sulfating your coach batteries

[hanko]

Someone mentioned this in another post, and I was thinking, whats your opinions on this? My magnum inverter has a function to do this , but I'm a little nervous about tying it. Is it a good idea, and will extend the life of the batteries, thanks, I'm sure everyone will be helpful.

[Big_Katuna]

You should measure the specific gravity every few hours and when it hits 1.265 at 80 degrees stop.

Over charging burns off unnecessary plate material.

FYI golf cart batteries are constructed with extra space beneath the plates for the sloughed off material to settle and not touch the plates.

Once it builds up enough material and touches the plates, you lose that cell. So you only get x number of desulphate cycles.

[wildmanbaker]

This will make a difference, just disconnect the house batteries, as the voltage may go above 16 volts, and I would not feel good about the 12 volt boards handling it. To really do any good, this should run for 24 hours.

[crasster]

Desulphating batteries has had awesome results for me. Even "cheap" batteries from Walmart seem to last for a very long time. A good quality battery thus far I have nearly 10 years on them still going very strong.

[gatorcq]

Just disconnect the Engine/Chassis battery is all I do. 15.2 Volts is not enough to bother the items.

[dougrainer]

MrWizard wrote:
Equalizing
Charging at a higher than normal voltage to stir up the electrolyte in the cells and attempting to bring all to the same 'specific gravity' reading

De-desulfating. Attempting to remove lead sulfate from the lead plates and return the sulphur to the electrolyte solution

This does two things , cleans the plate surface and restores electrolyte strength
The electrolyte is diluted sulfuric acid

The difference is merely technical
You can have equal readings in all cells with out having full strength electrolyte
And still have sulphation on the plates
The process of de-sulfation is to remove all the lead sulfate
This is know to sometimes cause plate erosion, not just increase electrolyte strength

From a battery technical article. Doug

"Equalization can be used to desulphate a mildly sulphated battery if the recharging
process failed to complete the reversal"

[MrWizard]

Equalizing
Charging at a higher than normal voltage to stir up the electrolyte in the cells and attempting to bring all to the same 'specific gravity' reading

De-desulfating. Attempting to remove lead sulfate from the lead plates and return the sulphur to the electrolyte solution

This does two things , cleans the plate surface and restores electrolyte strength
The electrolyte is diluted sulfuric acid

The difference is merely technical
You can have equal readings in all cells with out having full strength electrolyte
And still have sulphation on the plates
The process of de-sulfation is to remove all the lead sulfate
This is know to sometimes cause plate erosion, not just increase electrolyte strength

[dougrainer]

Tinstar wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
The term is EQUALIZING. Make sure you READ below. Page 43. It is always BEST to disconnect the RV 12 volt appliances and systems when equalizing. Doug

Doug, will the house disconnect switch remove the appliances from the batteries for equalizing? I'm not talking about the little 12 volt flip switch just inside the entry door. I am talking about the large Perko style switch in the rear electrical bay. I have one for the house and one for the chassis back there.

It should. I would hope they did not run the Inverter battery cable thru that. I have never seen that happen, but it pays to check. Doug

[Tinstar]

dougrainer wrote:
The term is EQUALIZING. Make sure you READ below. Page 43. It is always BEST to disconnect the RV 12 volt appliances and systems when equalizing. Doug

Doug, will the house disconnect switch remove the appliances from the batteries for equalizing? I'm not talking about the little 12 volt flip switch just inside the entry door. I am talking about the large Perko style switch in the rear electrical bay. I have one for the house and one for the chassis back there.

[dougrainer]

The term is EQUALIZING. Make sure you READ below. Page 43. It is always BEST to disconnect the RV 12 volt appliances and systems when equalizing. Doug

http://www.magnum-dimensions.com/sites/default/files/MagDocs/64-0003-Rev-G-ME-RC_Web.pdf

[Big_Katuna]

Get a hydrometer and check the specific gravity. If it is low then you float em. I would disconnect them from the rv.

[Sam_Spade]

pianotuna wrote:
Yes, if they are flooded jars, do it.

Yes, if they are very old it MIGHT help extend their life some.
Might not too.
Probably won't know for sure.

Look up the instructions for that particular charger before proceeding.

[pianotuna]

Yes, if they are flooded jars, do it.