Sulfation

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arcticfox2005

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
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716
If a battery has been discharged for a couple of months and is likely sulfated,
what type of charging has the best chance of breaking the sulfation up?
Fast like the engine alternator or slow like a Battery Tender?

Thanks,
Bill
 
Sulfation is usually addressed by a process called Equalization, which involves over-charging a battery for several hours with higher voltage to basically burn through the sulfation. Some newer (more expensive) chargers have built in equalization features. Older chargers don't.

Kev
 
Slow is the generally preferred way to recharge batteries overall, since too rapid charging can cause heat and other problems, but a battery that is already sulfated needs an "equalization charge" at high voltage to break up the sulfates. Equalization is applied once the battery is fully charged (or at least as charged as it will get), so you want to do a standard charge first. A quality 3-stage charger is the most effective method because it manages the rate of charge to what the battery can readily accept.  That's because the meaning of "slow" changes with the battery state-of-charge (SOC), and a "dead battery" can easily take a fairly high am rate, but that rate has to slow down as the SOC builds up.

Learn more about sulfating and equalization at:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/equalizing_charge

An alternator is a rough & ready method of charging, basically totally unregulated, and is the worst choice for rejuvenating a dead battery.
 
An alternator is a rough & ready method of charging, basically totally unregulated, and is the worst choice for rejuvenating a dead battery.
Click to expand...

Gary,

Thanks for your, as usual, more complete response.

The battery in question is the starting battery of our motorhome, and it is currently in the storage lot (no electricity). In order to get it home to use a charger, it's almost a mile drive. Will the alternator cause a problem during this time?

Bill
 
It's run time more than mileage - the alternator is pumping out amps as long as the engine is running. At idle rpms the amp rate isn't high anyway, but at highway speeds it would probably reach the alternator max output, whatever that may be. 50A 100A?
 
Gary RV Roamer said:
It's run time more than mileage - the alternator is pumping out amps as long as the engine is running. At idle rpms the amp rate isn't high anyway, but at highway speeds it would probably reach the alternator max output, whatever that may be. 50A 100A?
Click to expand...
        Every Alternator I have ever installed stated that the battery should be fully charged before installing or damage will incur and void warranty, It's a sure fire way to burn it up or at least shorten its life. Use a charger. maybe a trickle charger/solar in storage?
 
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