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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / February 2007Equalizing charger on deep cycle batteries
I've been reading a bit about battery maintenance and discovered the "equalizing charge" subject. Since I'd never heard of it and it requires a special battery charger I wonder if anyone has any exprience. How much do they cost? DO they really help restore sulfated batteries? I'm the maintenance man at a weld shop and I was told to find out why the batteries in a power sweeper wern't holding a charge. SO I started learning about batteries and found there is a lot more to them than I had imagined. Rosce > I've been reading a bit about battery maintenance and discovered the >"equalizing charge" subject. Since I'd never heard of it and it [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >had imagined. >Rosce Hi, Go here to find out everything you want to know about batteries. http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/ Equalizing chargers. You just have to look for them. Wal Mart, Sears and other stores carry them just check and make sure it has an equalize setting. Take care and Happy Campin...  SignatureRichA "We Get Too Soon Olde and Too Late Smart" > I've been reading a bit about battery maintenance and discovered the > "equalizing charge" subject. Since I'd never heard of it and it [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > had imagined. > Rosce Quote: " An equalizing charge is a low-rate charge applied to ensure that all cells attain full charge with no appreciable difference between cells. It is simply a continuation of the regular charge, applied at a low rate for an additional three hours. Applying an equalizing charge once a week is an effective means of maintaining electrical balance within the battery, thereby prolonging battery life." End Quote from: http://www.cdtechno.com/cd/library/papers/cmpb.htm Sulfate: convert into a sulfate, a salt or ester of sulphuric acid. Sulfide: a compound of sulphur and some other element that is more electropositive. I'm no chemist but I thought I'd point out the difference according to what I found on the web. If you want to actually remove sulfate buildup, I'm thinking you'll need to use a product like EDTA and fresh electrolite afterwards. See Trailhead Supply at: http://www.webspawner.com/users/edta/ . If your planning on ordering from them, you might want to phone ahead as there was a rumor awhile back that they had gone out of business, but I think they just changed wesbites and servers. And a Google search using the keywords, edta battery, will come up with thousands of hits and some with useful info. D.BC Just incase that wasn't enough info, heres a couple more links: If your into DIY try: http://www.electronics-lab.com/projects/power/036/index.html And if you just like reading to learn more on this stuff theres several links here: http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/batlinks.htm#desulfators Enjoy! D.BC >Quote: " An equalizing charge is a low-rate charge applied to ensure >that all cells attain full charge with no appreciable difference >between cells. That particular definition is somewhat of a munged kludge; i.e., they don't really know what they are talking about. The essence of an equalizing charge is applying high voltage (16.5?) and low current (1 amp?); which would require the use of a high-voltage, constant-current charger. Not something you would expect to find in the consumer retail marketplace. So at the outset, set aside a few extra $$$ for that kind of pursuit; probably enought $$$ to keep you in new batteries for years to come! > It is simply a continuation of the regular charge, >applied at a low rate for an additional three hours. Applying an >equalizing charge once a week is an effective means of maintaining >electrical balance within the battery, thereby prolonging battery >life." No big deal. From time-to-time batteries should periodically be left on constant charge, i.e. a 2 amp low-charge, for a day or two at a time to restore them to full capacity. >Sulfate: convert into a sulfate, a salt or ester of sulphuric acid. >I'm no chemist but I thought I'd point out the difference according to >what I found on the web. > >If you want to actually remove sulfate buildup, I'm thinking you'll >need to use a product like EDTA and fresh electrolite afterwards. EDTA is a rather amusing vendor, whose profits are predicated upon consumer ignorance. I've passed this entire effort before one of my kidz; an engineering chemist, who expresses amusement at the extravagant claims of snake oil vendors. Nothwithstanding, that reversing sulfation isn't all the big a challenge. Pretty much any kind of sulfate introduced into the battery electrolyte, with draw crystalized lead sulfate back into solution. On the basis of ultra-cheap and availability, good ole epsom salts (Magnesium Sulfate/MgSO4) tends to be the sulfate of preference. While a couple of teaspoons of MgSO4 in each battery cell won't instantly resurrect your aging batteries; if you give the process a couple months to do it's thing, you can reasonably expect another year of two from your abused batteries. If you don't abuse them, you won't need epsom salts to resurrect them! On Feb 7, 4:32 pm, stan.bi...@hotmail.com wrote: > >Quote: " An equalizing charge is a low-rate charge applied to ensure > >that all cells attain full charge with no appreciable difference [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > If you don't abuse them, you won't need epsom salts to resurrect them! Thanks for the info and advice. I being very suspicious by nature didn't trust this EDTA and the price of these chargers seems outrageous. I'll just build my own when I get the time. Since the batteries for our floor sweeper are not holding a charge I don't have anything to loose by trying the epsom salts. I did want to try putting some sulfuric acid in the cells that were reading the lowest. I've been looking at all the info everone recomended and also what I've found. I'm going to put it together for my reference. Thanks Everybody Rosco > On Feb 7, 4:32 pm, stan.bi...@hotmail.com wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 60 lines] > > - Show quoted text - We used, and they still do use, equalizing charges on the large lead acid batteries in submarines. It works well to prevent over-sulphating from occuring. I don't remember hearing that it would restore a battery that was over the hill. An equalizing charge runs at about 16+ volts and you cease charging when 3 consecutive hydrometer readings taken 30 minutes apart, don't change. A previous statement that it is a high-voltage, low current charge is wrong. It is a higher voltage and higher current charge. The electrolyte in the batteries actually bubble (wear very old clothes) and the batteries get warm. I have an full 3-stage battery charger and equalizer function built into the Inverter in my motorhome and this is what I used. There is a charger technology that is supposed to restore sulphated batteries. It comes as a charger or as a solar-powered maintenance charger. The military uses it on vehicles that have to be stored yet quickly available for use. You can read about one such product at http://www.scsolar.com/ Solargizer.html I have no interest in the company and, although I have a new one, I haven't run the tests that would allow me to evaluate their claims on my over-the-hill coach batteries. I bought mine on eBay for about 1/2 price. > Since the >batteries for our floor sweeper are not holding a charge I don't have >anything to loose by trying the epsom salts. As previously mentioned, just about any sulfate will work. Epsom salts is most commonly used because: 1) it is so cheap; 2) it is so easy to obtain . . . at any pharmacy. Epsom salts is an age old remedy used for decades by the farming community to resurrect batteries in equipment that had been sitting idle and unattended for a number of months. On Feb 7, 2:32 pm, stan.bi...@hotmail.com wrote: > >If you want to actually remove sulfate buildup, I'm thinking you'll > >need to use a product likeEDTAand fresh electrolite afterwards. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > If you don't abuse them, you won't need epsom salts to resurrect them! I'll pass on playing with epsom salts. I found mention of that on a few websites like this one: http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:OWJs7AsxZoQJ:www.woodenboatvb.com/vbulletin/ upload/showthread.php%3Ft%3D2930+%22epsom+salt%22+%22lead+acid%22+battery&hl=en& ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=ca Some people have made the mistake of using pure EDTA, not the tetrasodium salt, ( or Ethylenediaminetetraacedicacid-tetrasodium salt). Not that I'm in a hurry to use any chemicals without first cycling a battery by charging with and a without load. I've heard also that some claim good results by reverse charging, (which I wouldn't want to try), quick discharging by careful shorting and then recharging and some have suggested shaking the battery will help. I'm not into splashing acid on myself , but I am thinking of trying the shaking thing by putting a better platform on my shaker table that I use in relation to gold panning and see if a charged but weak battery will improve any, either immidiately after the shaking, or after an additional charging. I don't think theres any really definitive ruling on the use of EDTA on lead acid batteries anywhere in the newsgroups, but I do know that it is routinely used in the medical community for chelation therapy and I understand its also used in relation to heavy metal poisoning. As for the web itself, most any claim can be made about current products and old wives tales of cureall's. About the only thing a person can do in seeking advice in the newsgroups on any action, is to read what others have said on the same topic on different newsgroups that relate to the topic and then read up on other posts made by those who's opinions you think seem logical and correct in the circumstances. D.BC > I've been reading a bit about battery maintenance and discovered the > "equalizing charge" subject. Since I'd never heard of it and it [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > had imagined. > Rosce Here's a charger that does it all. If the power sweeper has 4 or more 6 volt batteries, then this is what you may need to get. <http://www.atbatt.com/product/6849.asp> Hugh - who knows little about the subject <g> > I've been reading a bit about battery maintenance and discovered the >"equalizing charge" subject. Since I'd never heard of it and it [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >had imagined. >Rosce I went through the same process with my RV, and here is another source for purchasing deep cycle battery chargers: http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/69/p/1/pt/7/product.asp The "buy now" lists a number of on-line sellers, pretty convenient. Remember to include shipping costs when pricing. These chargers have a 3-step temperature switch, convenient if the vehicles are kept in hot or cold locations. I think their support area includes manuals. The Truecharge 20+ (20A charger) costs about $300 and the 40A version about $400. I bought the 20A version, and it works fine keeping my golf cart batterie charged. The batteries last for many years, but no doubt with much less usage than in your power sweeper. I read somewhere that golf cart batteries do better without the equalizing charge. Unfortunately, I don't recall where, but keep it in mind while reading. If you want even more tech data, I'll check info I accumulated a few years ago and provide some more links.. Jim (when replying to me directly, delete the X from my email address) > I've been reading a bit about battery maintenance and discovered the >"equalizing charge" subject. Since I'd never heard of it and it >requires a special battery charger I wonder if anyone has any >exprience. How much do they cost? Opinions of experts on the efficacy of equalizing batteries are FAR from unanimous! My RV batteries, coach and chassis, are now eight years old, and still working great! and I have never equalized them. No doubt, my idolent dalliance is going to catch up with me one of these years. <giggle> |
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