How does a NOCO battery charger "desulfate" the battery?

[ArlyA]

Our riding lawnmower battery (mower now gone) would fail every 3-+ or so years. We got a Schumacher charger with desulfate built into it and its last battery lasted until we sold the mower years later, so I'd say it seems to work. Ironically, we got an battery powered riding mower after that.

 

[Sid Post]

Every battery charger desulfates. It is how the acid is restored. Some have a pulse charging cycle that supposedly knocks off hard sulfation from the plates. Most independent studies have shown little benefit to such modes. Hard sulfation does not readily recombine and just ends up as dregs at the bottom of the battery.

Depends on the batteries and the charger. A few kilowatts of solar panels on a 48V storage bank of large lead acid batteries that were maintained with water and acid as needed during their life ran 8 years of high duty cycle off-grid before storage capacity started falling.

We are talking about a lot higher currents than 1, 2 or, 4amps though. The acid would actually 'boil' when desulfating. Testing demonstrated that it actually worked well.

 

[JRH02]

Yup, that 'boiling' or gassing, under the control of a good temperature compensated charger, is necessary AND NEEDED for a flooded lead battery. Both for a discharge and for the recharge as best as possible. But I have changed with the times and use lithium blocks now (LFP04), but not in motorized equipment due to temperature extremes. Life is much easier now.

 

[John_Mc]

Depends on the batteries and the charger. A few kilowatts of solar panels on a 48V storage bank of large lead acid batteries that were maintained with water and acid as needed during their life ran 8 years of high duty cycle off-grid before storage capacity started falling.

We are talking about a lot higher currents than 1, 2 or, 4amps though. The acid would actually 'boil' when desulfating. Testing demonstrated that it actually worked well.

That actually sounds more like an equalization charge than a desulfating cycle.

 

[Paul_M]

Every battery charger desulfates. It is how the acid is restored. Some have a pulse charging cycle that supposedly knocks off hard sulfation from the plates. Most independent studies have shown little benefit to such modes. Hard sulfation does not readily recombine and just ends up as dregs at the bottom of the battery.

Most of the reviews I’ve seen find that desulfators, even cheap ones, do work, at least some of the time. Here’s a typical example:

It’s true that the sulfates flake off and end up at the bottom of the battery, but this does expose more of the plate to the acid. However, one consequence of the process is that batteries with more room below the plates Have a better chance of successful desulfation. I’ve had the same starting batteries in my bulldozer for over 14 years now, thanks to this technology. I should add that sometimes it can take a month for a small desulfator to restore a badly sulfated battery.

 

[MattB4]

Most of the reviews I’ve seen find that desulfators, even cheap ones, do work, at least some of the time. Here’s a typical example:

It’s true that the sulfates flake off and end up at the bottom of the battery, but this does expose more of the plate to the acid. However, one consequence of the process is that batteries with more room below the plates Have a better chance of successful desulfation. I’ve had the same starting batteries in my bulldozer for over 14 years now, thanks to this technology. I should add that sometimes it can take a month for a small desulfator to restore a badly sulfated battery.

Internet reviews are about as reliable as internet Polls. The battery acid gets depleted as sulfation dregs that ends up on the bottom occurs. More lead exposed would be good otherwise. Lead acid batteries can last surprisingly long in some instances and especially if they are properly cared for with routine charging to full and equalization charges.

Yes industrial batteries have more room below the plates that allows for dreg buildup that without which leads to shorted plates.

 

[1Mech]

I have two old batteries I removed from dead cars, one had been sitting dead for about five years, the other was in my van and died in use. I put both of them on a desulfating charger for a couple of cycles and now, I am using one of them in my daily driver, seems pretty reliable battery now, which was once dead. The other one is sitting in the garage, waiting for a need.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

The de-sulfation works by "pulsing" the electrolyte at a frequency to destroy, the sulfate crystals. I'm not sure that the sulfate wouldn't eventually break down the sulfate crystals completely. They would probably break loose from the plates first, but even laying on the bottom of the battery, the crystals should eventually break down completely.

 

[mllud]

I needed a new battery for my Ford 3550 backhoe.

I thought I would try get off to a fresh start with my new battery and bought a 12-volt solar battery maintainer.
Time will tell how long the battery will last.

This is a tractor that sits a while. between use. I wish I could keep it under roof but don't have room. It also is parked a distance from electric power.
I don't know how long the solar maintainer/ charger will last. My first one..

Solar charger/maintainer

New battery
Heavey duty cable ends

I would have done all new cables, but they look good accept the ends that a hammer mechanic beat to hell, he couldn't find a half inch wrench and a screwdriver to spread the connector.
Hopefully my battery won't get crusty battery guts.

The old girl runs and work like a champ, needs some paint
Used it yesterday.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I needed a new battery for my Ford 3550 backhoe.

I thought I would try get off to a fresh start with my new battery and bought a 12-volt solar battery maintainer.
Time will tell how long the battery will last.

This is a tractor that sits a while. between use. I wish I could keep it under roof but don't have room. It also is parked a distance from electric power.
I don't know how long the solar maintainer/ charger will last. My first one..

I've had very good luck with Sun Energise solar chargers in 10 and 15 Watt versions.

At this point there's at least seven of them doing their thing. A couple also paired with PulseTech desulfators.