Whenever a lead acid battery is discharged, electrolytes combine with the lead on the battery's plates, thus forming lead sulphate. This process is normally reversed once the battery is charged. Not all of the lead sulphate, however, dissolves during the recharging process; some gets crystallized on the battery's lead plates. This phenomenon is known as battery sulfation. The deeper and more times a battery is discharged, the bigger the possibility is that lead sulphate will crystallize and reduce the area of the battery plates that can come into contact with the electrolytes. As time goes by, this lead sulphate build-up will cause your battery to go dead.
The good news is that there is an affordable way to resurrect your battery and get it working like new once again. The solution is a process called battery reconditioning, which involves the use of a battery charger and a device known as a lead acid battery desulfator circuit. The name itself indicates that this device works by removing the lead sulphate build-up and bringing your battery back to life. Take note, however, that a desulfator does not work on batteries with shorted cells and it cannot restore a battery's worn out lead plates. Nevertheless, it can be very valuable for those who wish to maximize the use of their lead acid batteries.
Battery Tool
The necessary first step in battery reconditioning is the removal of the lead sulphate build-up. This step is also the one that requires a considerable amount of time, especially if the build-up is already severe. As the amount of crystallization increases, so does the voltage needed to dissolve them. The problem is that a lead acid battery can overheat and eventually explode if you put it through a constantly high voltage. For this reason, most battery desulfators use pulse conditioning technology so that only the crystallized sulphate is affected by the high voltages and the battery is protected from overheating.
A lead acid battery normally has a maximum resonant frequency of 6 megahertz, and when sufficient electrical pulses are continuously sent into it, the battery plates go into a rhythmic beating which causes the sulphate crystals to finally revert into the electrolyte solution. Depending on the severity of sulfation, the process can take weeks to complete. During this time, the battery needs to be connected to a charger set on trickle charge mode to make sure that it does not go into deep discharge while it is being desulfated. You may notice the voltage dropping as the desulfation process takes place. This is a normal reaction caused by the sulphate crystals being cleared from the lead plates.
Battery reconditioning is sure to save you a lot of money, which you would otherwise spend on a costly replacement. You can get even more savings by building your own lead acid battery desulfator circuit. Several different desulfator models have been built and put to use for many years, and it is easy enough to find step-by-step building instructions online. If you are a DIY enthusiast then this may be an ideal option for you.