Extending battery life

[Sachelle Babbar <sbabbar@iris.nyit.edu>]

I've seen new products  that charge the battery (tenders) while using a
new technology that reduces or eliminates plate sulfation. What type of
charge is preferred by the battery (while running) to reduce the amount
that the plates sulfate? Steady? Pulsed? I can design and build a device
that might be able to do this. In NiCd batteries, a similar thing happens.
After some time, a salt bridge forms and shorts the internal terminals.
The battery can be reconditioned by the use of a high pwered capacitor.
Just dischage the battery, charge the cap and shock the battery. Monitor
the battery's voltage until it rises. Shocking it will break the salt
bridge and you're done. I wonder if the the lead acid is much the same. I
am running a 3200 microfarad cap acrros the terms of the battery right now
(not shocking it). I get .01 more volts, but the thing is charging voltage
doesn't fluctuate as much and the battery is seeing more smooth instead of
pulsed power. I really don't know if this is good or not. Info would be
appreciated.TIA!

Steve
'84  5ksT 1.6-2.0 bar

Disclaimer:"Any information contained herein is based purely on my own
personal experience and may not necessarily reflect yours. Use caution as
your results may vary from mine."