The C-Brats Forum Index
HomeForumsMy TopicsCalendarEvent SignupsMemberlistOur C-DorysThe Brat MapPhotos

DeSulfating a battery with Epsom Salt solution???

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> Electrical and Wiring
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Casey



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 1094
City/Region: The Villages(FL)
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Vessel Name: "Dessert 1st"
Photos: Dessert 1st
PostPosted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:51 pm    Post subject: DeSulfating a battery with Epsom Salt solution??? Reply with quote

I was reading a website recently that suggested that people could largely restore an unusable, sulfated battery (too many deep discharges without timely recharge).

What they described was to drain the battery and refill with a mixture of distilled water with 8oz/gallon of Epsom salts, and recharge as normally.

I've never heard of this procedure but thought I'd ask the Brat's.

Any ideas?

Thx,
Casey

_________________
2013 CC23 "Katmai" renamed "Dessert 1st"
2006 CC23 "Katmai" (purchased August 2009)
2003 CD22 "Naknek" (sold May 2008)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Notayot



Joined: 03 Feb 2005
Posts: 122

State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Notayot (sold 2/2018)
Photos: Notayot
PostPosted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Casey,

In my youth I have used magnesium sulfate (epsom salts) to regenerate motorcycle batteries. The theories being 1. cheaper than buying a new battery, 2. might eliminate the inconvenient kick starting or push starting of the motorcycle and 3. even if it doesn't work, you verified theory number 1, and using methods 2 and 3 you can still get going.

I'm not sure I'd use the method for a starting battery but it might get you a few more weeks on a house battery. After the "recharge" with magnesium sulfate you will need to drain the battery again and replace the acid and charge again. I'm sure new acid would help, but that always violated theory number 1 for me! I always had to do the magnewsium sulfate "charge" multiple times to clear the lead sufate shorting the battery plates before finally putting acid back into the battery. Also, I wouldn't use an automatic charger and I wouldn't leave it unattended since it could overheat and spew its contents (caps are off of course).

Good luck

_________________
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sea Wolf



Joined: 01 Nov 2003
Posts: 8650
City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
PostPosted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are chargers that de-sulfate a battery using a specific high frequency AC current. The de-sulfating cycle typically last several hours, and the charger cycles off automatically.

I have a Vector 40 amp charger that has such a de-sulfation cycle, and it runs for up to something like 24 hours continuously when doing 4 group 27 batteries in parallel.

I'm guessing that the de-sulfation cycle or process is something that should be done on a fairly regular basis (I do mine every 4-6 months), though, rather than after the battery is already shorted out.

So far, it seems to have worked on my batteries.

Joe. Teeth Thumbs Up

_________________
Sea Wolf, C-Brat #31
Lake Shasta, California

"Most of my money I spent on boats and women. The rest I squandered'. " -Annonymous
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
BrentB



Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 4419
City/Region: Greenwood
State or Province: IN
Photos: BrentB
PostPosted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I worked in a gas station and also a tire store, it was suggested to remove the acid and replace with new.
I always wondered if this would work b/c the explanation was the acid pH was too high. pH of new acid was 2 and the pH for old one was not known but used one of the bead type battery testers to show the battery was bad. I said the acid was fine but battery was bad and acid replacement will not work and a replacement but I was a dumb know nuthin kid

_________________
Brent Barrett
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sulfation is the deposit of lead sulfate on the surface of the lead plates of a wet cell battery. This sulfate is a by product of the discharge charge cycle, and as lead sulfate accumulates, it decreases the amount of lead available to partake in the reaction of charge discharge cycles. There can be soft up to very hard lead sulfate crystals. Some chemicals can disolve the lead sulfate, and then the sulfuric acid is replaced. Equalization (high voltage charging) can dislodge some lead sulfate. But if there is an accumulation of the hard sulfate, best plan is one of the high frequency pulse chargers. Battery Minder is one I use regularly. The battery needs to be at more than 12.6 volts (fully charged).

The epsom salts, EDTA solution and several other solutions are other ways to attempt to "rejuvenate" older batteries which are not holding a charge well. The solutions may help with milder desulfations, but with hard sulfate, the electrical pulse technique works better.

_________________
Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Casey



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 1094
City/Region: The Villages(FL)
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Vessel Name: "Dessert 1st"
Photos: Dessert 1st
PostPosted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks to the folks who responded.

In addition to your responses I've read some more on the subject, and yes, it appears that while the process is viable, in most circumstances it wouldn't be very practical. (Exception: the battery maintenance aspect of equalizing a battery occasionally, and that doesn't involve epsom salt.)

Other than some sort of end-of-the-World scenario, keeping a defunct battery alive with epsom salts for another week or two doesn't seem very likely. And in that TEOTWAWKI scenario we'd have other things to attend-to!

Thanks,
Casey
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
BrentB



Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 4419
City/Region: Greenwood
State or Province: IN
Photos: BrentB
PostPosted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Which battery minder are you using or recommend?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
BrentB



Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 4419
City/Region: Greenwood
State or Province: IN
Photos: BrentB
PostPosted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What is your battery maintenance SOP?
Mine needs an update
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are multiple pulse desulfators on the market. I use one called "Batteryminder" The newest model is called "BatteryMINDer"--the only difference is that the charger on the newer one is .2 amp more. They are trickle chargers with the pulse desulfators. I have used them on truck and RV batteries as well as boats for over 10 years, and then really seem to help. I have also restored a couple of batteries which were sulfated. BUT, you have to use one for every one or two batteries at the max. For my RV, I use two on the 4 Six volt golf cart batteries. One for each set in series.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> Electrical and Wiring All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
     Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



Page generation time: 0.0871s (PHP: 81% - SQL: 19%) - SQL queries: 27 - GZIP disabled - Debug on