Does Battery Reconditioning Work?

Battery reconditioning is rebuilding old and worn-out batteries by reverse engineering them to a previous condition. Many companies offer alternatives for battery reconditioning, with some guaranteeing at least 50% of a battery’s capacity.

The pros and cons of battery reconditioning

Battery reconditioning is an expensive process and takes up more time than just buying a new one, but it can save you money in the long run. Many people have reported that they have had success through this process, while others say it has not helped their situation any better than they would if they had just bought a new one.

Pros

The main advantage of battery reconditioning is that you can get results faster than with your standard battery maintenance practices. With this method, you can put the batteries back into service much faster than if you had just replaced the batteries.

Another benefit of battery reconditioning is that it is cheaper than a new one. You save money by buying used batteries and modifying them instead of getting a new one every time your old ones run out of juice.

Cons

One downside to this method is that it can take up much time. It’s not like you can run a battery through a cycle and wait an hour or so before it’s done. Reconditioning a battery can take up to ten hours for each battery. This may become expensive for some people if they have many batteries that need reconditioning. Another disadvantage to this method is that it can be unpredictable on how much capacity the batteries will regain from reconditioning.

How are batteries reconditioned?

There are a few different ways to recondition batteries that you will want to do it safely. Each method requires different tools, but most of the time, you don’t need to use any specialized equipment, just household items. You will want to ensure you follow each type’s instructions or risk damaging the battery.

Battery reconditioning using electrolytes

This is one of the most common methods for reconditioning a battery. You need to remove the battery’s casing and dispose of it properly so that no harmful chemicals leak into the environment. Next, inspect your battery by ensuring no cracks or leaks from any components. If there are, you will want to replace the battery altogether. The next thing you need to do is remove the cell’s old electrolyte, usually contained in a glass-like container and poured into a plastic bag that can also be disposed of. You want to ensure that you dispose of these bottles properly and clean the area when they have been removed. There are two methods for reconditioning using electrolytes: low and high voltage.

The low voltage method is where you connect each cell to the positive terminal of a voltmeter by using pieces of copper wire from each terminal until all cells have been tested one at a time. The voltage readings you get from these cells will help you figure out what the battery can still do. The idea is that a healthy battery stores more energy at a lower voltage than batteries worn out. You will want to focus on the batteries with the lowest voltage readings and those with the highest voltages. If it has been a while since your last reconditioning of your batteries, then you want to focus on the ones with low readings. Still, if it has been recently done, you want to focus on ones with higher voltages so that they can be reconditioned quickly. You also want to note whether a cell’s voltage is higher than 1.5 volts or lower than 0.4 volts at least once a month. This will help you keep track of just how much your batteries have been reconditioned, so you can stop the process if needed and buy new batteries.

This method of reconditioning a battery involves using a voltmeter and charging method to restore the batteries. This process is used with NiCad, NiMH, and lead acid rechargeable batteries. The analyzer you will use will test the batteries to see how much charge each one has left. You will want to take note of which cells have the least charge and which ones have the most charge so that you can focus on these first when trying to recondition them. You will want to measure the ends of each battery with a volt meter. You will then try to charge each cell with a certain voltage until it reaches its full capacity. After an hour or two, you need to disconnect the charger and measure the voltage again. If the cells have not reached their full capacity, they are ready to return to a reconditioning procedure. You need to do this at least once a month during any part of your maintenance cycle to ensure that you aren’t losing any of your batteries’ original power.

Battery Reconditioning Methods

Several methods are commonly used when trying to restore your batteries to their original power. These methods include rebuilding with new components, re-energizing while inside the battery case, and restoring the electrolyte levels. The method you use will depend on the type of battery you want to recondition.

If your batteries are rechargeable nickel-cadmium, then you want to start by rebuilding them. You will want to remove them from their casing, detach the old parts that need replacing, and clean off any corrosion or gunk that may have built up on them over time. Then you will put them back together in the same order that they were removed.

If your batteries are rechargeable nickel metal hydride, you will want to remove them from their casing and clean off any corrosion or gunk that may have built up on them over time. After they have been cleaned, you will put them back together in the same order they were removed.

If your batteries are replaceable lead acid, then cleaning off the heavy oxidation build-up is a great place to start before putting them back together again. You can also recondition these if you have a high-voltage charger or battery analyzer so they can be restored quickly.

does battery reconditioning work

Yes, reconditioning a battery works as long as you use the correct type of battery for the method you are using. This will also depend on whether or not your batteries have been damaged or not.