Lead Acid Battery storage - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: 0db
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2020, 02:03:52 pm
content: I have recently read and personally experimented (dead battery) that when lead-acid batteries are stored in an uncharged state (<50%) for an extended period, lead-sulfur deposits form and harden on the lead plates inside the battery.This is bad because it causes what is known as a "sulfated battery", which will no longer charge to its original capacity.I have also read that there are "regenerators" devices that send pulses of electric current through the battery, which in some cases may cause the sulfate to flake off the plates and eventually dissolve.My question is: does it also happen if your lead battery is stored attached to a "charge keeper" circuit hence the charged state is always >= 75%?And if you have to design your own "battery charger" to charge a Lead Acid Battery, do you also have to include a "Pulse Regenerator" circuit?Is there a complete and clear paper on this? width a bit of theory and practical schematics?thanks

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2020, 02:11:19 pm
content: There is such an equipment available, called a "desulphator". There is a certain voodoo around it (pulses width, period, currents applied, etc), usually claiming improvements of any percentage marketing materials could bear..

author: Chriss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2020, 02:33:40 pm
content: Hi!I'm in also interested in this project too.From my experiment's based on real batteries that sulfatisation was more present on old batteryes than on new even if they was drained down under 50% of their capacity.I come t9 a conclusion does it also count how hard was the battery used too.But I also come to a conclusion does batteries which was fully charged and so put to "sleep" was more fresh then they who was not full charged. And now I will come to the same idea as you. To build an electronic battery guardian.It should time by time check the voltage of the battery and if it comes around 70-80% it should recharg the battery but not with low current but with a current of around 10% of the battery capacity.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2020, 03:09:13 pm
content: A simple desulfator is to connect the mains through a dimmer (set to about halfway) and motor run capacitor (value depending on size of battery, 5uF seems to work well for a car battery) to a bridge rectifier.

author: trobbins
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2020, 10:48:58 am
content: If you don't maintain the battery with intermittent charging, or keep it on float charge, or recharge straight after a discharge, or maintain the battery as per manufacturer recommendations then a battery will degrade more than anticipated.Have fun trying to 'recover' some service life, if that interests you. Note that such a battery starts to degrade as soon as it is made - all you can do is try and minimise the rate of degradation by following manufacturer recommendations.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2020, 01:40:56 pm
content: I also recall that at least for the kinds of lead acid batteries designed for use in vehicles, they have to be periodically shaken to distribute the electrolyte.