How to make a new one from an old battery. Battery Recovery

The cause of a car battery malfunction is most often sulfation and destruction of the plates as a result of deep discharge, prolonged overcharging, or crystallization of the electrolyte at sub-zero temperatures. In the warranty card and the car's operating manual, most likely, in such a case you will only find recommendations for replacing the battery with a new one. However, you can try to revive the power supply with proven methods.

Raise capacity and density

The main method that is used in various modifications to restore the battery is a multiple charge with a low current (usually such a recommendation can be found in the technical literature). Due to the sulfation of lead plates (their surface is covered with a coating that prevents the battery from working properly), the battery capacity is significantly reduced. Charging is fast, but discharging is just as fast. In a short time, the battery stops receiving current from the charger, and a pause is made, after which the cycle is repeated.

The strength of the charging current should be small - 4-6% of the rated capacity. For example, if you have a capacity of 60 Ah, then the permitted current will be no more than 3.6 A. As a rule, the time of one charging cycle is 6-8 hours, the break is from 8 to 16 hours. The total number of charge-break cycles is 5-6. The termination of restoration work is relevant if the density of the electrolyte has become normal for a given battery, and the voltage value of each of the sections varies between 2.5-2.7 Volts.

Video tutorial on how to bring an old battery back to life

How to repair a car battery at home

A method that is more suitable for motorists who are not able to wait a long time for the result is to dissolve sulfates by washing with a special compound:

1. Charge the battery to its full capacity.
2. Drain the electrolyte.
3. Rinse the inside of the jars with distilled water 2-3 times.
4. Pour in Trilon B ammonia solution (2% Trilon B + 5% ammonia).
5. Leave the battery in this state for an hour (the end of the reaction will be indicated by the cessation of active gas evolution).
6. Repeat desulfation in case of insufficient cleaning of the plates from plaque.
7. Rinse the battery with distilled water 2-3 times.
8. Fill in the electrolyte of the required density.
9. Recharge the battery in the standard way.

A simpler flushing option is as follows:

1. Drain the electrolyte.
2. Rinse the inside of the battery several times with hot water.
3. Rinse the plates two or three times with an exposure of 20 minutes with a cleaning solution of boiling water and 3 teaspoons of technical (you can use food) soda.
4. Rinse the insides again a couple of times with hot water.
5. Fill in fresh electrolyte and charge the battery for a day.
6. After the battery is discharged while driving, charge it daily for 6 hours for the next 10 days. Approximate charge time - 6 hours at voltage

14-16 Volts and charging current not more than 10 Amps.

Is it possible to reanimate a maintenance-free acid battery

A reliable way to resuscitate a maintenance-free car battery is quite simple, but requires patience. First you need to pour out all the electrolyte, replacing it with ordinary distilled water. The terminals are connected in the usual manner to the charger, which is set to a constant voltage of 14 volts. After a couple of hours, you need to listen to the processes taking place inside. There must be gas release. If it is intense, then you need to slightly reduce the voltage of the charging current. Thus, it is necessary to achieve moderate, but stable gas formation.

In this state, in two weeks, the battery will turn water into a weak electrolyte as a result of its reaction with lead sulfate on the surface of the plates, which will gradually be converted into sulfuric acid molecules. After the specified time, the contents of the jars are again replaced by water, from which a new electrolyte should be obtained within 1-2 weeks under the influence of an already tested current. At the end of desulfation, the electrolyte of low density must be replaced with a normal electrolyte. The final touch of recovery will be recharging in accordance with the standard parameters for this battery.

Troubleshooting a short circuit

It so happens that the problem of low battery was the result of a short circuit in one of the cans. In this case, the electrolyte charge in the problem section becomes impossible. The only way out is to eliminate the circuit zone by burning it with a high current. It is enough to connect the terminals, for example, to a welding machine with a rectifier diode at the output, in order to give a current of 100 or more amperes to the plates. It will only take a couple of seconds to close the circuit. This is enough to eliminate the place of contact of the plates as a result of its critical overheating.

Reverse charge

The welding machine can also help with battery recovery by reverse charging. The polarity should be taken in this case exactly the opposite: the “plus” of the power source is connected to the “minus” of the battery, the “minus” to the positive terminal. The voltage should be 20 volts, the charging current should be 80 amperes or more. When the plugs of all cans are turned out, current is supplied. The battery should actively boil for half an hour, after which the electrolyte should be drained. After washing the battery with hot water, you can fill in a normal electrolyte and charge the battery for a day. But there is an important nuance: the terminals have now changed polarity, so the “plus” of the charger is installed on the “minus” of the battery, and the “minus” goes to the former “plus”.

If the above methods do not help solve the problem or there is no way to wait, you will have to buy a new battery.

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Probably every motorist at least once faced with a situation where, for some reason, refused to work. This is a serious problem if you need to urgently go somewhere. Many will go and get a new battery. But, knowing at home, you can not only restore the battery, but also extend its life for a few more years.

How batteries are arranged, how they work

The battery is a sealed plastic container, inside which negative and positive lead plates are installed. In modern models, the plates can be not only made of lead, but also nickel, cadmium and other alloys.

Sulfuric acid is also inside - thanks to it, a galvanic couple is formed.

When current is applied to the battery terminals, energy storage will begin. When the capacity limit is reached, the battery will turn into a power source with a voltage of 12 V.

Every time a car owner starts his car, the battery loses some of its energy. But as soon as the engine starts, the generator must replenish energy reserves. But this is only in the ideal case. Therefore, sometimes to the limit, but how to reanimate the battery, a motorist, especially a beginner, does not always know. There are many reasons why a battery fails. Statistics show that a large number of batteries fail due to sulfation and shedding of the coating.

Sulfation is one of the causes of battery failure.

So, a typical battery is lead plates in sulfuric acid. This metal is easily destroyed by exposure to weak acids, for example, acetic acid. But sulfuric acid is not at all dangerous for him, even if it is very concentrated or heated. The film, which is formed as a result of the reaction of sulfuric acid and lead, protects the metal from destruction.

A battery is a source of chemical type electricity. If the battery is charged, then sulfuric acid is in the electrolyte. When the battery is discharged, it is on the electrodes in the form of sulfate. The operation is reversible when charging and this is a normal process.

If the battery is left uncharged for a long time, then the lead sulfates will begin to dissolve, and as a result they will begin to form on the electrodes in the form of large insoluble crystals.

The sulfate layer is an insulator. As a result, part of the battery capacity is lost, and if the battery has been in a state of discharge for a long time, it will die.

Diagnosing sulfation is very simple - the battery capacity is quickly lost, there is not enough power to start the engine, the electrolyte boils and the plates overheat. There is also a higher voltage at the terminals.

calcium sulfates

In modern batteries, lead is alloyed with calcium. This allows you to reduce almost to a minimum the boiling of water and reduce self-discharge. However, if the battery is discharged strongly enough, then the electrodes are covered. It will no longer be possible to fully charge this battery. Due to the fact that such a battery increases, it is believed that it needs to be charged with voltages of 15 V. This is an error. You need to know exactly how to reanimate the battery, otherwise you can kill it altogether.

Shedding of coal plates

This is also a fairly common reason why batteries fail. The diagnosis is easy to make - sulfuric acid will darken. In this case, there is a risk of battery death - unfortunately, such a task as resuscitating a car battery is not solvable in this case.

Lead batteries have been changed and upgraded many times over the course of evolution.

However, the principle of operation remained the same. Lead oxide paste is applied to the plates. This part or spread is held on the electrodes due to the adhesive properties and design of the plates. It crumbles as a result of vibrations, sulfation, temperature fluctuations. The process of shedding is quite natural. This indicates the aging of the battery. If you handle the battery carefully, then its life will increase significantly.

How to revive a car battery

The reasons are all clear. In the warranty cards for cars in this case, the driver will only find a recommendation to replace the battery. But there are options for restoring the power supply.

How to raise capacitance and density

The main method that is used for batteries of various modifications is low current charging. The battery charges quickly and also discharges. In a short period of time, the power supply stops taking charge. Here you need to pause, and then repeat the cycle.

You need to know exactly how to reanimate the car battery - if you choose the wrong charge parameters, you can completely destroy the battery. So, the current strength should be only 4-6% of the battery capacity. For example, for 60 Ah batteries, a charge current of not more than 3.6 A is allowed. Often, the time of one such cycle is about 6-8 hours. Pause - from 8 to 16 hours. Recovery may require 5-6 such cycles.

You can stop the procedure if it has recovered and the voltage level is within the acceptable limits for a particular battery.

Restorative treatments at home

This option is suitable for those who do not have time. Experienced motorists have been using it for a long time. If anyone did not know how to reanimate the battery, then this method involves the dissolution of sulfates by washing with special solutions.

First of all, the battery is charged to the maximum of its capabilities. Next, the electrolyte is drained, and the insides are washed with distilled water 2-3 times. Then Trilon B is also poured into the cavity and the battery is left for an hour. When the reaction is over, it will be visible. The release of gases will stop. Then the process should be repeated if the plates are not cleaned enough. After all, the battery is washed again, the electrolyte is poured and charged in the standard way.

How to revive an old car battery

Battery manufacturers recommend that old batteries be thrown away at the end of their life. Do not rush with this - there is an opportunity to revive them. Today in many cities there are companies that buy up old batteries - they reanimate them and then sell them at an affordable cost.

If there is one such in the garage, you can try to return it to its former capabilities. You just need to know how to reanimate the old battery to make it work. After all, even a Chinese battery will cost at least 2000 rubles, and these are some, but still money can be saved.

Getting Started

The first step is to identify the faults. Black electrolyte is destroyed carbon plates. The capacity has fallen - sulfation. It is also possible that the plates short-circuit, but we will talk about how to reanimate the battery with such a problem below. Severe case - swollen sides of the battery. This is just a replacement.

How to treat plate closure

To eliminate this problem, a special additive will help.

It is added to the electrolyte, the density of which is 1.28 g/cm3, and left there for two days. After that, the mixture is poured into the battery and the density is measured. If the indicator remains at the same level, then it is charged and discharged. If no heating or boiling is observed in the process, then the current can be halved.

Two hours later, the density of the electrolyte is measured again. If it is back to normal, the charging is stopped. We can assume that the battery is restored. If the density has increased, add water. When decreased, then sulfuric acid. After that, charging is carried out again.

Short circuit repair: method number 2

To eliminate the short circuit, the problem area is burned out with high currents. To do this, it is enough to connect the battery to the welding machine with the current must be from 100 A. The circuit is closed for only a couple of seconds.

About maintenance-free batteries

Manufacturers made these batteries to be easily changed.

How to reanimate a maintenance-free battery is not written in the instructions for them. But there is still a way.

The first step is to drain the electrolyte, and replace it with distilled water. Next, the battery is charged at a constant voltage of 14 V. After a few hours, you should listen to what is happening inside the battery. The process must be accompanied by the formation of gases. With intensive release, the current is reduced.

In two weeks, the battery will turn water into an electrolyte, and lead sulfate will turn into sulfuric acid.

After two weeks, the contents are drained and water is poured again, and this process is repeated again. When desulfation is completely over, you can fill in a normal electrolyte and charge the battery with standard parameters.

How to properly reanimate the battery, the modern manufacturer does not tell. All these methods are used by motorists themselves, at their own peril and risk. The main thing is to follow these recommendations exactly, and then there is a chance that the battery will come to life and will delight its owner for many more years.

So, we figured out how to reanimate a maintenance-free car battery.

Almost every driver is interested in the question of how to restore the battery. After all, buying a new one is not at all profitable, and due to improper operation or for other reasons, native batteries very often fail. Luckily, DIY car battery repair is not a difficult task. To carry it out, you only need to figure out what exactly could cause the battery to fail, and make the necessary repairs in accordance with the breakdown.

Car battery repair: the most common malfunctions and their causes

To understand how to repair a car battery, you first need to understand why it does not work, and what led to the breakdown. Below we consider the most common battery malfunctions.

self-discharge

Important! As soon as the battery in the car is discharged, it should be charged immediately. It is strictly forbidden to store the battery in a discharged state.

So that self-discharge does not lead to a complete failure of the battery, even during storage it should be recharged at least once every 2 months by using small currents. But if the battery discharges more than 3% during the day, it means that it has other faults:

the presence of contaminants in the electrolyte;

The use of low-quality components in the battery manufacturing process;

Foreign objects getting inside the battery;

Contamination of the outer surface of the battery;

Destruction of separators.

If you continue to use a battery with such defects, it may be completely discharged even in one day. Such a car battery is unlikely to be repairable.

The appearance of oxidation on the pins

Such a malfunction is caused either by contact with the pins and copper terminals of the battery electrolyte, or electrolyte vapor. In any case, contact deteriorates between the pins and terminals, which is why you have to resort to self-cleaning of the oxidized elements with fine-grained sandpaper. After completing the car battery repair procedure, the pins and terminals must be coated with special technical petroleum jelly, which will prevent future oxidation.

Short circuits

Short circuits of the different-pole plates of a car battery can occur either as a result of the destruction of the separators, or due to the sedimentation of active mass residues at the bottom of the battery cans. Other causes of a short circuit can be:

excessive shaking of the battery, which is poorly fixed in the engine compartment;

Use of electrolyte with high density;

Warping of the plates resulting from applying too much current;

Long battery life.

Repair of short-circuit damaged car batteries is only possible if the battery itself is serviceable. Otherwise, the battery, inside which short circuits periodically occur, must be disposed of.

Hull damage

If the case is damaged, do-it-yourself car battery repair can also be done, however, the possibility of such a recovery always depends on the degree of damage. Often the situation can be corrected with the help of glue, which is suitable for fixing the material of damaged areas. During operation, the electrolyte from the car battery case must be poured out and the tank dried. After repairing the damage on the case, a new electrolyte is poured into the battery.

This is a very common cause of car battery failure, which, however, is subject to self-repair. To understand how to repair the battery of a car with a “diagnosis” of plate sulfation, you need to understand what causes such a malfunction:

long-term storage of batteries without recharging;

Reducing the amount of electrolyte in battery banks;

Use of an electrolyte with increased density for the battery;

Driving with an overly discharged battery.

A characteristic sign of plate sulfation is the formation of lead sulfate crystals on their surface. This substance is not able to dissolve in the electrolyte and, when accumulated on the plates, does not allow the liquid to penetrate into their active mass. The result of this is a rapid decrease in battery capacity.

Important!If sulfation slightly damaged the battery plates, then you can still save the device. If the crystals almost completely covered the plates, such a car battery is cheaper to replace.

Every driver should take good care of the car's battery and avoid situations that can lead to sulfation.

Internal network break

Such a malfunction is more likely to be characteristic of older models of batteries. However, if you are "lucky" to encounter such a battery problem, fixing it is not only easy, but also cheap. As a result of a break, only the plates are disconnected from the battery output terminals. For it to work again, this connection will need to be restored.

Do-it-yourself car battery repair: a list of necessary actions

Repairing a car battery can take a lot of time, so you should prepare for such a procedure in advance. At the same time, it is most rational to carry out the restoration of the battery only in the case of sulfation of its plates. In almost all other cases, the battery will need to be replaced. In order to perform desulfation of the plates, it is necessary:

1. Drain the old electrolyte from the battery, as a result of which the plates were covered with lead sulfate.

2. Dilute a special desulfating liquid-additive in the new electrolyte. In this case, it is recommended to use an electrolyte with a density of 1.28 g/cm3. The volume of electrolyte that needs to be filled into the battery, check with the instructions for the device.

3. Pour the resulting electrolyte into a non-working battery.

4. Unscrew the plugs on the car battery to connect to charge with a small current. It is very important that during this process the battery does not start to heat up and boil. If the voltage at the terminals rises to 13.8 V, the current will need to be reduced a little more and measure the density of the electrolyte. Re-measurement will need to be carried out after another 2 hours, and if the results obtained are identical, the battery is charged.

5. In order for the density of the electrolyte to reach 1.28 g / cm3, it is necessary either to add more electrolyte with a higher density to it, or to dilute it with distilled water.

Important!To restore the previous capacity of a car battery that has been "stolen" by the sulfation process, it must be completely discharged. Limit the current supply and connect a light bulb to the restored battery. Evidence of a complete discharge will be a voltage indicator at the terminals of 10.2 V. Next, calculate the battery capacity by multiplying its discharge time by the current with which the discharge was carried out. If the capacity is insufficient, the procedure for charging / discharging the battery is repeated.

Upon completion of the repair of the car battery and the restoration of its capacity, it is necessary to add a little more desulphating additive to the electrolyte. After that, the battery can be installed and connected to the car.

How to quickly restore a dead battery

Before you fix a dead battery, you need to check it for other breakdowns. If there are none, and the battery is dead solely due to sulfation, it can be restored in another simple and, most importantly, quick way:

1. Fully charge the car battery.

2. Drain the electrolyte and flush the car battery with distilled water. It is better to repeat the procedure several times.

3. Pour a special cleaning liquid into the battery container, which includes ammonia and Trilon. Leave it in the container for about 40-50 minutes.

4. Drain the liquid and rinse the battery again with distilled water.

6. Discharge to restore capacity.

This completes the battery recovery process. It is only important to take into account that you will have to work with aggressive liquids, so they must be filled in and poured out carefully, after wearing rubber gloves.

Do-it-yourself car battery repair: is it worth taking the job?

Now you know how to repair a car battery, but still do not forget that in some cases such an operation is not advisable. This may be due to such a feature of modern batteries as the lack of serviceability. In this case, the only recovery procedures applicable to the car battery may be recharging and topping up with distilled water.

But if the battery is of an older design and is subject to maintenance, it is really worth taking on its repair. However, if you also need to replace its main constituent elements, it will be cheaper to buy a new battery, since it is not entirely advisable to invest in an old battery.

Therefore, before proceeding with the repair of a car battery with your own hands, it is worth assessing the severity of the malfunction. If it costs you less money to buy a new battery, then do it. If you yourself can not make such a decision, seek advice from auto repairmen.

April 27, 2017

Like any product, a lead-acid battery has its own shelf life and, if properly maintained, will last a long time. Failed car power sources are replaced with new ones, but in some cases repairs are possible, after which the battery will last for some more time. You should know that a restored car battery will last for some time, but by and large, you should prepare yourself for purchasing a new one.

In order to better understand the information that will be discussed below, we suggest that the reader familiarize himself with the device of a car battery. It is clearly shown in this diagram:

The main reasons for the failure of car batteries

The most common malfunction of car batteries is. At the same time, the battery capacity drops noticeably, and as a result, the device does not have enough power to turn the starter.

You can determine the sulfation of the plates by the following signs:

• Decreased capacity;
• electrolyte boiling;
• Plate overheating;
• Increased voltage on the electrodes.

The next common cause of battery failure is destruction and shedding of coal plates. This malfunction can be determined by the dark color of the electrolyte. Restoring the car battery in this case is possible, although not always.

The third common malfunction is related to by shorting lead plates in one of the battery sections. It is quite easy to identify this failure. When charging, the faulty section will heat up excessively, and the electrolyte will boil away. It is possible to restore the battery in this case, although it is somewhat more difficult than in the first case. The solution to the problem is to replace the lead plates in the section, which is quite expensive, although cheaper than buying a new battery.

The fourth reason for battery failure is related to with improper operation and storage of batteries. It is known that an incompletely charged battery can freeze at sub-zero temperatures. As a result of freezing, lead plates, as well as the body of the device, can be damaged. This can lead to short circuits in the device case and electrolyte boiling. In this case, unfortunately, the battery cannot be restored.

Do-it-yourself car battery recovery

Having found out the reasons, you can proceed to consider ways to restore the battery.

SULFATION REMOVAL

Sulfation of the plates causes a charged battery to not produce full power, and the discharge occurs very quickly. To carry out battery restoration work, you will need:

• Charger;
• Electrolyte;
• Distilled water;
• Safety goggles and gloves;
• Desulfating additive;
• "Ariometer".

The battery is fully charged, after which the electrolyte is drained from it and it is washed. A new electrolyte is poured into the jars and an appropriate desulphating additive is added.

The rules for its use should be studied before starting work. The electrolyte with additive should be completely filled to the jar to the level recommended by the manufacturer. The battery should be infused for two days, during which time the additive should eliminate deposits on the plates.

CAPACITY RECOVERY
After removing deposits, properly restore the capacity of the power source. To do this, charging should be carried out with low currents, not higher than 0.1A. The battery is fully charged, the density is checked and, if necessary, aligned to the required values. Next, we discharge the battery to a voltage of 10.5 volts, while the voltage in each bank should not be lower than 1.7 volts.

You can determine the battery capacity by calculating the battery discharge time. To do this, multiply the charge current by the time. If the battery capacity is below the nominal capacity, charge-discharge cycles should be carried out until the car battery is completely restored.

Charging the battery As a load, you can use car lamps connected in series with each other. After that, the battery is fully charged, while the charging current should not exceed half of the usual indicators when charging. It is necessary to determine the power of the lamps and the discharge time to the indicated values. Using a simple formula, the battery capacity is calculated, and in case of insufficient power supply capacity, the “discharge-charge” cycle should be carried out until acceptable battery capacity values ​​are reached. After completing the work, you can add a small amount of additive to the electrolyte, wrap the plugs and use the restored battery.

DEEP SULFATION
There are other ways to restore a car battery that is almost completely sulphated. However, these methods are quite dangerous and require special facilities for work.

REVERSE CURRENT RECOVERY
Restoring using this method will require a high-capacity power supply. For example, a welding transformer is suitable for this (not to be confused with an inverter). This source must have an output voltage of at least 20 volts, and a current of more than 80 amperes. It should be borne in mind that the battery should not have a short circuit of the plates, in which case the consequences can be unpredictable. Recovery is carried out by reverse current, for which we connect the plus of the transformer to the minus of the battery, and the minus to the positive terminal of the battery.

Charging the battery The plugs of the renewable power supply must be inverted and the electrolyte level correct. Charging is turned on for 30 minutes, while abundant gas formation and abundant heat generation are formed, electrolyte can even splash out of the necks of the cans. Therefore, security measures must be observed impeccably. At the end of charging with reverse current, the electrolyte is drained, washed with distilled water and a new sulfuric acid solution of the required density is poured.

Next, charging is carried out with a conventional charger of the correct polarity minus to minus, plus to plus. At the end of charging, several control and training cycles can be carried out. It should be remembered that these works do not guarantee recovery and may lead to the final failure of the battery.

This method, like the previous one, should be carried out on a battery, which, in case of failure, will not be a pity to dispose of. The battery is charged to the maximum, the electrolyte is drained and washed with distilled water. A solution of sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is poured into the empty container. For its preparation, it is better to use a chemical laboratory.
The time it takes to desulfate the battery is 40 to 60 minutes, with abundant gas evolution and heating of the container. At the end of gas evolution, the solution is drained, washed 2-3 times with distilled water, a new electrolyte is poured in and the battery is charged. If you are lucky, the restored battery will last for some time.

CORRECT USE OF THE VEHICLE BATTERY
And so that you don’t have to wonder how to restore a car battery, you should take into account some useful tips on caring for this device.

• At intervals of once every two to three months, check the level and density of the electrolyte;
• In severe frosts, it is worth raising the density of the electrolyte to 1.40 g / cc.
• It is necessary to charge the battery with a current ten times less than its capacity. For example, if the battery capacity is 60 A / h, charging should be carried out with a current of 5 amperes;
• When the air temperature is below -25 'C, you should not leave the car overnight in an open parking lot. At this temperature, the electrolyte in the battery can freeze, causing the battery to fail.

If you follow these simple tips, you will be able to significantly extend the life of the battery and not have to wonder how to restore the car battery.

The start of automobile engines and other power plants is carried out by a starter, which is a special electric motor. To create a starting torque, it needs electricity received from an external source - a battery. However, over time, during operation, the battery may experience various malfunctions, and then the owners have a question of how to restore the battery. This problem is solved in various ways, depending on the design and technical condition of the battery, using special equipment and tools.

Acid battery device

The main function of the battery is to briefly supply powerful power to the starter, which ensures the start of various power plants. For a short time, the battery supplies electricity to all on-board devices until the engine is started, after which the power to them begins to be generated by the generator. Two types of devices are produced for cars - acid and alkaline batteries. Recovery activities most often relate to the first option, which will be discussed in more detail as an example.

All batteries have a fairly reliable design, but despite this, damage and malfunctions still occur due to improper maintenance or inaccurate operation. If the acid battery is old, then there is no point in repairing it. As a rule, restoration measures are carried out in relation to relatively new batteries. To do this, you need to have a good understanding of the design of these devices.

Any battery is placed in a closed plastic case, from which two plus and minus terminals come out. The design assumes the possibility of servicing the battery or the model is maintenance-free. In the first case, there are holes in the upper part of the body that are closed with plugs. In the second case, these structural elements are absent, with the exception of one small hole through which gases are discharged. Such devices have improved characteristics.

The internal space of the case is divided into 6 parts, called sections or banks. They are filled with working elements - lead plates with a positive or negative value, on which the active substance is applied. The battery plates are arranged alternately so that the plus alternates with the minus. Between them there is a separator, which excludes the possibility of accidental contact. The plates are connected into common blocks, each of which has an output jumper connected to the bridge. Thus, all elements are connected into a single bridge and output to the terminals.

The principle of operation of the battery

The formation and transfer of electricity in the battery is carried out by chemical reactions. For this purpose, an electrolyte is poured into each jar, which is a solution in which acid and distilled water are mixed in strictly defined doses.

The battery cannot generate electricity on its own, it only receives it from extraneous sources and stores it for a certain time. During charging, electricity is supplied to the terminals, after which it is converted into chemical energy. Discharging, the battery enters the reverse process, when chemical energy is converted into electrical current.

When a load is connected to the battery, a reaction begins between the spongy lead on the negative plates, the lead dioxide on the positive plate, and the electrolyte. As a result, electricity is released, which is then used for its intended purpose. At the same time, the negative plates are covered with a layer of lead sulfate. During battery charging, the whole process occurs in reverse order, after which the sulfate is dissolved in the electrolyte, and the positive plates are covered with a layer of lead dioxide.

Basic battery problems

The positive and negative plates of the battery are placed in a closed plastic container, inside which an electrolyte is poured, which is a solution of hydrochloric acid. Together with lead plates, it forms the so-called galvanic couple. The terminals receive current from the generator or charger. When it accumulates in sufficient quantities, the battery itself turns into a source of electricity.

Losses of electricity spent on start-up and other needs are replenished using a generator. However, after a certain time, the accumulated reserves become insufficient for normal operation. During operation, aging of the plates occurs. In some cases, the battery can be reanimated. But for this, you must first accurately determine the cause of the non-working state of the battery in order to restore the car's battery at home.

Most often, the battery fails due to sulfation of lead electrodes. In the case of deep discharge, the crystals do not have time to dissolve. In addition, sulfation occurs due to regular undercharging and prolonged storage of the battery in a state of complete discharge. It is easily determined visually, just unscrew the plugs and look at the plates, covered with a light brown coating.

In other cases, in the presence of sulfation, the battery begins to boil quickly when charged, when fully charged, it does not rotate the starter motor and sits down within a few minutes even under the slightest load. The case is covered with a white coating and it is already problematic to return to its original state.

Another well-known cause of battery failure is the destruction of the plates and their further shedding. The main external sign is the black color of the electrolyte. In the event of the destruction of many gratings, the repair of such a battery becomes impossible and it can no longer be restored.

Battery failure is often associated with the short circuit of the plates located nearby. They deform or crumble, and sediment forms on the bottom of the case, causing the closure of one of the sections. In this case, the electrolyte in this bank does not boil during charging, or boiling occurs very slowly. The voltage does not rise at all or rises very weakly. In this case, it is not known whether the device can be returned to its initial state.

Sometimes the battery fails due to freezing of the electrolyte. This happens when the battery is in the cold in a state of severe discharge. If the hull is torn apart by ice, then the plates most likely also deformed and closed. With a whole case, the battery should be thawed in a warm place and then try to solve the problem of how to restore the battery.

Before starting repairs, the housing must be cleaned. Dirt is removed from its surface, after which it is washed with a soda solution in order to neutralize the electrolyte. The terminals are cleaned of plaque with medium sandpaper. Sometimes, after cleaning the terminals, the battery immediately partially restores its performance.

Desulfation by CTC

As a result of sulfation, lead sulphate is deposited on the surfaces of the plates, which prevents the penetration of the electrolyte into the depth of the active mass. For this reason, some part of the mass no longer takes part in the chemical reaction. Therefore, an increase in internal resistance is observed in the battery, due to which the capacity drops. The battery cannot be fully charged and loses its charge very quickly.

One of the main methods for solving the problem of how to restore a car battery is considered to be a control and training cycle, with the help of which sulfation can be eliminated at an early stage, and the battery capacity is restored. The essence of the method is charging and discharging, which are performed in a single cycle. It is necessary to prepare in advance the charger, voltmeter, hydrometer, consumer as a load and you can restore performance.

First, the battery is fully charged. For this, a current strength of 10% of the nominal battery capacity is used. That is, a 60 amp-hour battery will require a current of 6 amps. At the end of charging, the density of the electrolyte is checked in all banks, which should normally be 1.27. If the indicator is less than the nominal value, it is necessary to raise the density to the desired level and charge the battery for another half an hour to mix the electrolyte.

Next, a control discharge is performed using a load connected to the terminals. In this case, the consumed electricity is no more than 10% of the battery capacity. During the discharge process, periodic voltage measurements are performed, which should decrease at the terminals to 10.2V. This indicator corresponds to the full discharge of the device. At the same time, you need to monitor the discharge time. A new battery takes about 10 hours to do this. A shorter discharge time corresponds to a greater loss of battery capacity. Thus, the problem of how to restore the car battery is solved.

The battery must not be left discharged for too long. After a complete discharge, it should be immediately put on charge until the charge is fully restored. As a result of this operation, the capacity is restored, and the internal resistance of the battery decreases after a decrease in sulfation.

Electrolyte replacement

Sometimes the electrolyte contained in the jars becomes cloudy and turns black. In this case, it needs to be replaced. This condition is typical for short circuits or old batteries that have not been used for a long time. One of the ways to restore a car battery is to replace the electrolyte.

The spoiled liquid must be drained by pulling it out with a rubber bulb. It is recommended to pump out the electrolyte not only from the spoiled, but also from all other cans.

Distilled water is poured into empty cans, after which the battery case needs to be shaken a little and drained. The battery must not be turned over, otherwise sediment particles may get stuck between the plates. The procedure is repeated several times until the drained water is clean.

• An electrolyte with a density of 1.28 is poured and settled for a day until all the air comes out from the inside.
• Charging with a current of 0.1 A until the density is fully restored. The electrolyte should not boil much, and the case should not get very hot. If necessary, charging is interrupted to allow the liquid to cool. The battery should charge up to 14-15 volts.
• After checking the hydrometer readings, the current decreases and remains for another 2 hours. If the density during this time has remained at the same level, charging can be stopped.

Using a current of 0.5 amperes, the old battery is discharged to 10 volts. When the voltage reaches this mark in less than 8 hours, the entire previous cycle should be repeated. If everything is normal, the battery is charged to its nominal value.