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Epsom Salt to Recondition Battery?

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KVH

KVH

Obi Wan
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I've got a two year old battery with 5 great cells and one that is 35 points weaker than all the rest. If I read my Spec. Gravity Tester correctly, that cell is bad.

Can I fix it by adding a mixture of dissolved Epsom Salt and Hot Distilled Water into that cell?

I've read that all cells could be reconditioned in this manner, but first by draining the solution to make room for at least 1/2 qt of water and dissolved Epsom Salt. Wouldn't that drain off all the critical sulphuric acid?
 
You can find some info about this on line. You have to drain the acid, replace it with the epsom salts solution, charge it a few times, and then presumably drain it and replace the acid. The epsom salts are magnesium sulphate, and the sulphates are what make the battery work. So it's not as strange as it sounds. If the magnesium sulphate will somehow dissolve any sulfation of the battery plates (formation of stable lead sulphate crystals on the plates) it might work. If the battery has died for other reasons, probably not.

Greatest risk is that you might damage the battery, but of course if it's already dead, you have nothing to lose.
 
Isn't it still under some sort of warranty? These type of fixes only seem to last until you need the battery the most and then the failure slaps you right in the face.

I guess what I'm trying say is that with one dead cell, it's not going to last long before another probably follows suit.
 
I have successfully gotten a few more years out of
expensive(200+)6v vintage motorcycle batteries by folowing a procedure
in some old service books.
Drain battery,flush vigourously with water to remove deposits in bottom of case,refill with water and charge,drain and fill with fresh acid and charge.
unbeleivable how much white flake can come out of a small battery.
I stuck hose nozzle right in fill cap,so gyser shoots out othe caps.
Probably not worth the trouble for a standard type car battery.
Tom
 
Brosky said:
Isn't it still under some sort of warranty? These type of fixes only seem to last until you need the battery the most and then the failure slaps you right in the face.

I guess what I'm trying say is that with one dead cell, it's not going to last long before another probably follows suit.
Click to expand...

+1. Why even bother with a patchwork fix? Take it back and get it replaced before it bites you again.
 
Me too... they never consider whether you have mistreated, neglected or otherwise abused the thing, they just calculate your pro-rata credit and get you a new one. At 2 years old the credit should be pretty good.
 
Some modern chargers use a pulse type charging something-or-other that is supposed to de-sulfate batteries. My local Advance auto uses such a charger - perhaps your battery vendor does, too?

One such charger is the "battery tender", but I doubt it has the oomph to de-sulfate a seriously comprimised battery.

Just a thought.
 
OK, I get the message.I'm still not allowed to cut corners. I still don't get to tell my wife that I saved any money.
 
Tell her you saved on road assistance fees.
 
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