Posted by mike on January 10, 2014, 6:57 pm
On 1/10/2014 10:45 AM, Jim Rojas wrote:
>
> Are you adding any Epson Salt in your cells? Epson salt desulfates
> batteries naturally and replenishes electrolytes.
> Jim Rojas
>
What's the downside?
Seems if something that simple was a good idea, the battery manufacturers
would have already exploited the benefit??????
Posted by Jim Rojas on January 10, 2014, 7:27 pm
mike wrote:
> On 1/10/2014 10:45 AM, Jim Rojas wrote:
>
>>
>> Are you adding any Epson Salt in your cells? Epson salt desulfates
>> batteries naturally and replenishes electrolytes.
>> Jim Rojas
>>
> What's the downside?
> Seems if something that simple was a good idea, the battery manufacturers
> would have already exploited the benefit??????
>
The downside for the manufacturer is decreased sales. I have seen
perfectly good batteries come my way for almost free just because
someone didn't follow directions.
Jim Rojas
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Posted by Jim Rojas on January 10, 2014, 7:26 pm
Nick Amato wrote:
> Honestly, its been probably about a year since it was set up this way.. and I think the person who had them before me had it wrong too then. So a total of around a year and a half like that. How would I know if I have permanent damage?
>
A 4 to 1 mixture of distilled or rain water & epson salt to help keep
your batteries in top condition.
4 parts of distilled or rain water
1 part epson salt
You can make a quick batch using a microwave and a glass measuring cup.
I like to make a half gallon at a time and keep it on hand at all times.
1. Bring the water to a slight boil.
2. Add epson salt and stir until it is all dissolved. Never add epson
salt without first dissolving it. It will just sink to the bottom and clump.
3. Allow mixture to cool.
4. Add in each cell as needed. If possible, shake the battery to mix it
up good.
5. Do not overfill your batteries. It will overflow and make a mess. a
1/4 inch over the top of the plate is more than enough.
You can also try this recipe with batteries that no longer hold a good
charge. Marine, Golf Cart, and Fork Lift batteries are best to use
because the plates are much thicker. Car batteries plates for the most
part are thin, and they disintegrate easily over time.
You can use car batteries if you do the following:
1. Completely drain the battery of all liquids.
2. Add baking soda to the old battery acid to neutralize it, and safe
disposal.
3. Rinse out the batteries a few times using rain water (free). Rinse
until the water comes out clear. DO NOT USE A WATER HOSE. You can use
compressed air and a plastic tube if you want to agitate the plates. The
impurities in in normal drinking water will destroy your battery.
4. Make your 4 to 1 mixture, and allow it to cool.
5. Pour it into each cell.
6. Leave the fill caps loose.
7. Charge your battery at no more than 2 amps for about 3 days.
8. Take readings each day and write down the results.
9. After the 3 days have passed, do a load test. You are not going to
get a full 100% of the rated CCA, but if you get 50-90 percent, then you
are good to go.
Keep detailed records of each battery you do this to. Using a soldering
iron or evgraving tool, give each battery a unique serial number. This
will save you headaches in the future, and prevent you from wasting time
on a battery you already reconditioned many times in the past.
Many preppers pay $-$ for old car batteries and have achieved
excellent results with this method. There is no need to pay top dollar
for batteries that will die eventually. You can repeat this process up
to 3 to 4 times before a battery will finally die completely. Think
about what you will save in the long run.
I prefer using smaller pallet jack batteries. Each 2 volt cell weighs
about 50-75 lbs, but a $00 used set will last 30-40 years if you
maintain it correctly.
Jim Rojas
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Posted by Johny B Good on January 10, 2014, 10:54 pm
wrote:
>Jim Rojas wrote:
>> Nick Amato wrote:
>>> Honestly, its been probably about a year since it was set up this
>>> way.. and I think the person who had them before me had it wrong too
>>> then. So a total of around a year and a half like that. How would I
>>> know if I have permanent damage?
>>
>> A 4 to 1 mixture of distilled or rain water & epson salt to help keep
>> your batteries in top condition.
>>
>> 4 parts of distilled or rain water
>> 1 part epson salt
>>
>> You can make a quick batch using a microwave and a glass measuring
>> cup.
>> I like to make a half gallon at a time and keep it on hand at all
>> times.
>> 1. Bring the water to a slight boil.
>> 2. Add epson salt and stir until it is all dissolved. Never add epson
>> salt without first dissolving it. It will just sink to the bottom and
>> clump. 3. Allow mixture to cool.
>> 4. Add in each cell as needed. If possible, shake the battery to mix
>> it up good.
>> 5. Do not overfill your batteries. It will overflow and make a mess. a
>> 1/4 inch over the top of the plate is more than enough.
>>
>> You can also try this recipe with batteries that no longer hold a good
>> charge. Marine, Golf Cart, and Fork Lift batteries are best to use
>> because the plates are much thicker. Car batteries plates for the most
>> part are thin, and they disintegrate easily over time.
>>
>> You can use car batteries if you do the following:
>>
>> 1. Completely drain the battery of all liquids.
>> 2. Add baking soda to the old battery acid to neutralize it, and safe
>> disposal.
>> 3. Rinse out the batteries a few times using rain water (free). Rinse
>> until the water comes out clear. DO NOT USE A WATER HOSE. You can use
>> compressed air and a plastic tube if you want to agitate the plates.
>> The impurities in in normal drinking water will destroy your battery.
>> 4. Make your 4 to 1 mixture, and allow it to cool.
>> 5. Pour it into each cell.
>> 6. Leave the fill caps loose.
>> 7. Charge your battery at no more than 2 amps for about 3 days.
>> 8. Take readings each day and write down the results.
>> 9. After the 3 days have passed, do a load test. You are not going to
>> get a full 100% of the rated CCA, but if you get 50-90 percent, then
>> you are good to go.
>
>You are replacing the battery acid with water and epson salts?? Does this really
>work? How?
>
Yes and no. However, mostly no. See this wiki article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_acid_battery> for the full
'skinny'.
In particular this section:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_acid_battery#Additives>
TBH, I'm surprised it was left to me, a mere lurker in this NG, to
point out the 'bleeding obvious' and provide those links.
--
Regards, J B Good
Posted by Jim Wilkins on January 10, 2014, 11:34 pm
> wrote:
>
>>Jim Rojas wrote:
>>> Nick Amato wrote:
>>>> Honestly, its been probably about a year since it was set up this
>>>> way.. and I think the person who had them before me had it wrong
>>>> too
>>>> then. So a total of around a year and a half like that. How
>>>> would I
>>>> know if I have permanent damage?
>>>
>>> A 4 to 1 mixture of distilled or rain water & epson salt to help
>>> keep
>>> your batteries in top condition.
>>>
>>> 4 parts of distilled or rain water
>>> 1 part epson salt
>>>
>>> You can make a quick batch using a microwave and a glass measuring
>>> cup.
>>> I like to make a half gallon at a time and keep it on hand at all
>>> times.
>>> 1. Bring the water to a slight boil.
>>> 2. Add epson salt and stir until it is all dissolved. Never add
>>> epson
>>> salt without first dissolving it. It will just sink to the bottom
>>> and
>>> clump. 3. Allow mixture to cool.
>>> 4. Add in each cell as needed. If possible, shake the battery to
>>> mix
>>> it up good.
>>> 5. Do not overfill your batteries. It will overflow and make a
>>> mess. a
>>> 1/4 inch over the top of the plate is more than enough.
>>>
>>> You can also try this recipe with batteries that no longer hold a
>>> good
>>> charge. Marine, Golf Cart, and Fork Lift batteries are best to use
>>> because the plates are much thicker. Car batteries plates for the
>>> most
>>> part are thin, and they disintegrate easily over time.
>>>
>>> You can use car batteries if you do the following:
>>>
>>> 1. Completely drain the battery of all liquids.
>>> 2. Add baking soda to the old battery acid to neutralize it, and
>>> safe
>>> disposal.
>>> 3. Rinse out the batteries a few times using rain water (free).
>>> Rinse
>>> until the water comes out clear. DO NOT USE A WATER HOSE. You can
>>> use
>>> compressed air and a plastic tube if you want to agitate the
>>> plates.
>>> The impurities in in normal drinking water will destroy your
>>> battery.
>>> 4. Make your 4 to 1 mixture, and allow it to cool.
>>> 5. Pour it into each cell.
>>> 6. Leave the fill caps loose.
>>> 7. Charge your battery at no more than 2 amps for about 3 days.
>>> 8. Take readings each day and write down the results.
>>> 9. After the 3 days have passed, do a load test. You are not going
>>> to
>>> get a full 100% of the rated CCA, but if you get 50-90 percent,
>>> then
>>> you are good to go.
>>
>>You are replacing the battery acid with water and epson salts?? Does
>>this really
>>work? How?
>>
>
> Yes and no. However, mostly no. See this wiki article:
>
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_acid_battery> for the full
> 'skinny'.
>
> In particular this section:
>
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_acid_battery#Additives>
>
>
> TBH, I'm surprised it was left to me, a mere lurker in this NG, to
> point out the 'bleeding obvious' and provide those links.
> --
> Regards, J B Good
You beat me to it.
I was struggling to simplify this to show why adding -more- sulphate
won't help reduce lead sulphate on the plates, although it may
temporarily increase the conductivity of the electrolyte and make the
battery seem better.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common-ion_effect
I've gotten a few more years from a 'dead' U1 battery in a 'dead'
riding mower I was given by forcing current through it with a higher
than normal voltage, to break down the crystallized sulphate. You have
to check and top up the water level while doing this.
I take better care of my own batteries and this desulphating process
has less effect on them. I think they die from other causes, like the
cheap construction of batteries from WalMort.
jsw
> Are you adding any Epson Salt in your cells? Epson salt desulfates
> batteries naturally and replenishes electrolytes.
> Jim Rojas
>