Battery Reconditioning (Never Buy Batteries Again)
Reconditioning a Battery: Easy For Anyone To Do
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Battery reconditioning is a viable way of saving you money and creating a cheap alternative power source for your home & appliances.
Below you will find out how to recondition batteries for your solar panels and inverters as well as how to recondition a car battery.
Furthermore, recharging old batteries (even by trickle charging them) is not the same as reconditioning batteries.
For instance, the recharged battery will only hold the charge for a short period whilst reconditioning a battery will be similar to restoring it to a new condition.
7 Steps To Reconditioning a Battery Including Car, Solar & Inverter Batteries
1. First of all test the voltage of the battery to ensure that it is at least between 10v to 12v otherwise if it’s less than this, this procedure may not work for it
2. Heat ½ a liter of distilled water (not tap water as it contains chemicals & other impurities) up to 65° C
3. Pour ¼ kg of Epsom salts into the warm water & ensure that it’s properly dissolved
4. Remove all the battery’s cell caps, or in the case of a sealed battery you will have to drill through the blank caps to allow you to remove the fluid already in the battery & replace it with the new solution
5. With the aid of a funnel pour the Epsom salts solution into each cell of the battery & then replace the caps or plug the holes that you drilled in the case of the sealed battery.
6. Shake the battery very carefully to ensure that the new solution in the battery is correctly distributed throughout.
7. The last step before your battery is fully reconditioned is to place it on a trickle charge for 24 hours, which will hopefully restore it to a new condition & ready to power your appliances.
5 Facts About Battery Reconditioning
1. Battery restoration or reconditioning is not the same as recharging a battery.
Just recharging a battery will restore some of the battery’s charge for a short time whilst reconditioning it will restore it to its full capacity.
2. The most common cause of battery degradation & poor battery performance in lead acid batteries is sulfation.
This is the build-up of sulfur on the lead plates which restricts the flow of electrical charge in the battery which causes “dead cells” and consequently the battery life & performance to deteriorate.
3. The types of batteries that can be successfully reconditioned include all types of batteries from deep-cycle gel batteries to the normal 12-volt car battery as well as the new high-tech type of car batteries which can be reconditioned using standard lead acid battery reconditioning techniques.
- Lead Acid (Car battery)
- Lithium-Ion, Li-Ion (Solar backup power storage, electric vehicles, laptops)
- Ni-Cd (Rechargeable battery)
- Ni-MH (Long life battery)
Battery reconditioning is one of the most simple, useful, and money-saving DIY skills anyone can learn!
4. Before starting the restoration process you will need to test your battery which can be done cheaply with a multimeter battery tester as well as a battery analyzer.
5. A word of caution
Whilst the rewards of reconditioning batteries are massive, you need to exercise extreme caution & follow safety procedures when working with batteries & acid.
For example, the reconditioning of lead acid batteries involves working with extremely dangerous acids (sulfuric acid), which should be handled with extreme care – safety goggles & rubber gloves should be worn when working with batteries.
If it comes in contact with your skin (or worse your eyes) you need to know in advance how to treat battery acid burns. If this does happen, flush the area immediately by running cold water over the affected area (or eyes) for at least 15 minutes & then assess the damaged area.
What's the Longest-Lasting Solar Battery?
Basically, there are three types of batteries that are commonly used for storage in solar panel systems.
- Lead-acid
- Lithium-ion
- Saltwater.
Lithium-Ion Batteries Are the Longest Lasting
Of the above three options, lithium-ion batteries will last the longest.
Furthermore, lithium-ion batteries can be discharged to around 90% of their total capacity without causing damage.
They are also cleaner and safer and can be installed indoors.
Their total lifespan is far better than that of lead acid batteries and wouldn’t need to be replaced as frequently.
Refurbishing Lithium-Ion Batteries For Your Solar Panel System
Lithium-ion batteries are essential for storing renewable energy from solar panels.
However, increasing demand in the face of decreasing supply has created the need for reconditioning, or recycling, lithium-ion batteries.
Furthermore, battery manufacturers weren’t keen on reconditioning as they thought the recycled battery would be inferior to a new one that used freshly mined lithium.
Recycled cathode materials enabled superior performance for lithium-ion batteries
Ref: Sciencedirect.com
This new method of recycling involves refurbishing the cathode.
The cathode is the carefully crafted crystal that is not only the lithium-ion battery’s most expensive component but also key to supplying the proper voltage.
What was also an impressive outcome was that the batteries with the recycled cathode both last longer and charge faster.
Furthermore, not only does this solve the problem of waste disposal, but these essential batteries can save the user money on buying them whilst having a superior product.
Battery Reconditioning - Your Ultimate Guide
Whether you need a reliable source of energy powered by batteries for a solar panel system or inverters you can realise significant savings & contribute to a cleaner environment by reconditioning your old batteries of almost any type.
However, to perform the process correctly & safely, you will need the right tools and very clear and specific step-by-step instructions to ensure that your batteries are restored effectively and to a “new” condition.
This DIY guide will show you how to successfully recondition your solar & car batteries to almost 100% of their original power…
Restore Your Flat Batteries: Watch the Video Here »
