials:
- old damaged AA batteries;
- battery 12V;
- terminal;
- welding or other cable of large cross-section.
Welding machine assembly and welding
A graphite rod from a AA battery will be used as an electrode for welding. To do this, you need to carefully disassemble it with side cutters. It is better to work with gloves to avoid cutting yourself on the battery casing. It is better not to rush in this matter, as you can break the rod.
A piece of welding cable must be connected to the battery terminals. On batteries with low capacity, it is better to use short wires to reduce resistance. It is optimal to use lengths of 40-60 cm. On batteries 60, 75 Ah, you can use a long cable.
A terminal is placed on the other end of the positive cable.A graphite rod from a battery is attached to it. It needs to be held tightly to make reliable contact.
The negative wire must be attached to the part for welding. In the absence of special welding compound, it can simply be pressed down. You need to press with pliers or another insulating tool.
When the graphite rod touches the parts, it will begin to heat up and melt the metal. This will cause them to weld together. At first, the lead burns until the remaining acid from the battery is removed from it, and then it cooks better.
This welding method is accompanied by a short circuit on the battery, which causes the battery to heat up. If it boils, it may explode. In this regard, it is impossible to keep the circuit closed for a long time. You need to pause and periodically check the battery temperature. Ideally, cover it so that in the event of an explosion, acid splashes do not splash onto the body. The likelihood of this happening is very low, but reinsurance won't hurt. Welding takes a lot of energy, so one charge will only last for a couple of minutes.
Welding electrodes can be used instead of a graphite rod. In this case, you will get a truly reliable connection that can hold the load. You can also use battery rods for regular welding if you don’t have electrodes on hand.
