desulfating car batteries....

nynor · 03-02-2012, 06:25 PM

or should i just buy a new one?

Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

EarlyPorsche · 03-02-2012, 07:32 PM

Right now you should get a new battery but the desuflating devices do work. You just have to make sure you use them as maintenance. Low probability that they would work with a severely damaged battery but if you run it from time to time on your new battery you'll be shocked how much its life will be prolonged.

sc_rufctr · 03-02-2012, 08:09 PM

That looks good.

I've got a tired Oddesy battery. Can you use a TecMate on this battery?

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

I have a C-Tek battery charger and they are supposed to be able to desulfate a battery.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Is there something like that for 6v batteries?

Outback Porsche · 03-03-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

That looks good.

I've got a tired Oddesy battery. Can you use a TecMate on this battery?

Yep (AGM is the same chemical process, just different structurally), although it'll take longer to recondition it because of the larger capacity of the AGM battery.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

I've really really wanted one of these, anyone have one or try them?

.......the pulse technology makes sense, and I guess it was developed for the military and run by state/government vehicles. Now it's making its way into the Joe Public consumer market.

XtremeChargers.com | Renew-It Pulse Technology

nynor · 03-05-2012, 08:46 AM

i just ordered a YUASA charger for about $60, shipped, that is supposed to desulfate and charge properly, very similar to the one posted by rusty heap, five stage. i think i've been damaging my batteries with the cheap trickle charger i've been using. also, i found that the battery in the 951 was low on water about 80CC's per CELL! i measured with a large syringe that i used to fill the individual cells with distilled water.

the charger should arrive on thursday. i'll report back.

Joeaksa · 03-05-2012, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widebody911

Is there something like that for 6v batteries?

Yes there is but they are more difficult to find. We needed a 12/24 v version and finally found one.

I have an aircraft battery on the unit right now and they usually get another year or so out of them. If you keep on top of things they do work.

teenerted1 · 03-05-2012, 01:24 PM

for that you can get an optima at costco

nynor · 03-05-2012, 07:43 PM

okay, one more thing:

i had to jump start the 951 today, after filling all the battery cells (battery was dead, of course, prior to filling, see post above). when i put the multimeter on the battery posts (with the car running), it read ~14.1V. then i drove it about one hundred miles and tested it again, multimeter read ~13.5V, with the car running. trust me, i am a battery/electronics moron.... do these seem like normal voltages?

Outback Porsche · 05:10 PM

13.5V sounds a little low D but not overly so, you may have a poor earth somewhere. With it running up the revs to say 2-3K and measure. Alternators don't usually provide sufficient charge current at idle.

nynor · 03-06-2012, 05:32 PM

ok, i'll check it again.

rick-l · 03-06-2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynor

okay, one more thing:

i had to jump start the 951 today, after filling all the battery cells (battery was dead, of course, prior to filling, see post above). when i put the multimeter on the battery posts (with the car running), it read ~14.1V. then i drove it about one hundred miles and tested it again, multimeter read ~13.5V, with the car running. trust me, i am a battery/electronics moron.... do these seem like normal voltages?

let me guess at this

Jump start = battery discharged and alternator is putting out max current
battery charges and alternator is just supplying residuals like the ignition
high current = more voltage drop in the windings

sc_rufctr · 03-06-2012, 10:55 PM

I'm think about buildings one of these. It's a kit that's been available locally for a few years. It's about. $100

This is the basic set up.

Circuit board.

DanielDudley · 03-07-2012, 02:16 AM

You only have to blow one or two alternators to decide that running a dying battery is a bad idea. I am all for keeping them working, but I don't try to get every last day out of something I am eventually going to have to spring for anyway.

Running a tired battery is good way to strain your alternator. But hey, it only cost me 400 dollars to keep from having to spend 80 bucks for six months...

VINMAN · 03-07-2012, 03:43 AM

My friends think im nuts, but I replace the batteries on my vehicles every two years whether I need them or not. Boat and Waverunner get new ones every year.

rick-l · 03-07-2012, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

You only have to blow one or two alternators to decide that running a dying battery is a bad idea. I am all for keeping them working, but I don't try to get every last day out of something I am eventually going to have to spring for anyway.

Running a tired battery is good way to strain your alternator. But hey, it only cost me 400 dollars to keep from having to spend 80 bucks for six months...

If your alternator won't charge a discharged battery there is something wrong with it. Would you rather find out about it now or later on the road somewhere?

nynor · 03-23-2012, 03:06 PM

an update:

i charged the battery with my new charger. i took almost two days before it went into float mode. since then, the car fires right up, even after sitting. prior to this, sitting for two days = dead battery. so far, no issues.

i used it on the motorcycle as well. again, things are better than before. i used it on my neighbor's motorcycle, again, things are better. the motorcycles sat for days after being charged and fired right up.

i do think the new charger made a difference.

i need to take the battery that has been sitting on the garage floor for years, newly charged, to NAPA and see if it passes muster.

thanks for the input, gents.