Desulfaters? [RE-wrenches]

[Windy Dankoff, Dankoff Solar]

<x-flowed>Wrenches,

Here's my proposal of how to test a desulphator for actual recovery 
of battery capacity. If this works, then I WILL BELIEVE.

Get 4 obviously sulphated batteries (like golf cart batts that are 
starting to swell and get hard on the ends). The batteries should all 
be closely identical in condition (measure each cell with hydrometer) 
and in working condition, however reduced in capacity.

Put them in series either in a working (or demo) system, or on a 
trickle charge.

Connect them in series for 24V. Charge full, and do a discharge test 
to measure AH (just use a known load X time, until hydrometer 
indicates low). They should show siginificantly less than the rated 
capacity, for this experiment to be useful.

Wire a desulphator accross HALF of the bank, at 12V.

Now, one set gets the desulphating action, and the other acts as the 
experimental control. No matter how the batteries are used, or not 
used, they all see the same conditions except for the desulphating 
action.

       I heard that desulphating action takes place when batteries are 
at full voltage,
       or being trickle-charged at full -- can anyone confirm this?

After months of time, take comparative voltage measurements under 
current. Desulphated batteries should show less internal resistance 
than the control batteries. Thus, under charge, they should show 
lower voltage than the control. Under discharge, they should show 
higher voltage -- more stable, in other words.

If that evidence shows up, do a discharge test and check them all 
with hydrometer. If the desulph. batteries are better, they will show 
a higher hydrometer reading than the others.

I tried this with the desulph device that was distributed by an 
Oregon company about 8 years ago. Nothing happened after 6 months. 
Then, the manufacturer went out of business and the product was 
discredited. (also, I cycled the batteries a lot, before I heard that 
they should be topped off for the action to work.)

I believe that the desulphator principle may be sound. I hope 
somebody else will try a test like this and see if we all can believe.

Anyone?

Windy

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