Resurrection of weak or sulfated lead acid batteries—Dave Barker EAA Chapter 79
The chemical process responsible for the function of lead acid batteries have several
competing chemical processes ongoing in the cell. The most familiar and desirable
process is the production of electric current due to ion exchange in the acid electrolyte.
Most batteries have a maximum life of about 4 to maybe 5 years whether you use them or
not. The primary battery failure mechanisms are over currents that buckle the lead plates
leading to a short circuit of the cell. That is not repairable. However, the more common
failure is sulfating. This is an alternate chemical process within the cell that rains down
snowy white sulfate flakes precipitation that accumulated at the bottom of the cell and
gradually reduce its output and current discharge capacity to zilch. The good news is that
this can be fixed and you can about double the life of your battery.
Pulse De-sulfator for lead-acid type battery
This project is a lead acid battery pulse desulfator for restoring and maintaining low use
battery applications such as boats and planes. This device will restore a completely
sulfated (not a shorted or high resistance connections between cells) battery in about
2 weeks. It will also about double the life of a conventional battery with regular use