Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  4
Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1

    Arrow Should I Restore My Car Batteries?

    I've never reconditioned car batteries before but I have 8 old car batteries I would like to use if it's possible to do this. I watched a video of a guy restoring one and it seems he made it work.

    https://youtu.be/-evZL1i7FgI

    Has anybody done this with success?

  2. #2
    It has never worked for me. I suspect that this video is a thinly veiled advertisement for the website, where they will try to sell you something.
    2007 660 JBS sheave, and MSD Charge

  3. #3
    Most Senior member SteveS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    1,636
    Car batteries can die from shorting of one or more cells. But much more frequently by sulfation on the plates within one or more of the cells. The sulfuric acid breaks down and precipitates out to this sulfation deposit on the plate surfaces and also crumbles and drops to the bottom of the cell. This usually happens to batteries sitting unused and not connected to a battery maintainer (trickle charger). This can sometimes be "healed" by using a higher voltage pulse generating device. The idea is that this breaks up the deposits on the cell plates. It works sometimes and does not work other times, probably dependent upon the severity and age of the deposits.

    I use a BatteryMinder plus for maintaining and conditioning the battery. For a dead battery, you would need to get it charged up with a normal dumb battery charger, it needs to have a fairly decent charge to allow the battery minder to do its thing. There are undoubtedly bigger and better pulse conditioners out there that might work with old dead batteries but it will be a crapshoot.

    https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...2201_200332201
    ____________________________________
    http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/supallas/SteveSJBS%2048w_zpsg8cskcue.jpg ...... 2004 660 Camo, "Rhino". And now, also a Wolverine X4. "Wolfy".
    |___________________________________
    | Two roads diverged in a wood,
    | I took the one less traveled by....
    | Oh, Oh .

    | .............
    | ...............
    | ............... #
    |___________________________________

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by bobbyvinney77 View Post
    I've never reconditioned car batteries before but I have 8 old car batteries I would like to use if it's possible to do this. I watched a video of a guy restoring one and it seems he made it work.

    https://youtu.be/-evZL1i7FgI

    Has anybody done this with success?
    I'm going to try this weekend

  5. #5
    I know I am just piling on to what SteveS said, but I love the BatteryMinder plus. While I have not been able to bring back any of the dead batteries, I have ready to go to the recyclers, it has saved a couple of batteries that I was worried might be gone. More importantly, since I got it (on SteveS's recommendation a few years back) I have not lost a battery in my off-road toys. It used to be that work and family commitments would keep me off the trail, my batteries would go dead. Some months later, I would end up putting them on the charger the night before I was planning a off-road outing. Many times I'd be buying a new battery the next day. I have since committed to keeping my batterys charged. I have the BatteryMinder going all the time, every couple of weeks I move it between the jeep and the Rhino, and both batterys are about 5 years old now. I know that is not that long, but it is way longer than if you let them go dead inbetween rides.
    2007 660 JBS sheave, and MSD Charge

  6. Likes WV Hot Rod Rhino liked this post
  7. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by bobbyvinney77 View Post
    I've never reconditioned car batteries before but I have 8 old car batteries I would like to use if it's possible to do this. I watched a video of a guy restoring one and it seems he made it work.

    https://youtu.be/-evZL1i7FgI

    Has anybody done this with success?
    Well... I followed the video and also checked the link in the video and have 2 restored batteries that have been working for 3 days so far no issues

  8. Likes WV Hot Rod Rhino liked this post
  9. #7
    Been over a week now and the battery is still fully charged.

  10. Likes Timmi, WV Hot Rod Rhino liked this post
  11. #8
    Restored 4 more batteries and sold 2 more. Here's the guide from the video I posted that I've been using to restore by batteries http://rurl.us/recyclebattery Hope it helps some of you.

  12. #9
    Most Senior member SteveS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    1,636
    When you finish the rejuvenation, you will want to verify that they are in good shape, before going out into the boondocks.

    Get yourself a Load Tester. Not terribly expensive, and well worth it. You will feel the load tester get very warm, as in an electric heater.

    It puts a heavy load on the battery (depends on the rating of the battery) That pulls down the voltage and that is displayed on the meter. Red, yellow and blue bands (or similar markings). A battery can show "fully charged" but yet go flat in a very short time, under load.

    Good luck on your endeavor. It is always better to "repair" than send to the "dump".

    Just to clarify, The lead gets recycled, but the sulphuric acid and case are probably not.

    Take care when messing with the battery. The acid is very nasty.
    ____________________________________
    http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/supallas/SteveSJBS%2048w_zpsg8cskcue.jpg ...... 2004 660 Camo, "Rhino". And now, also a Wolverine X4. "Wolfy".
    |___________________________________
    | Two roads diverged in a wood,
    | I took the one less traveled by....
    | Oh, Oh .

    | .............
    | ...............
    | ............... #
    |___________________________________

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •