[Tazzzie]

No Maintenance - dead battery.

Ballax (it seems)

I pried apart the top of a no maintanence battery - bone dry. Its been dead for at least two years - I have three more, at least one of them 7 years old (looking forward to trying it on that beast) googled how to recondition lead acid batteries.
and roughly followed the search instructions which suited me.

Epsom salt (local chemist @ 2.99) into the distilled water (from halfords - 1L @ 1.99)

I used circa half litre and 8 big spoons of salt - heated it till hot, used a turkey baster to add the liquid to the battery and put the battery on charge for an hour.
Upon disconnection, I left it settle (I over filled the cells and it bubbled over a bit) I left it for an hour and the charged again for 1 hour. Battery readings are at 12.1 volts.

Will check it again tomorrow morning to see what the weep rate is like.

Theory has it that the good stuff is still in the battery, the epsom salt / distilled water merely dissolves it from the battery plates and then it makes a nicely balanced electrylite (which operates at a reduced maximum total voltage (circa 12 lowend - not 14 topend)

Of course, it could be complete pants, but on the other hand, I might have saved 90 euro or so...

We'll see how it goes. If you've tried it already, let me know how you got on, if you try it, erm, its messy and dangerous - possibly

El Tazzzie

[alanlouth]

As far as I know, that technique works best if you stand on your left leg while patting your head with your right hand.

[piston broke]

Its a crazy idea kid but it might just work...

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[EatinGTarmaC]

Tazzzie, on 01 July 2011 - 10:52 PM, said:

I left it for an hour and the charged again for 1 hour. Battery readings are at 12.1 volts.

It doesn't seem so crazy. I remember a guy who invented a holder that could charge up dead (normal) AA batteries.

But for a bike battery, I'm not so sure. The voltage may read over 12, but it says nothing of CCA's.

[Shinwacker]

Word of warning Tazzie, messing about with battery acid can be very dangerous, use gloves and eye protection and cover all surfaces even clothes from spills and clean up safely. Now that should do it, just being a nanny as some dope is bound to get acid burns if we didn't tell them.

Shins

[Tazzzie]

alanlouth, on 01 July 2011 - 11:07 PM, said:

As far as I know, that technique works best if you stand on your left leg while patting your head with your right hand.

piston broke, on 01 July 2011 - 11:37 PM, said:

Its a crazy idea kid but it might just work...

Maybe

EatinGTarmaC, on 02 July 2011 - 12:19 AM, said:

It doesn't seem so crazy. I remember a guy who invented a holder that could charge up dead (normal) AA batteries.

But for a bike battery, I'm not so sure. The voltage may read over 12, but it says nothing of CCA's.

This morning I checked it 11.9v. I knew it wouldnt start the bike but for the sake of updating the thread, I tried it anyway. It wouldnt. Its back on the charger but first I removed some fluid 'coz it was bubbling over yesterday after an hour.

Interestingly enough, yesterday only one light came on while it was charging. I am sure that means something, but this morning, 3 came on. Again I am sure that means something - but I havent a clue what.

Shinwacker, on 02 July 2011 - 06:03 AM, said:

Word of warning Tazzie, messing about with battery acid can be very dangerous, use gloves and eye protection and cover all surfaces even clothes from spills and clean up safely. Now that should do it, just being a nanny as some dope is bound to get acid burns if we didn't tell them.

Shins

I didnt bother with any of that jazz, but your right of course.
Folks - d'ont go messing with battery acid. I do that stuff so you dont have to

[FZRMutt]

It's going to take time for that battery to come back.
I know a normal Lead acid can be reclaimed using a "desulphater" (Google it).
I know nothing of sealed (Pb) lead batteries but I wonder if a desulphater would help in this instance?

The bubbling is normal and reduces as it charges. A lower charge current migh help.

I hope you are doing this in a well ventilated area.
One spark and you might be looking at another Hindenberg!

This post has been edited by FZRMutt: 02 July 2011 - 12:26 PM

[Tazzzie]

Quick update:

Seems to me that "sealed" is a stupid plastic plate with plastc caps built in and when fitted seals the top., or a stupid plastic plastic plate with grommits underneath sealing the breather holes. I am looking at two batteries now. The poor batsards - they were dead anyway, so I dont mind spending 5 yoyo trying to refresh them (still have two more to annoy)

The battery appears to be getting better over time. I checked it after another 1 hour charge. It read 13.1 volts. About 2 hours later, it read 12.1 volts so the seep/weep is a bit high but does seem to be improving in terms of max volts. When it was at 12.1v I dif try to start it, and it click / click / click as I expected.


Will have another look tomorrow.

[jamesobrady]

Go on the taz
Hope it works for you.

[Tazzzie]

FZRMutt, on 02 July 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

I hope you are doing this in a well ventilated area.

Erm. oops. My bad, but I did move it once the kids were trying to get water.

[FZRMutt]

Quick update:

Seems to me that "sealed" is a stupid plastic plate with plastc caps built in

Sealed lead acid batteries are "supposed" to be different, however I have never tried resucitating one.
If the sealed battery you are using is similar to a normal battery a desulphater would really bring the battery back to 98% it's original state!
However if the battery is really gone absolutly nothing will bring it back.

I am interested in how you get on, keep us all posted!

[delooney]

Interesting zombie battery / homemade explosion thread.

Maybe try burying one of the batteries in the pet cemetery, see if that helps.

Might be an idea to keep some Sodium Bicarbonate or Baking Soda nearby in case of electrolyte spillage.

[FZRMutt]

delooney, on 03 July 2011 - 12:36 PM, said:

Interesting zombie battery / homemade explosion thread.

Maybe try burying one of the batteries in the pet cemetery, see if that helps.

Might be an idea to keep some Sodium Bicarbonate or Baking Soda nearby in case of electrolyte spillage.

Yes!

[Ogmios]

Very interested in this.
3 dead batteries at home - would love to be able to do a 'Lazurus' on them.

[Tazzzie]

Another quick update, I had to remove more liquid from the battery, it seems to be growing in volume - as it was bubbling over again after an hour on charge. Its not boiling over tho - at least not in the conventional sense, as the battery is cool to the touch.

So far I have had 13.1 volts out of it, but the seepage is still quite large. I measured it 12 hours later and it was down to 11.8.

At no point have I had it charged for more than an hour tho so it may improve during the charge / discharge cycle. Time will tell I guess.

I had a look at the desulphator FZRMutt. Neat idea.

Cheers
Tazzzie

[nab301]

What bike is the battery for? i may have something suitable if you're stuck due to a lack of fault finding on an electrical problem recently...

[Ogmios]

nab301, on 06 July 2011 - 08:22 PM, said:

What bike is the battery for? i may have something suitable if you're stuck due to a lack of fault finding on an electrical problem recently...

Guzzi.
Thank you kind sir.
As you suspect, i need to diagnose a 'leccy problem. i think i'll get enough life out of one of the batteries at home though.
enough to diagnose / not enough to run the ****ing Bike!

it'll do for now.
Thanks a lot for the offer - when i'm done fiddling about, i may get back to you though.

~~~

[Tazzzie]

Quick update, the battery is now holding steady 12.3 volts. It wont start a bike - tried and failed, but It peaked at 14.3 after a charge, the seepage is still high.

It will power 2 X 12V 20Watt bulbs for about 3 hours, after that the volts drop to 5.6v. The charge / discharge sequence is helping the battery, but I doubt its going to do a lazerous at this stage.

I'll keep having a go tho, but based on the charging rate / cost (no idea what that is) a new one might be cheaper.

[Ogmios]

Thanks for the research!

[piston broke]

It was worth a go Tazzie, better luck next time...