In the industrial world we frequently repair batteries. 48 volt 1,000 A/H
batteries get real expensive. We replace cells and yes we perform acid
adjustments and various charge cycles to correct sulfating and other issues.
However except for neutralizing spills I would never add baking soda to a
battery. More importantly for car batteries the time and trouble just isn't
worth it. A $2,000 to $10,000 battery or bank you try to fix. A battery that
costs about the same as a tank of fuel just isn't worth any effort.
Especially if it can mean getting hurt or even left on the side of the road.
The tow will cost more.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Clarkson
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2013 1:19 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 12 volt battery rejuvination/restoration

Has anyone on the list seen the youtube videos on rejuvenating a 12 volt
battery and tried this. I am a bit skeptical of what could be a backyard
chemistry experiment that becomes a potential ticking time bomb. The poster
on youtube drains the exhausted 12 volt battery of acid and flushes it out
with a solution of water and baking soda. Okay, makes sense so far. Then the
battery is filled with a solution of alum and water and set to charge. The
poster later suggests that a bit of salt may be added to prohibit the
battery from freezing in extreme temperatures. I would hate to rejuvenate a
battery in this way if it might pose any sort of hazard with electrical
damage, seepage, excessive offgassing or some other more disastrous
consequence. I hope this is not considered a Friday topic since a lot of our
vans are second or third vehicles and do not get enough battery life by
potentially sitting so much unless kept on a constant trickle charge.
Any chemists or electrical gurus on the list have any input on this.
Here is the URL for the video I watched with a healthy degree of skepticism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Supe1a3LW2U

David Clarkson
Equipment Consultant
Southern Automotive Garage Equipment
sageautoequipment.com
dvdclarksn@aol.com