Battery desulfators? (1 Viewer)

[Funner]

I have considered purchasing one as a maintainer and batter life extender. I know the process works to restore commercial batteries such as forklifts and scissor lifts but the equipment used to recondition them isn't $50 and some batteries if not most require the sulfuric acid in the batteries to be balanced as part of the reconditioning. What I don't know is if the battery minder, battery tender or other sub $60 desulfators work as advertised. Anybody using them and getting the results as advertised?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I have a battery minder and it seems to work. It certainly does a good job establishing a full charge and then floating the voltage high enough to prevent sulfation in the first place. I think it's helpful maintaining my 2 Cruisers that don't get driven that much.

 

[retrofive]

I just have a basic NAPA bat minder. Seems to work fine rotating around the cars and batteries in use. Been meaning to pick another one.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I have the 110V BatteryMinder and use it for short top offs but my best results for longevity has been with BatteryMinders 15W solar charger. Can keep up to 5 batteries topped off.

 

[Funner]

I am particularly interested in the desulfating properties. I have too many batteries around that I cant get close enough together or don't want to have to pull from vehicles to maintain them. I am wondering if folks have used them as advertised, desulfator to rejuvenate neglected batteries. If I could pull the 40 around once or twice a year to refresh the battery and undo most sulfating I would like to do that. I also have a golf cart and fishing boat that get little use and my 80 is only used occasionally and now a low use 100 series is getting added, frankly my wife only drives her vehicle 5K miles a year too. I have a lot of batteries not getting regular use.

 

[TrickyT]

I've used these types of chargers for a few years to keep batteries that don't see a lot of use "maintained." By that I mean 100% charged, which is the key to preventing lead sulfate from forming on the plates in the first place. But if batteries sit around partially charged for extended periods then the sulfate crystals grow larger and harden and are then are difficult to dissolve. If you're only throwing a battery onto a charger/desulfator once or twice a year I think you're going to have limited success. It may help some, but their lifetime is still going to be appreciably shortened.

 

[bmac1996acc]

The REDARC on board charger I have has a seperate storage mode that accomplishes this by changing the charge pattern

 

[wyocoyote]

I spent a fair bit on a West Marine charger. (100 to 120 on sale) that also charges deep cycle and has a conditioning or reconditioning mode. Also trickles or "floats" I have no clue as to whether it really works magic, but I now semi regularly use the reconditioning mode. it is water resistant and fairly compact. Also will jump start. pretty stoked on it.
Have used it on agms deep cycle and motorcycle batts. have successfully jumpstarted smaller engines rigs with it.
seems to do all those big wheel out ones will do and I can use it when it is wet out.
I remember reading up how it "de-something or othered the plates. somebody post the science please.
I know this much id you discharge your batt too much you've killed it or damged its capacity. I buy costco batteries, becasue its so hassle free to return them and they are pretty omnipresent.
looks like its a hundo retail. I have a boat and do my best to stay out of WM because of its for a boat its usually double. I like this enough that I'd purchase a second to keep in my off road RV.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...ery-charger-with-engine-start-timer--14982045

 

[ranma21]

Love my batteryminder 12248, bring back life to my 4 yr old dead battery .

 

[Mrtwooooo]

The battery in my MR2 was built in June 2010 and was starting to feel very week. Last thanksgiving I took the engine out for a rebuild and put the battery on my batteryminder model 1500. It stayed on there till last week, so 8 months roughly. The battery hold a charge very well. It survived all the cranking from troubleshooting timing issues to get the engine running. I'd say it did a good job to recondition the battery. I also have a batteryminder 12248 model that I use for the AGM battery in the 80. I travel quite a bit and the cars don't get driven that much and while I'm gone they stay on the chargers. I'd say a batteryminder is worth it even if you are going to use it to just top off a battery. The longer you can let it sit on the charger the better.