Adding EDTA to electrolyte

[solarengineer]

I was wondering about adding edta to my 2v cells. Flux pointed out the rust color in my batteries after being mixed may be dissolved lead. it may be a bad idea to drain the electrolyte to add edta so i wondered about adding it into the electrolyte itself.

Does anyone know of a reliable supplier of edta? in Canada perhaps.

Thanks

Jamie

[Nando]

Jamie:

I have used EDTA to improve lead batteries, the product does work well.

You have another process that could do and it is to extract the electrolyte then wash the plates several times to remove the debris, then fill it with distilled water ONLY and apply 0.2 C charging current for 24 hours, is going to bubble and it will remove the sulphated material, wash again, 2 or so times, the a last wash with distilled water, fill again with distilled water and apply up to 0.4 C charging for 2 hours, rinse the water and inject the electrolyte.

You may end up with a well rejuvenated battery.

Nando

[solarengineer]

Hey Nando, Thanks for the reply. My worry is when I turn the battery upside down to drain the electrolyte that some of the debris will internally short the battery and blow it up in my face.  

Could I filter the electrolyte and reuse it as long as it's clear?

It's difficult to purchase electrolyte here in Canada.

Thanks Nando

Jamie

[solarengineer]

Here are a few pics, its the small holes when u take the filler cap off that make it look hard do drain the gunk.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Nando]

I believe so, though get a good hygrometer and see how good it is.

Since you have several very heavy cells to clean, then it is best that you make a swinging arrangement to be able to rotate the battery up side down without much problem.

Also, get a small plastic tubing to be able to inject water under pressure for washing the plates.

Normally the debris is small in size that may not produce problems if the rotation is done carefully in one direction to make sure the debris flows in the area where the plates do not meet the wall of the container, so look for the best side to rotate the cell for emptying the electrolyte.

Nando

[elvin1949]

Solarengineer

 Charge each 2 volt cell alone then drain and save

the electrolite [strain it].

 From then on do as Nando said.You should be able to save most of the cell's.

 Luck be with you.

later

Elvin

[hydrosun]

Home Power did several articles on using Edta to rejuvinate lead acid batteries. The first artlcle used the dump and flush routines to clean up the sulfated batteries. Later they just disolved  the edta in distilled water and added the solution to the cells. They concluded it worked just as well without the hassle and danger.  I've added edta that way but didn't do enough testing to determine how much capaicity was restored. I got my edta years ago from Trail House supply  in Utah. I haven't seem their ad for a few years but a google search should find them. I paid about $12 a pound.

Chris

[seanchan00]

Hi Nando,

Is 0.2 C charging current 0.2 multiplied by the AH rating of the cell in amperes?

SeanChan.