Warning: Contains rambling, ranting, the word "hell", and obnoxious opinions about many things. Also, batteries can be dangerous.
Many, many years ago, I took a fried sealed lead acid (SLA) battery apart out of curiosity. While I don't suggest you do the same, its design featured little rubber caps over the openings to the cells. Although it looks unsophisticated (which you'll see if you disregard my recommend and perform unwise amounts of Science on a--preferably dead--SLA battery) this is apparently the heart of the "valve" mechanism that keeps the liquid in and lets any hydrogen gas that develops during (over)charging out.
Some batteries have extra molded plastic caps over each valve, probably as a safety enhancement. Most don't.
Although I (intentionally) destroyed the first SLA battery I dismantled way back when, I later tried adding water to others that had previously failed in service. It never worked, and when these batteries go, water loss usually isn't the problem. Inspired by some of the comments on my last video, I decided to try it again. Maybe I felt bad about abusing this poor old battery?
I have no idea how long it'll live, but this one came back to life--and even better than that, I have a UPS that just so happens to need that exact size and shape of battery!
UPS units use sealed acid batteries because of their low cost, high reliability, reasonable safety and because they're easy to apply a "float" (maintenance) charge to over long periods of time.
Anyone want to slip me a service manual or schematic for these units?
Both of the units in this video just had "beeperectomies" because I've noticed that disabling the beeper doesn't stick, and they shrill endlessly if their self test fails. In another sign of cheapness, these only seem to run a self-test when powered up.
Because a few of you might be willing to take my suggestion and are wondering how to do it: here's how you fix your G- settings:
1. Click your account picture.
2. Choose the gear icon.
3. On the page that shows up, find the link (in small print as of this writing) that says 'Edit on Google Plus". It's usually right next to a larger version of your account picture. Cancel the "this will change your user name" message if you get it. I don't think it will, but beware. (This is Google, after all.)
4. From the gear on the left side of the screen, choose "Settings".
5. Change the entries under "Who can interact with you and your posts" to "Anyone". Save that change.
6. Thank you.
(Or you would have back in 2014 when this video was made. This idiotic option seems to have finally been removed.)