Car Battery Reconditioning

How To Recondition A Car Battery In 7 Easy Steps

Are you thinking about reconditioning your car battery or any other types of batteries in your possession? Well, it’s one of the most eco-friendly methods to do. Also, by reconditioning your batteries you will save a lot of money because of reusing the old batteries repeatedly.

Refurbishing your car, marine, motorcycle and wheelchair batteries is very easy. Battery reconditioning can also be done on lead-acid electric batteries. Reconditioning requires a few affordable tools and steps highlighted in this article can help you get started. The best piece of advice is to familiarize yourself with how a battery works. In this article, we have tried as much as possible the steps needed for a successful battery reconditioning.

Remember, car batteries are expensive and that is why you need them to last. A bad battery replacement might be expensive, but you can shave off the expenses by having a DIY reconditioning solution for your car batteries. Here is a fail-proof method to help you recondition your car battery effortlessly.

Why Do You Need to Refurbish Used Batteries?

Yes, replacement of old batteries can be quite expensive. It could be the non-replaceable batteries found inside modern phones, laptops, or car batteries. Whichever batteries you might have, they are expensive to repair. In some cases, it is tough to find replacement batteries for old devices since they are out of stock.

By reconditioning batteries, you can preserve battery function. Basically, reconditioning makes batteries as fresh enough as they previously did. Even better, you will have enough charge and end up saving a lot of money buying a new battery.

Since reconditioning batteries is an eco-friendly process, it is good for the environment. It is tough to recycle batteries and, in most cases, they end up in the land fill. They often leak chemicals into the ground and cause a lot of damage to the environment.

Imagine if you never have to buy new batteries again because you will be reconditioning them. It is quite a huge saving for anyone. You will save money, time, and hassles of going to the store to look for new batteries every now and then. There are no disadvantages to reconditioning batteries. You need to put in a little effort, but you will discover that it is the smartest thing you ever did.

Are There Potential Dangers in Reconditioning Batteries?

If handled incorrectly, batteries can be very dangerous. You need to wear the right safety equipment when handling batteries. You should also wear gloves and glasses to avoid any acid leaks from the batteries on to your skin. Such a leak would lead to serious burns, so you need to be extremely careful.

On the other hand, batteries can explode in certain circumstances, especially if mishandled or treated improperly. When you are about to start reconditioning a battery and realize it is leaking, damaged or cracked, you need to dispose it immediately. It is very unsafe to use it at this point. It is much safer to dispose it than continue using it.

Finally, you should not recondition a battery for more than 3 to 4 times. Yes, reconditioning a battery is a good way to extend its life. However, with time, the battery wears out and with each reconditioning, it will be completely unsafe to repeat the procedure.

Once you recondition a battery, it can last for several years as you continue to use it appropriately. However, with time it will get worse and with more reconditioning it will end up getting worse. Therefore, it is safer to stop doing it after 3 or 4 trials.

What Types of Battery Can You Recondition?

Are you wondering the right type of batteries to recondition? Well, here is what you need to know.

Lead Acid Car Batteries

When reconditioning lead acid car start by topping off all the cells using distilled water. Next, you should apply a slow charge to the battery. These are wet cell batteries that do not require a lot of effort when reconditioning.

NiCad Batteries

Yes, these are rechargeable batteries. However, they are likely going to lose their rechargeable option with time. When this happens, they will not perform accordingly. Also, they will not hold any when charged before they die completely. Reconditioning is needed to restore the performance. To do this, you should put high voltage on both battery terminals.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

Currently, the market is filled with too many electronic gadgets with new ones popping up every new day. As such, lithium-ion batteries have become very popular. They are quite popular than the traditional batteries, so reconditioning has become very important.

You can recondition a lithium-ion battery in a few ways. First, you can fully discharge it then place it on the charger. Next, you can place the fully discharged battery in the freezer for about 24 hours then recharging it completely.

AGM And Gel Type Batteries

They are safer than lead-acid batteries since nothing spills out even if the casing is cracked. Reconditioning a gel battery involves discharging it completely and slowly recharging it.

NiMH Rechargeable Batteries

The Nickel Metal Hydride is a rechargeable battery considerably better than NiCad. Reconditioning this battery requires running deep charge cycles to regain the performance.

How to Recondition A Car Battery Effectively

Now that you know the different types of batteries you can recondition, doing it is very easy. Since the battery is large and it’s easy to acquire the tools for the job, the reconditioning process requires very little time. It is very easy to prolong the life of the battery and you do not need frequent replacement.

What Do You Need to Recondition a Battery at Home?

You need:

• A battery charger

• Safety goggles and gloves

• Neoprene chemical resistant

• Flathead screwdriver

• Plastic funnel

• Plastic bucket

• A gallon of distilled water

• Voltmeter

• Optional battery post cleaner

• 1lb of baking soda

The Procedure for Reconditioning a Car Battery

Step 1 – Safety Precautions Must Be Taken

When it comes to dealing with corrosive acid, the strictest precautions must be taken so that your skin does not get burnt. You will need to wear proper protective equipment such as masks, gloves and even goggles. You will also need to make a weak solution of water and baking soda to neutralize acid if it splashes on your skin.

Step 2 – Buildup on the Battery Head Must Be Removed

More than often enough, chemical reactions over a period cause buildup to occur on batteries heads. Cleaning off the corrosion is the most important step of the process and readymade cleaners or your own fix can be easily used to properly clean the battery terminals. So, before you get down to serious work, it is a good idea to mix a solution of water and baking soda with a 1:2 ratio. However, while mixing your solution, it's best to mix until you notice that it is turning into a fine paste. An old toothbrush can then be used to brush the paste onto the head of the battery. This easily removes all the corrosion and build up. However, sandpaper and a ball of steel wool can also be used if the buildup is hard to remove. Try still wool first and if the steel wool is not working you can use sandpaper, preferably 300 grain. Do not forget, goggles and gloves are essential to this process.

Step 3 – Determine the Battery Voltage

To verify the voltage, you'll need a voltage tester. This ensures that you are going to receive the correct power parameters. It's not rocket science to measure your battery’s voltage and power. Just about anyone can determine the voltage on a battery. All you need to do is simply connect the voltmeter to the terminals and you're one step closer to completing the job.

If your voltage is reading 12.6 V, your battery is in good condition. In the case where it is more, then you'll need to recondition your battery. However, if the voltage reads anywhere between 10 V and 12 V, you can easily restore the full functions of the battery. It is also good to keep in mind that anything less than 10 V might result in a waste of your time.

If you happened to also see no readings at all, then your battery would have experienced a short circuit. You can contact a mechanic or even perform your own maintenance on the battery.

Step 4 – Pour the Acid Out From the Battery

After you have checked the voltage, now is a good time to drain the old acid. A flat-head screwdriver is needed to remove the battery caps. Remember to have a container close by to pour the acid before you commence on this step. In case you spill some acid, you can easily neutralize it with the solution you made earlier, and do not forget, acid is very dangerous to your skin and eyes.

Step 5 – Returning the Battery to Working Order

Since all the acid has been removed from the battery, you can finally recondition your battery. In this step, you need to mix a solution of an electrolyte solution and fill it in the empty battery cells. This electrolytic solution is made from distilled water and Epsom salt. This prevents the battery from sulfating while it charges.

Step 6 – Charging The Battery

A crucial step to reconditioning your battery is to determine if the battery works or not. During charging, it is recommended that the caps be left off to prevent the electrolytes from overflowing. After you get the charger, connect the positive terminal to the red lead and the negative terminal to the black lead.

When charging, set the speed to anywhere around twelve v/ two amps. Batteries in this state need to be charged for at least 36 hours. When you test the voltage, you should see readings that are around 12.42 V. If you do see this reading, it means that your battery is ready for a load test.

Step 7 – Load Testing the Battery

To determine if your work was successful, you need to do a load test on the battery. This can be easily done with the load tester. Load testers can be found in any hardware store. Once you're finished with this step, you've just successfully reconditioned the battery.

Try reconditioning your car batteries today and prolong the life of the battery effortlessly.

Tips and Warnings When Reconditioning Car Battery

Tips

• When batteries are used for a couple of weeks or longer, you'll need to put them in a trickle charger. This ensures that they do not lose performance. When batteries are stored for a period, they tend to lose charge on their own and sulfur forms on the lead.

• To completely restore the battery, you'll need to leave it charging for either three or four nights.

Warnings

• Tap water should not be used in place of distilled water since it contains chemicals that will cause harm to the battery later.

• Since car batteries contain dangerous sulphuric acid, it's best to work in a ventilated area far away from flames. Work should be carried out using rubber gloves and protective eye-wear. However, if acid comes in contact with your skin, be sure to rinse it immediately with water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Battery Sulfation?

Sulfate crystals build-up on the battery electrodes when a battery drains and requires charging on a normal working cycle. This then prevents the battery from being able to deliver current in an effective manner. This decreases the electrolytes and increases the resistance in the battery. After 3 or 4 years have passed, this entire process speeds up quickly.

What are the Causes of Battery Sulphation?

The following are the main causes of battery sulphation:

• The battery was not used for a long period

• Discharge was too deep

• Charging was done with the wring charger

• The battery was left with a bad cell

• Charge cycles were not followed

• * he battery reached too many high or low temperatures

Are There Alternatives to Epsom Salt Battery Reconditioning?

From a simple point of view, Epson salt is used since it provides the best results. However, there are a couple of other alternatives that can also be used for reconditioning efforts. The following are alternatives to Epsom salt:

• Aluminum Sulfate – One lb of aluminum sulfate can be mixed with 1 gallon of distilled water. The mixture should then be stirred until it becomes clear. The battery cells can then be filled with the solution before you charge the battery. The battery will also charge faster using the electrolytes from the aluminum sulfate.

• Copper Sulfate – Another excellent reconditioning substitute is copper sulfate. While it does a great job, it isn't quite as effective as Epson salt.

When is the Best Time to Recondition My Car Battery?

Car batteries can be reconditioned if they are under-performing while maintaining a solid structure.