Construction of a lead acid battery
All lead acid batteries have positive plates coated with lead dioxide and negative plates of soft spongy lead. In the past lead plates were conditioned through up to 50 charge and discharge cycles to build up these dioxide and spongy lead layers. In order to reduce cost, these days the active material are chemically prepared and pasted on hollow wafer like lead grids. When a current is passed through the positive grid is converted to lead dioxide and the negative plated is converted to spongy lead.The plates are also separated by wooden or plastic separators that allow the acid electrolyte to flow through the plates and the gas to escape.
How batteries are damaged
The most common problem is sulfation due to leaving a battery in an undercharge condition. While this does not ‘kill’ the battery immediately it decreases the charge capacity of the battery. If the sulfate is allowed to get to third stage crystalline sulfate the process is no longer reversible through normal charging.
Auto start batteries are not made to be discharge below 10.5 volts. If this happens the lead sulfate formed on discharge will expand across the plates and separators and short the battery. The voltage across the terminals will measure 10.5 volts. This battery is dead and is not restorable.
Another result of low discharge of an auto start battery is the reversal in polarity of one cell. In this situation the voltage will measure 8.5 volts. This battery is dead and is not restorable.
Shocks and dropping of the battery will result in active material being shedded from the plates. This leads to reduce capacity and the loose deposits can lead to a short if lodge across the plates, or if a connection across the plates is effected at the bottom of the battery. These batteries are not considered for restoration.
Air pockets are formed between the plates and if not dislodge that part of the plates is effectively rendered useless. Nothing can be done about this except to say that good grid design and quality separators will prevent this from happening. This is why cheap batteries don’t last, in addition to shedding of active material above.
If the electrolyte level falls too low the lead plates will oxidise with the air. This is lead oxide and not lead dioxide. The battery loses capacity. Always keep the battery top up with distilled water. Do not add acid or tap water. The fluoride and other chemicals reacts with the spongy lead and renders it useless.
Regular desulfation
If you own a battery bank or a traction battery, regular desulfation will ensure that the battery maintain peak capacity. For those who own expensive marine deep cycle batteries restoration instead of replacement may be more cost effective. In most cases we are able to tell you how much capacity our restored battery holds.
Can sulfation be prevented ?
Yes, we have a maintenance version of the electronic desulfator. This has lower power pulses and works only when the alternator of the car is operating. Attach across a car battery it will effectively prevent sulfation.
Why do some new batteries fail?
All retailers of batteries are advised to rotate their stocks on a first in first out basis and if the battery has been on the shelf for 3 months or more it should be returned. Even new batteries sulfate sitting on the shelf. The paste making up the active material is mixed in sulfuric acid. This acid reacts with the lead dioxide to form lead sulfate. Therefore a new battery is sulfated and has to be ‘conditioned’ (Charged and discharge repeatedly) to completely convert the lead sulfate to active material. This is not usually done because of cost. Therefore if the battery sits too long on the shelf the lead sulphate will crystallized and become inactive. By contrast a restored battery is completely desulfated and so has a very long shelf life.
Self discharge
All batteries will self discharge over time. Good quality batteries are better at holding their charge than cheap batteries. A good quality desulfated battery cost about 1/3 or less than the price of a cheap battery. When comparing prices most people compare a restored battery to the cheapest new battery on the market, when in fact they should be comparing it with one of the same make because it is exactly what they are getting.
How long can a restored battery last ?
If the battery is looked after and used correctly it should last a long time. Batteries that we have desulfated over 2 years ago are still in use. In motor vehicles only a small portion of the charge is used to start the car and it is then recharged by the alternator. If they are kept fully charged and regularly used they will last many years.
Deep cycle batteries are more prone to damage from over discharge. Deep discharge will stress the active material causing it to fall off the plates. Lead sulfate occupies more space than lead dioxide, so too much of lead sulfate formation will cause the plates to buckle and the battery to bulge. If the battery is not subject to discharge greater than 50% then it can last a long time.
Is gel better than flooded cells ?
For the same capacity gel is more expensive. It has the advantage of higher operating voltage and efficiency. You also do not need to ‘top up’ the battery and is more resistant to damage from shocks. The problem is that you can damage gel batteries if you use a high current charger. They must be charged over a long period using a low power charger.
i am interested in purchasing two deep cycle batteries for a mobility scooter,they are at the moment Century PS series
PS 12400-12v40ah valve regulated lead acid rechargable battery,i would be interested in what you have to offer ,either recycled or new and a price quote thanks
I have emailed you
Thanks
Dave
please give a price on recon battery for 4×4 nissan petrol
I have email you.
Thanks
Dave
hey looking for price for recon 48v forklift battery for off grid house
Hi
I am working on a set currently I will flick you a pic and some details.
Thanks
Dave
Hi, I am after a good used battery for a 2003 Nissan Stagea,
What are your opening hours?
Thanks,
Paul
HI
Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm
Sat 9am – 2pm
hey.
Looking for a price on reconditioning a battery from a 2002 Mitsubishi aspire, small positive and negative terminals.
Have sen you an email.
Regards
Hi, looking for a second hand battery for a 1998 Hyundai Accent 1300 cc || The model # for my old battery is128MF cca550 RC(m) 90 12volts rated to as2149
Emailed
Thanks
Hi i have 2 deepcycle bateries how much will it be to repair and how long will it take and where are you situated
Repair would take about 4 days, it depends how fast the battery responds to the desulphation. It also depends on how big they are the bigger the battery the longer it will take.
Hi I’m wanting to buy a good used battery for an Toyota altezza RS 4 cylinder with small positive negative terminals thanks.
Emailed
looking for a baterie for a mazda mpv year 2000
Emailed
Hi looking for best car battery for my 1998 suzuki cultus can you help
Hi sent you an email.
Hi Looking for 2 batterys for my hilux surf diesel 1994 or can you recondition the ones i have. cost ? please cheers
Can repair yours $40 each.
Do you have any 6v deep cycle for golf carts if so how much are they
We have some 8 volts now, but no more 6 volts. However they do come in periodically.
I was wondering if u had any classic car 6v batteries or could recondition my one which I think is too far gone, but I don’t know much about batteries
Yes we have done so before. Drop it in and we can take a look.
Hi, I have 2 Trojan 6v deep cycle batteries on my boat.
There are just starting to show some bulge of the case and are about 6 years old. What are the chances they will respond to de-sulfication and what is the cost ?
Thanks, Graham
Hi
$60 – $80 each depending on the size but there is no charge if it does not work. So there is no downside to trying.
I have a Yuasa Q85 in a CX-5 how much to re-condition and what warranty do they come with? Thanks Ryan
$30 and a 6 month warranty
Hi there, I’m looking for one or two 12 volt deep cycle batteries. What do you have available? Cheers.
Emailed cheers
Hi, I have a Deep cycle Trojan 27TMH that has all cells completely dry. Can you reco? if so how much?
We can take a look. Often plate exposure to air makes the battery unrecoverable due to oxidation.
Wanting to know how much it costs to recondition my car battery. Thanks
Depend on the size $30 – $50
Hi just wondering how much it cost to rebuild a deep cycle battery used for car audio…
130AH …. 2000CCA
Just give us a call we should have something in stock
Hi,
I’m in need of a deep cycle battery (preferably AGM ) for a solar set up. Do you have any batteries above 200ah?
Thanks .
Yes several available
Hi do you have any DIN 85 reconditioned batteries?
Yes we do
Have you any refurbished 6 volt battery’s? Or can you do mine if I bring it in
Yeah normally a few in stock
I have this battery: https://snag.gy/yOnper.jpg
It died after a couple of months not using my car.
Can it be reconditioned or replaced?
If so, how much?
$40
Hi David, I solved my problem locally. Sorry for bothering you. I won’t be there.
Thanks, David,
I’ll be there Wednesday or maybe tomorrow if I can.
You are at the
Address: 33 Great South Road, Otahuhu
Auckland, New Zealand, 1062
Business Hours: 9am-5:00pm M-F, 9am-2pm Sat
Correct?