Battery repair, anyone???

[hdossett]

Anyone ever try this

Lead_Acid_Car_Battery_Repair

Just stumbled upon the site, first time I have read about it. Just wondering.

H

[Ray,IN]

I had never heard of this, so I ran a search for "Magnesium Sulfate for renewing lead-acid battery". There are many results. After reading most of them I came to the conclusion it is not worth the effort, risk, or time. I remember many decades ago when renewing batteries was accomplished by simply pouring out the existing acid solution, rinsing with water, they refilling with new acid. That seemed to work most times, and the battery would last a lot longer. I would not try that these days.
When reading those websites I noticed they all said that in was (in my words) vital to keep the battery fully charged. That of course applies to all lead-acid batteries.

[wa8yxm]

I read the site, they are not selling anything other then what they give you free on site.. I have read of Epsom salts being used before.

As it happens I have a few batteries I can test it on.. Think I might.

The good news is if it does not work I'm out a dollar.

[Sc00ter]

Whoa, I remember something about WWII submariners having problems when seawater (salty) mixed with the boat's lead/acid batteries and creating deadly chlorine gas. Granted these are two different salts, Sodium and Iodine vs Magnesium, I would be hesitant to pour any salt into a battery. If you are going to do it wear plenty of protective clothing and do it outdoors. There are plenty of youtube videos of backyard chemistry going wrong involving dry ice, water, gun powder, thermite, etc.. usually with spectacular results.

[idenphones]

My golf cart batteries are getting pretty tired after 5 years.

Not much to loose. I will give it a try.

[wa8yxm]

I am trying to bring back a Group 29 I have.. Flooded wet cell,, So far the joy is not all that great.. HOwever, considering it's state when I started.

The worst I"m out is the cost of the Epsom Salts (A couple of bucks)

[Senior Chief]

Ditto, we have Epsom salts in the medicine chest. What can it hurt?

[leadman]

What this does is remove the decayed lead from the plates. this is lead oxide, looks very similar to dirt when dry but heavier. The problem is when the amount of lead oxide fills the bottom of the battery and reaches the plates the cell is then "dead".

I have used epsom salts and then drained the battery, washed it out when upside down with a hose and refilled with acid. While it did work for awhile the battery storage capacity was greatly diminished.

Might be o.k. to get you to pay day in your car, but not worth the effort otherwise. Alot of nasty fooling around for little gain.

[wa8yxm]

In my case, I went from a battery that was taking a charge but not much of one (Very low amp hours and failed a load test) to a battery that passed a load test ONE TIME, (Hoever it was reverse charged at the time) when I tried one final even number reverse (Back to forward charge) it shorted 3 cells and is not truly dead.

Oh well.. as I said, out a dollar.