From: MV (MV@dc9.tzo.com)
Date: Mon Jun 06 2005 - 07:59:22 PDT
I was trying to revive two deep cycle marine batteries. Perhaps I need
to try it again. I have a pallet full of old batteries waiting for the
recyclers. So I have plenty of materials to play with! Perhaps a
combination of shocking the batteries with the higher voltage and the
use of EDTA can bring a few of them back from the dead.
Thanks,
Dave
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Fred H. Schlesinger wrote:
> Hello Dave:
>
> When I bought my deuce, it had 2 bad 6tl's. I was able to rejuvenate one of
> them with the EDTA and it gave me more than 2 years. It finally crapped out
> this spring. I got hold of a few other old but functioning 6tl's in the
> meantime. (last year)
>
> Took the acid out of them by dumping them out in a plastic cement mixing
> tray, then decanted the acid into plastic bottles. I then washed the
> batteries out with EDTA and water. A lot of sulfation came out of the
> battery and onto my driveway.
>
> I then flushed them out with water until the water came out clear. Finally
> I stored them "dry" with the vent caps off over the winter.
>
> When the first 6tl went this spring, I took one of the batteries off of the
> shelf, put the acid back into it, and charged it for a few hours.
>
> That battery puts out almost exactly the same voltage under load (I check
> the dc volts after the battery is dead shorted through about two feet of
> heavy duty wire for about 10 seconds) as the 2 year old battery next to it
> in the deuce.
>
> I assume that I can store the other "dry" batteries until I need them., and
> then put acid into them. If it works out, should save a few hundred bucks
> in batteries, not to mention the trouble of acquiring them, for $10 of the
> EDTA.
>
> Oh, and when I add water to my batteries, I mix the distilled water with the
> EDTA. Seems to make them last longer, but who knows for sure?
>
> And, we are talking about using the stuff on military batteries and deep
> discharge type "marine" batteries. Hey say that the stuff does nothing to
> auto batteries and yes, to sealed type gel cells. Different chemistry.
>
> And double oh, from what I understand, the high voltage charge works
> because it somehow shocks the sulfating off of the plates, similar to the
> EDTA, which also cleans the plates. Not a magic bullet. If the plates have
> dissolved or cells are shorted, no Joy, the battery is junk.
>
> Anyway, does anyone have any experiences with the EDTA chemical besides Dave
> and myself.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MV [mailto:MV@dc9.tzo.com]
> Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 2:11 AM
> To: Military Vehicles Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [MV] MVs 24 volts and batteries
>
> The stuff is called EDTA. It is a white powder that you add to the
> battery cells.
>
> I bought a pound from Trailhead Supply in Utah. I tried to recover a
> couple of batteries with it with no luck. Regarding extending battery
> life I can't tell if it helps or not.
>
> I have a number of vehicles and I have found that once in a while when a
> battery dies, and will no longer take a charge, and will have very
> limited capacity, I can apply about 40 volts of DC to the battery and it
> will recover - sometimes many months of additional use. I use my DC
> stick welder to do this. I just apply the higher voltage DC like I'm
> charging the battery with the welder for just a couple of minutes. Then
> I hook up my conventional charger and let it recharge the battery. The
> batteries often load test just fine afterwards. Like they never had a
> problem.
>
> My 4+ year old tractor battery died - just when I needed it of course.
> I zapped it with the welder - then put the charger on it - 20 minutes
> later it was back in the tractor working just fine.
>
> I have no idea as to why this works, but it does. I suspect the high
> voltage/current is burning or melting away some portion of the shorted
> battery plates.
>
> If you try this make sure you take all safety precautions - wear safety
> glasses in case of a battery explosion etc. I always do this outside
> away from anything really important in case something pops. Battery
> expolosion are not fun - they throw acid and stuff all over the place -
> I speak from experience.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> JTravis wrote:
>
>>Hey Dave (and list),
>>A while back, I remember a discussion about a chemical that one could
>>add to their batteries that was supposed to extend their lives and renew
>>those with build-up problems. What was the name of that chemical, and
>>where does one get it at? My neighbor just bought an electric golf cart
>>to use for going to swap meets, car shows, etc. and I was trying to
>>remember so that I might help him out. He's on disablity, and anything
>>that makes the batteries last longer is that much he can save. Thanks,
>>one and all.
>>Jay Travis
>>
>>l51940@aol.com wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Reading the recent "jumping 24 volt" posts reminded me that my 6tls in
>>>my m35a2 are 4 years old. They have gotten to this age with
>>>absolutely zero maintenance. In fact, the first time that I have ever
>>>looked inside to check the water level was 2 or 3 weeks ago. The
>>>truck is run every week during the decent weather and is started every
>>>couple of weeks during the winter. I do keep it inside a drafty barn
>>>(gotta protect the Aervoe paint). Joe Young must have had a good
>>>batch of batteries then.
>>>
>>>BTW the new ring mount looks most excellent on my truck. Every kid in
>>>town (even old kids) want to spin it around. The neighbors who don't
>>>know me are concerned and we will keep it that way.
>>>
>>>Dave McConnell
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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>
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