One of the most overlooked parts of a vehicle is the battery. Owners don’t take care of it as well as they can, and many of them end up needing a new battery. Did you know, however, that you can recondition a battery that is causing you problems? By cleansing it of sulfates and replenishing it with electrolytes, you are effectively giving it a new lease on life.
People sometimes believe that a defective battery should be thrown away and instead spend a large sum of money on a brand new one. This is one way to get a fully working battery, but it isn’t the only one. You can also save money by reconditioning the batteries, which means returning them to their original state.
You can get a fully working battery with some effort, and the following article is your step-by-step guide to reconditioning batteries. It’s easy to recondition old batteries, and everyone can do it. To recover a fully working battery, all you need is some time and some devices.
You not only save money, but also save the environment by reducing the amount of waste. Your defective battery will look as good as a new one, and you’ll be able to sell it for a profit! As a result, we’ve put together a detailed battery conditioning guide that will show you how to recondition any kind of battery.
You may use a variety of other additives to make your electrolyte solution. Today, however, we are going to talk about Epsom salt. Above all, you must ensure your safety before beginning the process at home. Since battery solutions are acidic liquids, you should wear gloves and goggles to protect yourself.
Things required when restoring a car battery with Epsom salt
You need the following things when restoring your car battery:
- Distilled water.
- Baking soda.
- Epsom salt.
Step-by-step on How to Restore a Car Battery with Epsom Salt
Step 1: Put your gloves and googles again
If you took your gloves and goggles off, put them back on. Caps on the battery cells should be removed. Locate the “ghost plugs” that cover the battery cells if the battery is sealed and you can’t see the battery cells. The shadow plugs are drawn directly into the battery compartment. Drill slowly through the outline of each shadow plug until the cells are visible.
Step 2: Preparing the battery
Cleaning the battery terminals is the first step before starting the reconditioning process. You must be wearing your gloves. If the terminals are corroded, thoroughly clean them. To clean the terminals, make a runny paste with baking soda and distilled water. Apply this paste to the terminals, let it sit for a few minutes, and then clean the area with steel wool. If the corrosion stains are stubborn, you might clean them with a toothbrush.
Keep in mind that foaming isn’t always a negative thing because it means the cleaning is effective. Use a little more baking soda and water to clean the terminals, then wipe them clean when you’re done. Allow for full drying of the terminals.
Step 3: Check the battery voltage
To search for bad cells, use your voltmeter and follow the steps outlined above for detecting bad cells. Now, use the terminals voltmeter readings to see if the battery is still holding a charge. If the voltmeter reads 0, it’s possible that the battery has been short-circuited and needs to be replaced.
Step 4: Emptying your battery
Wear your goggles and gloves at all times. This is the most crucial thing, as well as the riskiest phase in the reconditioning process, and you must proceed with caution. If you’re confident in your protection, use your screwdriver to get under the battery caps and open them. With a gentle nudge, the caps can easily fall off. Take one of the larger plastic buckets and fill it with the battery acid.
When pouring the acid, make sure it’s turned away from you. Wearing corrosion-resistant and industrial-grade gumboots is also a smart idea. Avoid spills by being extremely cautious. Place it upright on the ground after you’ve drained the battery cells. Then, to neutralize the acid, add half of the baking soda into the old acid you drained from the battery.
Step 5: Cleaning the cells
Now that the cells are empty, you must clean them. Consider this the first half of the reconditioning procedure. As a result, combine half a gallon of distilled water with the remaining baking soda. Mix them thoroughly, then use the plastic funnel to dump some of the mixtures into the cells. Replace the caps and gently shake the battery from side to side until each cell is complete.
Do this for a few minutes, then open the caps like you did before and dump the contents into a plastic bucket. Reconditioning the battery is now possible. The waste cleaning liquids can be disposed of.
Step 6: Reconditioning
You’ll need Epsom Salts and distilled water to refill your battery cells, and this combination will serve as your new electrolyte. Since it prevents the sulfation process on the plates, the Epsom mixture can increase the voltage of the battery. Your solution will consist of distilled water and salts.
As a result, combining Epsom salts with boiled water in a clean bucket is the easier choice. While stirring, add the Epsom salts. When the hot water is clear, the electrolyte mixture is ready. Pour the mixture into each cell using a clean plastic funnel until they are all fully filled. Keep the leftovers for another day.
Replace the battery caps and shake the battery for several minutes. The battery will be ready to charge once this is completed.
Step 7: Charging the reconditioned battery
Charging the newly reconditioned battery is the next critical phase. To begin, remove the caps, which will prevent the electrolyte from overflowing. It’s worth noting that pressure accumulation in the battery is both inconvenient and dangerous. Before you start charging, make sure the charger is as far away from your battery as possible.
Read the directions that came with your specific battery charger. Each charger works uniquely. Link the positive —- “+” or “POS” —- cable to the positive terminal, then the negative cable to charge the battery. Charge the battery according to the user manual for your battery charger. On your charger, select the appropriate “VOLT/AMP” mode.
Step 8: Testing the battery
Check the battery with your voltmeter. If the voltmeter readings are above 12.43v, the battery is ready; however, if the voltmeter readings are below 12.43v, the battery must be charged for another 12 hours. Refill the cells if there is an electrolyte overflow. You can retest the battery until you’re pleased with the results.
Remove the battery charger from the car/lawnmower, replace the caps, and attach the battery to the car/lawnmower. Switch on the headlights (without starting the car) and let the battery charge for a few minutes. Recheck the voltmeter. If the voltmeter reads 9.8v or more, the battery is completely reconditioned.
If the voltage is less than 9.8 volts, the reconditioning is incomplete, and the steps above must be repeated. If the battery fails the load test, another option is to recycle it. In this scenario, you must completely discharge your battery before charging it again. Connecting the battery under load and leaving the beams on is what it takes to drain it.
How much Epsom salt do you use? Mix it with a liter of distilling water and two tablespoons or two and a half tablespoons of Epsom salt, wait until completely dissolved, then refill the battery and recharge for around eight hours. This might not be enough for certain larger plate batteries.
How long will the battery last after this procedure?
It depends on your current battery state, but on average, the battery should last for another 2 to 3 months at most, if not less.
Benefits of using Epsom Salt to restore your car battery
There are a few advantages of reconditioning your old batteries. Some of the most important advantages are mentioned below.
Cost Saving
You will save a lot of money by reconditioning your car batteries instead of buying new ones. The cost of a regular 12V car battery ranges from $50 to $120, with more premium brands costing anywhere from $90 to $200. You will save 25 to 50 percent off the retail price by reconditioning.
Make some money
How many of your neighbors have old car batteries that aren’t corroded but still work? Let’s say you have ten of them. A brand new battery costs about $100, but you can save $20 to $50 by reconditioning and charging them. For all ten of them, you’ll make between $200 and $500. That is already a substantial sum of money.
Waste Reduction
Across the United States, there are millions of car owners. If everybody replaced their old car batteries, there would be about 1 million lead-acid battery waste to dispose of. Reconditioning your 12V car cells is a smart way to help reduce this waste.
Cautions to look at when restoring a car battery with Epsom
- Lead acid batteries come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some batteries have top-mounted caps that can be removed to quickly retain acid levels, but low-maintenance batteries need a little more effort to recondition. The top of a low-maintenance battery is sealed shut to avoid evaporation, but it also makes reconditioning difficult.
- Before the battery is fully revived, you can replicate this process 2 to 4 times on the same battery.
- Before attempting this process with your car battery, always wear goggles and glasses.
- When the battery is hot, do not use this method; instead, wait until the battery cools down.
Final Thoughts
That is the best way to restore your car battery with Epsom Salt. Simply follow the safety precautions outlined above since battery acid is corrosive and can burn the skin or eyes, as well as eat through clothing. The battery often releases hydrogen gas, which can cause an explosion when exposed to oxygen. We hope that you will find this article helpful in the near future. You can ask any question, and our team will get back to you as soon as possible. Till next time. Thanks!
