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Crankster · 09-27-2021, 08:55 PM

Keep in mind every battery charger has a "DeSulfator function". That's what they do!

A battery is sort of a self contained chemical reaction, as the battery is discharged the electrolyte gradually reverts to essentially plain H2O. This is why measuring the specific gravity of the electrolyte will indicate the true state of charge.

This plates become coated with a soft sulfate paste as it is discharged, and ordinarily the charging process reverses this easily, over and over. The problem arises when a battery is in a chronically undercharged condition, as most are, and the light sulfation turns to hard crystals that are extremely resistant to charging aka "permanent sulfation". The battery loses its CCA performance or current capacity. This permanent sulfation is said to occur starting at about an 80% charge, in a matter of days or weeks.

The way I heard it described, trying to re-charge a permanently sulfated starting battery is sort of like trying to wash your hands wearing rubber gloves. Now, there are those special chargers, and techniques, that can be employed and are claimed to reverse permanent sulfation and bring a battery back to full performance but this is definitely one of those "prevention is better than the cure" situations. If a battery is maintained in the first place as on a tender or float charger the special bespoke boutique chargers aren't necessary.

09-27-2021, 08:55 PM	#22
Crankster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 563	Battery Prices Keep in mind every battery charger has a "DeSulfator function". That's what they do! A battery is sort of a self contained chemical reaction, as the battery is discharged the electrolyte gradually reverts to essentially plain H2O. This is why measuring the specific gravity of the electrolyte will indicate the true state of charge. This plates become coated with a soft sulfate paste as it is discharged, and ordinarily the charging process reverses this easily, over and over. The problem arises when a battery is in a chronically undercharged condition, as most are, and the light sulfation turns to hard crystals that are extremely resistant to charging aka "permanent sulfation". The battery loses its CCA performance or current capacity. This permanent sulfation is said to occur starting at about an 80% charge, in a matter of days or weeks. The way I heard it described, trying to re-charge a permanently sulfated starting battery is sort of like trying to wash your hands wearing rubber gloves. Now, there are those special chargers, and techniques, that can be employed and are claimed to reverse permanent sulfation and bring a battery back to full performance but this is definitely one of those "prevention is better than the cure" situations. If a battery is maintained in the first place as on a tender or float charger the special bespoke boutique chargers aren't necessary.