Some of the new pulse charging techniques rely on resonating the sulfate
bond at its resonant frequancy to break up the crystals. This allows the
sulfate ions to return to solution and be recycled rather that settling
to the bottom of the cells.
There is a chemical that has the ability to restore some life to lead
acid batteries by chemically stripping some of the sulfation. It is
called EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) a relative of vinegar. It
leaves it as a precipitate which settles to the bottom of the battery.
It still will not remove hard sulfate crystals from a long dead battery.
Eventually any lead acid battery will die of old age when the plates and
straps are eroded away from repeated dissolution and redeposition but
this is mechanical.
-Gerald O'
> Yes, I didn't mention that one...called the guy about a month ago but no
> answer...I still think its the best way. Also talked to the inventor
> out in Phoenix....he's a neat guy and continues making improved
> prototypes. He said he got the idea from a Pop Sci article about
> battery chargers that used square waves and seemed to be more efficient.
>
> Hadn't seen this chemical thing before. I didn't see anything in their
> literature saying how many times you could do this before the battery
> was no longer reclaimable.