battery desulfaters

[saturnsc2]

do these devices really work? it seems like it's too good to be true. here is the website to a company who sells these devices: www.pulsetech.net has anybody here used on of these units or similar? they claim to make your battery last 3 times longer. i never heard of a battery that could last almost 20 years....

[MagicRat]

This is the first time I have heard of this, but their website is accurate about the reasons for battery sulphation and failure.
However, the site is vague on exactly how the electrical pulse works, (I guess its a patented secret) My best guess is that it uses a capacitor to deliver a short burst of high voltage current to the battery, to shake loose the sulphur depisits on the plate, but not overheat the battery like a constant full voltage charge will.
I know that leaving a battery on a trickle charger (2 or 4 amps) for 3 days at a time often does the same thing, so long as it does not overheat.

[saturnsc2]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

This is the first time I have heard of this, but their website is accurate about the reasons for battery sulphation and failure.
However, the site is vague on exactly how the electrical pulse works, (I guess its a patented secret) My best guess is that it uses a capacitor to deliver a short burst of high voltage current to the battery, to shake loose the sulphur depisits on the plate, but not overheat the battery like a constant full voltage charge will.
I know that leaving a battery on a trickle charger (2 or 4 amps) for 3 days at a time often does the same thing, so long as it does not overheat.

yes, the device sends a signal through the battery every 2 seconds. i guess a small burst of energy. it's a small black box that just attaches to the battery terminals. i wonder if it's a gimmick like that other black box called electronic rust control that they tried to unload on us in the 90's. that was proven to be just b.s. if these devices really worked, why don't automakers install the same circuits in the car to do the same thing....

[Doug Rodrigues]

Yup...just another glorified trickle charger, but when "Snake Oil" salesmen present it, it appears to be a new invention .

**The web site doesn't mention the semi-conductive muck of sulfates that came off the plates which accumulate at the bottom of the case and eventually short the battery plates. One day the battery is working.....the next day it won't take a charge.

[replicant_008]

Batteries have a limited life and tend to have zero maintenance on them unless things go wrong.


Occasionally checking the level of fluid on the plates and topping them up with distilled (not tap water) helps as well as being kind to them (eg not running the a/c and a whole pile of electrical accessories when starting a large displacement engine on a frosty morning).

[saturnsc2]

i just got a answer from a group of corrosion scientists on this subject. their answer: "caveat emptor" that says it all.....

[Esky]

I'm using 2 of those desulphators (on 2 cars), and they work! Using the one from IRD USA, the same guys selling the FuelMax and Super FuelMax fuel magnets.

Before using the desulphators, I always got 2.5 yrs max out of the car batt, but after I started using it when the batt was around 2+ yr old and spilling acid, the spilling stopped, so did the water consumption, and now the batt is 3 yrs and 8 mths old and still going strong with normal water consumption. Started using this batt since Oct '00.

[saturnsc2]

Originally Posted by Esky

I'm using 2 of those desulphators (on 2 cars), and they work! Using the one from IRD USA, the same guys selling the FuelMax and Super FuelMax fuel magnets.

Before using the desulphators, I always got 2.5 yrs max out of the car batt, but after I started using it when the batt was around 2+ yr old and spilling acid, the spilling stopped, so did the water consumption, and now the batt is 3 yrs and 8 mths old and still going strong with normal water consumption. Started using this batt since 10/2002.

well, my brother bought this little black box with a blinking led on it & it's supposed to prevent/remove sulfation by using the battery's own current. it does not charge though. i would imagine that the large powerful desulphaters might work, but these devices look like a gimmick....

[Esky]

The actual desulphating circuit is actually quite small, maybe around 1 square inch or slightly more... but the plastic cover makes it look much bigger, maybe to make it look more worthy of yr $$$.

If any of u guys want this gadget but want it cheap and don't wanna DIY, I suggest getting it direct from www.irdusa.com at the dealer price... but u need to get 6 units at one go. And make sure u tell them whether u want 12/24/36/48 volt ones... u can use higher voltage rated ones on lower voltage batts but not the other way round, obviously.

[Doug Rodrigues]

"Spilling Acid." ?? and "Fuel Magnets." ?? Usually "spilling acid" is caused by overcharging. And those "Fuel Magnets," ??....I'd save my money and try voodo instead. If you want a battery that gets very little use to last a long time, get a 1 amp trickle charger. Uses very little current and keeps the battery from sulfating. OR...you can pretty it up, add a blinking light, give it a fancy name, and charge 4 times more for the same thing. The medical people call such mind games the "Placebo Effect."

[Esky]

When the batt plates are heavily sulphated, the alternator finds it easier to disassociate the water instead of trying to reduce the sulphate back to the electrolyte, therefore spilling acid around the filling caps.

Yeah I've heard many many times about fuel magnets being snake oil and all, but I got around 10~15% gains from them, so hey, I'm happy! At least I try them out first before "concluding" that they don't work, just bcoz everyone else said so! =D