Has anyone restored 12 volt batteries?

[James Sorochan]

Got quite a few 12 volt deep cycle batteries that we use for fence chargers that are getting weak. Watching guys on utube using epsom salt to get them back up to snuff. I don't feel like spending too much time on it but also don't like the price of new batteries. Appreciate any advice, thanks.

 

[Junkyard]

I’ve seen them brought back to life with a welder but haven’t tried that. If any are swollen there’s no hope for them as plates have more than likely arced against each other. There are also chargers that are supposed to do the same thing as a welder. One of the guys I follow on YouTube showed the process with a welder. Uncle Tony’s Garage.

 

[Zewnten]

So you can high amp charge to 80% then trickle the last 20% if they've been too discharged but if mechanically there's something wrong then you're talking about cutting them open removing the sulfides, renewing the acid and trying o charge but not likely to succeed.

 

[JLarson]

Get a charger with repair/desulfate mode, I've had luck on some batteries with them.

 

[Coaldust]

In before Pakistan battery rebuilder guy.

 

[joe--h]

My first thought too.

And that's probably the only guy in Pakistan who has actual shoes.

Joe H

 

[92U 3406]

I've never had any luck with old batteries. I just replace them.

 

[colson04]

In before Pakistan battery rebuilder guy.
View attachment 270188

I just watched the video not too long ago. Crazy to think that stuff like that used to happen here too, before regulations and EPA/DEQ etc

 

[John C.]

There are a couple a reasons I know of why batteries fail. The first and best known is sulfation where the lead compound changes its chemistry and turns red. The new compound does not react the same to the electric process and the battery won't take a charge. This failure mode is the one people focus on when talking about restoring batteries. I've heard lots of explanations to fix this but the most common is to apply high voltage and current to break the molecular bonds and transform the lead sulfate back to its original state. I don't know if it works or not. I've had some battery chargers that say they pulse high voltage but have never known if they worked or not. In my experience, the sulfating happens when lead acid batteries are left discharged over a long period of time. Another possible issue is letting the water levels get low.

The other big reason lead acid batteries fail is by vibration. The lead on the plates gets flakey and the flakes basically just fall off the plates into the empty space underneath each cell. The battery loses capacity when that happens. Two big results of this are engines that won't start when a change of season comes around or you have a shorted cell when the lead flakes fill up the empty space to the point of the lead touching the plates above. There is no fix for this except to replace the battery. The prevention for this is maintaining battery hold downs. When I inspect machines, one of the big issues is if the hold downs are in place and tight. When I find batteries loose is when I start looking for other issues as it indicates poor maintenance.

 

[Birken Vogt]

I just had an older one in my service truck that would occasionally not start the truck. Usually it was fine and very energetic, but if you were way out in the woods or in the middle of a parking lot where everyone can see you, then it would not start until messing with it. I guess it was a temperature related crack or something.

I don't mess around with batteries. They give trouble, they are gone. They get old, change them before they leave you hanging in a bad spot.

 

[Truck Shop]

A key indicator on which brands are the worst, take a peek in the dead box of a battery delivery truck.
That tells a story right there.

 

[92U 3406]

I'm a big believer in OEM when it comes to batteries. AC Delco and Motorcraft have never let me down, even after several winters of 35 below temperatures.

 

[Truck Shop]

Delco was a great battery at one time but once it started being produced in Taiwan the product was cheapened.
Use to be Johnson Controls was the best made, don't know about now.

 

[92U 3406]

Anyone have any luck with those red top Optima AGM batteries?

Have used them in the past. Worked great in the cold, better than anything else I've used, but never seemed to get near the life out of them that was claimed. Had my first one replaced after year 2 or 3 under warranty and the replacement was on its way out again after year 2.

 

[Birken Vogt]

I have had little good to say about Opima or similar AGM or gel batteries. Very fragile to over or undercharging.

Deka batteries are what we use and if you know what they look like you will see many parts houses are also using them under private label. All maintenance free. Exide are OEM on some of our equipment and always ooze acid around the posts, Deka always stay dry. And I mean always/always. Exide usually have water caps which never need water but also fizzing acid mist all over everything.

 

[Welder Dave]

East Penn make the Cat batteries and Deka too I believe. Batteries can be reconditioned depending on what's wrong with them. There is a place I go to that reconditions batteries. They have some kind of special machine they use and not sure what else they use but I've had great success with reconditioned batteries from them. Worst life I got was about 7 years. Best is about 13 years and still going strong in a diesel tractor. The tractor has a generator and I'm thinking that might be contributing to the exceptionally long life of the reconditioned battery. Standard car batteries are $40, group 31 is $50 and an 8D is $80 exchange. They all come with a 1 year warranty.

 

[DMiller]

Bad batteries that are recycled here are just taken to the old lead mine sites where the lead is recovered with the other materials in those and new batteries made of that. Not seeing good in that where as noted chemical changes in the lead and the plate base materials as well the disposal for the old acids is just nasty.

 

[Bumpsteer]

While some Deka batteries say maintaince free......they ain't.
Cut the top sticker and there are re-fill caps.

Ed

 

[_Weldman_]

While some Deka batteries say maintaince free......they ain't.
Cut the top sticker and there are re-fill caps.

Ed
View attachment 270352

Um those slots meant for a screwdriver are the refill caps, 6 of them for each cell of 2.11V each.

 

[Welder Dave]

They should be called lower maintainance not maintainence free.