Sulfated battery?

stephendv

I've found a used forklift battery on fleabay that has been sitting unused in a warehouse for 3 years. It is still strapped to the original pallet it arrived on and has never been charged. But it already has electrolyte in it.
Is there any way to tell how badly sulfated it is? (The guy selling it can take voltage readings, but nothing more).
Could I still get a useful life out of it?

niel

Re: Sulfated battery?

selling it? he couldn't give it to me. it's junk imho.

westbranch

Re: Sulfated battery?

Yes it probably is sulphated.


What are the at rest voltage readings?
Have you gone to the manufacturers web site for charging instructions and discharge tables. You NEED these before proceeding...

Check the electrolyte levels and top it off before going further.

start there and then apply a known load like a vehicle headlight X Watts that will put a 5 - 10% (of the amp hr rating) load on it and observe the voltage right away and then continuously over the next 1/2 hour or so. It may drop quickly so this is not a good sign at this point... stop immediately if/when it drops significantly.
Write all the voltage reading s down as you will need them after the potential 3 or more charge/depletion cycles you will need to do.

Get the Manufacturers charging specifications and charge it as per those then let it rest at least 3 hours and repeat the load test. It should last a fair bit longer, hours, observe every 1/2 hour to determine where it drops off.
compare this with the discharge tables

you probably need to do an EQUALIZATION charge as well. the Manuf data will give instructions. this type of charge mixes the electrolyte by bubbling the liquid with hydrogen gas, a by product of the charging process.

More later when you have some numbers.

may be a fair deal if it is priced right...

cheers
Eric

BB.

Re: Sulfated battery?

Also, figure out the cost of disposal (transportation and fees)... It may cost more for you to safely get rid of it than it is worth to you (recycling laws are so variable--it is difficult to give a blanket answer that you will get $0.06 a lb for the recycled lead)...

-Bill

TnAndy

Re: Sulfated battery?

BB. wrote: »

Also, figure out the cost of disposal (transportation and fees)... It may cost more for you to safely get rid of it than it is worth to you (recycling laws are so variable--it is difficult to give a blanket answer that you will get .....

-Bill

Or you could do what this guy is doing......put it on eBay.......

stephendv

Re: Sulfated battery?

Thanks all. It's definitely not cheap enough to take a chance on it, and it's not local either so the transport costs would be substantial. Will have to keep looking....