Revive Gel Battery?

[KenO]

Inherited an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) that was unused for a while so the gel battery is fully discharged.

Do not want to purchase a new gel battery so am interested in trying to revive it.

Did a search and found Battery Life Saver Patent #7374839
http://batterylifesaver.com/how-do-i-revive-a-dead-battery/
Patent PDF http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7374839.pdf

found discussion of Battery Life Saver
http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=22055.0

Am interested in any experience others have had in reviving gel batteries either using Battery Life Saver or any other technique.


Ken

 

[mike]

Inherited an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) that was unused for a while so the gel battery is fully discharged.

Do not want to purchase a new gel battery so am interested in trying to revive it.

Did a search and found Battery Life Saver Patent #7374839
http://batterylifesaver.com/how-do-i-revive-a-dead-battery/
Patent PDF http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7374839.pdf

found discussion of Battery Life Saver
http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=22055.0

Am interested in any experience others have had in reviving gel batteries either using Battery Life Saver or any other technique.


Ken

I built a computer controlled charger/discharger. And I have a pulse
generator
that can put out an amp or 50V. I've done considerable experimentation with
recovering many different battery technologies.

Bottom line: Give it up.

While I believe that a pulse charger/desulfator can help prevent
deterioration on a good battery that's rarely used...boat...RV,

Once the battery has been dead for a long time, it ain't coming back.

A UPS is one of the most stressful applications for a battery.
A tiny amount of series resistance will render it useless in that
application.

My UPS battery isn't completely dead, but it can keep my system up
for 15 seconds or so.
Since the typical outage is less than a second, it's not worth replacing
the battery. Outages longer than a second are likely to be longer than
any ups can handle. But might give you a chance to shut down the system
gracefully.

For most of us, a UPS is overrated. If you really need it, spring for
a new battery.
If not, send it to recycle.

 

[KenO]

Mike,

Thanks for your comments. Since posting have been reading reviving battery posts on other forums and most are similar to yours.

Ken

 

[KenO]

Mike,

"I've done considerable experimentation with recovering many different battery technologies....While I believe that a pulse charger/desulfator can help prevent
deterioration on a good battery that's rarely used...boat...RV,Once the battery has been dead for a long time, it ain't coming back..."

Have you posted your experiments?

Am especially interested in "pulse charger/desulfator can help prevent
deterioration on a good battery that's rarely used"

Thanks again for your comments!

Ken

 

[Bob F]

Inherited an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) that was unused for a
while so the gel battery is fully discharged.

Do not want to purchase a new gel battery so am interested in trying
to revive it.

Did a search and found Battery Life Saver Patent #7374839
http://batterylifesaver.com/how-do-i-revive-a-dead-battery/
Patent PDF http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7374839.pdf

found discussion of Battery Life Saver
http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=22055.0

Am interested in any experience others have had in reviving gel
batteries either using Battery Life Saver or any other technique.

I'd search for a source of re-cycled used batteries. Many users recycle them
after some # of years, and the batteries are still usable in many cases. I've
goten several usable ones at a local metal recycle center that happens to be
good about selling cheap batteries they've taken in.

 

[mike]

Mike,

"I've done considerable experimentation with recovering many different battery technologies....While I believe that a pulse charger/desulfator can help prevent
deterioration on a good battery that's rarely used...boat...RV,Once the battery has been dead for a long time, it ain't coming back..."

Have you posted your experiments?

Am especially interested in "pulse charger/desulfator can help prevent
deterioration on a good battery that's rarely used"

There's lots written on the subject, mostly by people who want to sell
you something. I don't think there's any consensus on what works.
The consensus seems to be that none of them work.
I don't understand the chemistry, but it appears that the sulphate forms
an insulating layer on the plate surface. Once it's there, it's hard to get
removed.
But if you don't let it form, it's not a problem. Pulse charging gives you
that peak current to keep the thing charged without boiling away the
electrolyte.

 

[mike]

I'd search for a source of re-cycled used batteries. Many users recycle them
after some # of years, and the batteries are still usable in many cases. I've
goten several usable ones at a local metal recycle center that happens to be
good about selling cheap batteries they've taken in.

Hospitals are required to change batteries in life-saving equipment on a
regular schedule. That seeks to make sure the stuff works when it's needed.
People who work for hospitals take them out of the dumpster and to
swapmeets.
I've NEVER bought one that was worth a damn.
For low drain apps, maybe they work ok. For high drain apps
like a UPS, they've been universally unsuitable.

You might have better luck if you get closer to the source.
By the time they get to a swapmeet, they've been cherry-picked
multiple times.

If you've got a standard 7AH 12V battery, just go spend $20 and be
done with it. It's not worth the hassle.
But do buy one from a high volume dealer. One that's been sittin'
on the shelf for two years is not what you want.
And if you buy off EBAY, you never know what you'll get.