how to remove sulfides from a lead acid battery?

Geo-TH,In · Nov 21, 2011

Does anyone know how to make a charger to remove sulfides from a lead acid battery? I know that BatteryMinder has been recommended to do restore batteries at a cost of $120 for their best charger, however has anyone built their own charger? If so, how did you do it? How long will it take for Batteryminder to bring back a battery from the Dead?

I have a worthless lawn mower battery that I'm experimenting with. I'll let you know if my idea works.

Update on my GMC battery. Took my 100amp Harbor Freight load tester and my battery, which the dealer and Auto Zone said failed the load test shows it's on the lower edge on the scale for being good.

I not going to do anything with my truck battery just yet. I park in a garage, so if some morning it doesn't start, I'll drive my car to auto zone and get another battery.
George

Stephen Newell · Nov 21, 2011

A charger won"t remove sulfide crystals once they have formed on the plates. I have heard of a procedure in which you can drain the acid from a battery and then fill the battery with a epsom salt solution and put on a charger to remove the sulfide crystals. If you google "recondition a car battery" you can get more information. I have one myself I"m thinking of trying it on.

LJD · Nov 21, 2011

FLA - i.e. conventional flooded lead acid batteries are supposed to be overcharged now and then to prevent sulphation. Once a battery had the disease though, it's pretty much too late.

Many high-end battery chargers have an "equalize" mode. That is the "overcharge" mode and it there to prevent sulphation.

John T · Nov 21, 2011

George, I've read that some "smart chargers" or "multi stage charges" do as JD noted and (or you do it manually) and intentionally over cook n boil batteries for some short term on occasion. Another thing Ive read about is some sort of high frequency pulse a so called smart charger can apply thats supposed to lessen sulfation. If too much "crud" accumulates in the bottom it reaches the plates n shorts them out or once the plates get covered youre loosing that much surface area for electrochemical reaction. If a single battery lasts like 5 to 7 years in an auto like Ive had some do im not too worried, its when I spend big bucks on multi batteries in my RV that I begin to look at smart charger technology and some of the additives.

John T

LJD · Nov 21, 2011

To put it simply, a 12 volt battery needs to be charged at 15.5 to 16 volts to break down sulphation. That's what the better chargers do when put into "equalization" mode.

When a battery is "dead", i.e. down to 10.5 volts the plates are then covered with lead-sulfate. If charged back up in a reasonable amount of time, that lead-sulfate falls apart since it's a soft material. But . . let a battery sit for a long time while discharged and the lead-sulfate turns into hard crystals. A standard battery charger that barely reaches 14 volts cannot break it apart. This "over-volting" called "equalization" breaks down lead-sulfate crystals and also stratafies the acid - i.e. mixes it up.

Wilson · Nov 21, 2011

George I only paid about 20.00 for my desulfate trickle charger. It really is not for charging so called dead batteries as mostly for long term maintance with desulfating

Wilson · Nov 21, 2011

the idea is to make a frequency that is supposed to break apart the sulfate

CAROGATOR · Nov 21, 2011

Back in the early sixties as a kid, we replaced the acid with white vinegar and charged up and ran a week. then replaced the acid and saved many a battery.

buickanddeere · Nov 21, 2011

How to de-sulphate a battery?
Take the sulphated battery to the salvage yard and sell for scrap. Go to auto parts store and purchase a new battery.
This time don't under charge or over charge the battery. Or leave it sitting partly discharged.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 21, 2011

My book says epson salts or caustic soda, but I have not had any success.

bobs old iron · Nov 21, 2011

do what you want for a experiment,,, but is your health/life worth loosing....as other suggested, scrap it and buy a new one, don't play chance of life for a lousy battery that's not worth it. we would rather type to you, than type about you....

Jon Hagen · Nov 22, 2011

I have a couple of these that I rotate through my fleet of farm equipment in the off season.
It tops up the charge and removes sulfation.
does a good job.

I have on occasion used them on a neglected battery that was mechanically good, but sulfated to the point that I could get very little charge in or out of it.
Charge it slowly, then let the little BatteryMINDer peck away at the sulfation for a couple weeks will usually return them to a guestimated 90% capacity.
BatteryMINDer.

how to remove sulfides from a lead acid battery?

Geo-TH,In

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Stephen Newell

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LJD

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John T

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LJD

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Wilson

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Wilson

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CAROGATOR

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buickanddeere

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Anonymous-0

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bobs old iron

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Jon Hagen

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