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Post by Flocker on Mar 14, 2019 15:23:30 GMT
The new trickle charger I recently purchased has a light that's labeled "de-sulfating." When I initially plugged it in, it started flashing. Apparently sulfation, a build-up of lead sulfate crystals, is the number one cause of early failures of sealed AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries.
Does anyone else "de-sulfate?"
PS - Here's a link from the BatteryMINDer website: Avoid Battery Sulfation |
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Post by Cluemeister on Mar 14, 2019 20:32:20 GMT
Never heard of that procedure before
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Post by ChrisConnor on Apr 4, 2019 16:05:52 GMT
I've never heard of a charger that did that. Sulfation eventually fails all batteries. Don't know how you'd go about removing it. Can't "cook" it out. That fails the battery too. I'd be interested in know how this is done.
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Post by Glenn on Apr 4, 2019 16:51:51 GMT
I've never heard of a charger that did that. Sulfation eventually fails all batteries. Don't know how you'd go about removing it. Can't "cook" it out. That fails the battery too. I'd be interested in know how this is done. A google search found this explanation that sounds reasonable but who knows?? It must be true since it's on the internet.  There are two types of sulfation: reversible (or soft sulfation), and permanent (or hard sulfation). If a battery is serviced early, reversible sulfation can often be corrected by applying an overcharge to an already fully charged battery in the form of a regulated current of about 200mA. The battery terminal voltage is allowed to rise to between 2.50 and 2.66V/cell (15 and 16V on a 12V mono block) for about 24 hours. Increasing the battery temperature to 50–60°C (122–140°F) during the corrective service further helps in dissolving the crystals.
Permanent sulfation sets in when the battery has been in a low state-of-charge for weeks or months. At this stage, no form of restoration seems possible; however, the recovery yield is not fully understood. To everyone’s amazement, new lead acid batteries can often be fully restored after dwelling in a low-voltage condition for many weeks. Other factors may play a role. Several companies offer anti-sulfation devices that apply pulses to the battery terminals to prevent and reverse sulfation. Such technologies will lower the sulfation on a healthy battery, but they cannot effectively reverse the condition once present. It’s a “one size fits all” approach and the method is unscientific.
Applying random pulses or blindly inducing an overcharge can harm the battery by promoting grid corrosion. There are no simple methods to measure sulfation, nor are commercial chargers available that apply a calculated overcharge to dissolve the crystals. As with medicine, the most effective remedy is to apply a corrective service for the time needed and not longer.
While anti-sulfation devices can reverse the condition, some battery manufacturers do not recommend the treatment as it tends to create soft shorts that may increase self-discharge. Furthermore, the pulses contain ripple voltage that causes some heating of the battery. Battery manufacturers specify the allowable ripple when charging lead acid batteries.
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Post by ChrisConnor on Apr 4, 2019 18:25:38 GMT
Yeah, well I believe the explanation, but I don't agree with subjecting smaller batteries to an intentional increase in temperature. I've charged literally hundreds of smaller batteries over the years. I've actually seen the plates come apart from overheating. It's my opinion that if the charge is maintained on the battery, sulfation, significant enough to have any effect on the battery, does not occur. Now, if you let your battery discharge, and this "cook off" procedure (and that's what it is) is a last resort, go for it I guess.
I like to think that engineers must know more than us when they design a product, but what looks good on paper doesn't always work out that way. Maybe these chargers are the best thing since sliced bread. I don't know. I do know that I'll pass on buying one.
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Post by Flocker on Apr 4, 2019 19:37:51 GMT
Yeah, well I believe the explanation, but I don't agree with subjecting smaller batteries to an intentional increase in temperature. From the BatteryMINDer website:
"A sulfated battery can be safely restored using high frequency electronic pulses (NOT high voltage). By generating just the needed range of frequencies and avoiding high voltages, we eliminate potential damage to the batteries storage plates known as "flaking". The sulfuric acid, the major ingredient in a sulfate crystal, can then easily pass into the electrolyte (liquid, gel or absorbed type). This immediately raises its specific gravity and frees the storage plates to now accept a fuller charge. It does this in the shortest possible time, without developing excessive heat."
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Post by Glenn on Apr 4, 2019 19:45:30 GMT
Those last 4 words are the important part: "without developing excessive heat."
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Post by mudlupilot on Apr 18, 2019 15:48:15 GMT
Has anyone replaced their lead acid battery with a lithium battery?
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