Battery Desulphator?
20 November 2005, 03:36 PM
#1
Battery Desulphator?
Anyone made/bought or used one?
I have a few batteries which I've allowed to discharge for a bit too long and thus sulphated, reducing their capacity. I was wondering if these devices would restore their capacity again.
I've dug round the web and found this DIY setup, which seems simple enough to make with very little expense: http://www.shaka.com/~kalepa/lowpower.htm
Any good?
I have a few batteries which I've allowed to discharge for a bit too long and thus sulphated, reducing their capacity. I was wondering if these devices would restore their capacity again.
I've dug round the web and found this DIY setup, which seems simple enough to make with very little expense: http://www.shaka.com/~kalepa/lowpower.htm
Any good?
20 November 2005, 03:41 PM
#2
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Ive just realised that a nearly new battery in an RVR that Ive imported has sulphated; its really bad though with the ends of the battery ballooning..... Its worth a go though.
Someone should give building one a try; if only one of us had read some form of electronics at uni. I did a worthless A&H degree Ali, how about you?
Simon
Someone should give building one a try; if only one of us had read some form of electronics at uni. I did a worthless A&H degree Ali, how about you?
Simon
20 November 2005, 04:05 PM
#3
Tell me about it, I have a 12 months old bike battery that is pretty much dead due to a automatic charger that doesn't like small batteries (shuts off prematurely - took me 3 dead batteries to realise 
). And the battery on my scoob is starting to sound like its a bit tired on start up in the cold, which has a had few too many deep discharges (lifetime guarantee, so if I kill it experimenting - not to worry 
).
I'm going to give it a bash anyway and make one when I have some spare time. I've downloaded several circuit diagrams, just need to fathom which one looks the best.
I did A-Level electronics many moons ago, I've forgotten much of the advanced mathematics rules and equations. But as long as somone else has done the hard work and number crunching, I should be ok
). And the battery on my scoob is starting to sound like its a bit tired on start up in the cold, which has a had few too many deep discharges (lifetime guarantee, so if I kill it experimenting - not to worry ).I'm going to give it a bash anyway and make one when I have some spare time. I've downloaded several circuit diagrams, just need to fathom which one looks the best.
I did A-Level electronics many moons ago, I've forgotten much of the advanced mathematics rules and equations. But as long as somone else has done the hard work and number crunching, I should be ok
Last edited by ALi-B; 20 November 2005 at 04:08 PM.
20 November 2005, 04:33 PM
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Ive got a soldering iron that you can borrow... The Mitsubishi battery cant even muster 6v and it wont hold enough charge to start a 12" 8 Watt fluorescent tube...
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21 November 2005, 03:15 PM
#8
Heard of them, Does it involves flushing it out and replacing the acid as well though??? Which leads onto problems with disposal, purchase of acid of the correct concentration and me burning my skin off in the process.
Simon, I'll post the results if and when I get it working.
Although I've been put under strict orders to finish redecorating the spare bedroom before I'm allowed to go blowing stuff up in my shed so the project start time maybe delayed 
Simon, I'll post the results if and when I get it working.
Although I've been put under strict orders to finish redecorating the spare bedroom before I'm allowed to go blowing stuff up in my shed so the project start time maybe delayed
21 November 2005, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by ALi-B
Heard of them, Does it involves flushing it out and replacing the acid as well though??? Which leads onto problems with disposal, purchase of acid of the correct concentration and me burning my skin off in the process.
Simon, I'll post the results if and when I get it working. Although I've been put under strict orders to finish redecorating the spare bedroom before I'm allowed to go blowing stuff up in my shed so the project start time maybe delayed
Simon, I'll post the results if and when I get it working.
Although I've been put under strict orders to finish redecorating the spare bedroom before I'm allowed to go blowing stuff up in my shed so the project start time maybe delayed Mart
21 November 2005, 03:22 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by ALi-B
Any critics out there care to make a comment before I trail on down to Maplin, and start up blowing up batteries, showering myself in sulphuric acid?
The battery recovery units use a charge voltage which is much higher than the normal charge voltage - it forces the lead sulphate to fall off the negative plates, and this will then lie like sludge at the bottom of the battery (more sludge = less acid = less capacity). If you do use this type of device, you must not use it for more than 12 hours continuously and do not leave it unattended incase thermal runaway occurs. Do not use if the battery case shows any signs of damage such as melting, impacts or bulging.
You should also weigh up the cost of the charger against the cost of a new battery.
21 November 2005, 03:23 PM
#12
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Will it revive my Mitsubishi battery Mart? It sulphated so badly that the ends have ballooned and it wont take a charge at all, maxing out at 6v before disappearing to nothing in a short time.
Simon
Simon
21 November 2005, 03:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Dick Cheese
...Do not use if the battery case shows any signs of damage such as melting, impacts or bulging...
21 November 2005, 03:26 PM
#14
Originally Posted by Dick Cheese
The results will depend on how long the battery has been left in the discharged state. Even in the best case where minor sulphation has occurred, you will not get a return of full capacity.
The battery recovery units use a charge voltage which is much higher than the normal charge voltage - it forces the lead sulphate to fall off the negative plates, and this will then lie like sludge at the bottom of the battery (more sludge = less acid = less capacity). If you do use this type of device, you must not use it for more than 12 hours continuously and do not leave it unattended incase thermal runaway occurs. Do not use if the battery case shows any signs of damage such as melting, impacts or bulging.
You should also weigh up the cost of the charger against the cost of a new battery.
The battery recovery units use a charge voltage which is much higher than the normal charge voltage - it forces the lead sulphate to fall off the negative plates, and this will then lie like sludge at the bottom of the battery (more sludge = less acid = less capacity). If you do use this type of device, you must not use it for more than 12 hours continuously and do not leave it unattended incase thermal runaway occurs. Do not use if the battery case shows any signs of damage such as melting, impacts or bulging.
You should also weigh up the cost of the charger against the cost of a new battery.
(Oddly it reads like the instructions for an Accumate/optimate battery charger ).
As the device I've seen (both off the shelf and DIY) runs directly off the battery, so it doesn't "charge" it. (but can be used in addition to a charger, if need be ).
21 November 2005, 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by ALi-B
Think you might be on about a differenet device?
(Oddly it reads like the instructions for an Accumate/optimate battery charger ).
As the device I've seen (both off the shelf and DIY) runs directly off the battery, so it doesn't "charge" it. (but can be used in addition to a charger, if need be ).
(Oddly it reads like the instructions for an Accumate/optimate battery charger ).
As the device I've seen (both off the shelf and DIY) runs directly off the battery, so it doesn't "charge" it. (but can be used in addition to a charger, if need be ).
This definitely would not be as effective as a high charge voltage de-sulphator.
Simon - put the battery back in the bin, it's scrap!
Last edited by Dick Cheese; 21 November 2005 at 03:36 PM.
21 November 2005, 03:51 PM
#17
Yeah, seems to be the same science, the device in the link only draws a about 50mA but it does induce up to 60volts and a pulse current of 5amps, depending on the battery's internal resistance. It can be used with a charger to back it up, if the battery doesn't hold enough charge (although I might need to add a few precautions to the charger to protect it from any high voltages).
Simon- taken from the above sight:
Looks like binning it!
Simon- taken from the above sight:
Shorted cells can be caused by sulfation. It seems that the crystal formation expands and warps the plate material. This can cause the case to bulge, or to push adjacent plates together. If you are lucky, desulfation can relieve this situation, but I have not seen it myself.
Last edited by ALi-B; 21 November 2005 at 03:54 PM.
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