How Battery Equaliser Works
Problems addressed by the use of Battery Equaliser include:
-
Gassing
Towards the end of charging, the battery cell cannot absorb all
of the energy from the charging current supply. Through
electrolysis, excess energy breaks down the water through into
its component gasses, hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is
liberated at the positive plates and the hydrogen at the
negative. When a battery is completely charged, all of the
energy, except the 'resisistance loss', is consumed in this
electrolysis. During a recharge, gassing is first noticed when
the cell voltage reaches 2.15- 2.2 volts per cell and increases
as the charge progresses. At full charge, when most of the
excess energy is converted to gas, the amount of hydrogen
liberated is about one cubic foot per cell for each 63 ampere
hours input. A 4% content of hydrogen in the air may be
hazardous. The above mentioned value may be used to relate the
maximum amount from a given battery to the size of the room in
which it is located.
-
Mossing
This term is sometimes used to describe the possible deposition
of a sponge like layer of lead on the negative plates or strap.
This material was originally shed from the plates (predominantly
the positive) in very fine particles and circulated throughout
the cell during 'gassing' which:
- fills the porous separator
- falls towards the base of the cell
- attaches to both the positive and negative plates
When in contact with either plate, it is changed to the active
material of that plate. On the positive plate, the particles are
non cohesive and will fall away, this is not so towards the
negative. Such material on the negative plate is quite cohesive
and thus adheres to, and builds up on the top edge and the
exposed spine of the negative plate grid. It will accumulate to
such an extent that it will form a bridge through the separator
and around thus causing the negative and the positive to
partially 'short circuit'. The accumulation of any appreciable
amount of moss is usually an indication of overcharging.
-
Sediment
There is a tendency for some of the active material on the
surface of the plates to separate from the main body of the
applicable plate paste and fall to the bottom of the cell jar.
Through years of experience, we have identified batteries which
are poorly serviced or used beyond their operational
specification will not only shed vast volumes of red oxide, but
also burst their retaining tubes in a short period of time. We
have discovered that batteries which are regularly undercharged
form large sediment crystals which also inhibit full charge
potential. The battery charger current is wasted trying to
convert these crystals into active material. It cannot be done
through charging alone. A chemical means must be introduced to
break them down, open the structure and dispose of the sediment
crystals.
How these Problems are Addressed
Battery Equaliser contains elements which improve the cohesion
of the materials used to formulate the battery paste. Transfer of
the lost particles through natural fall-out is reduced. Thus,
chocking of, and bridging of the battery separator is reduced.
Battery Equaliser also affects the sulfation rate of the battery
paste. A more even flow of current is achieved and less high
current 'spiking' equals less rapid sulfation. This is also
affects the development of both oxygen and hydrogen. Through the
addition of the Battery Equaliser product, a slight voltage
suppressant is introduced. This will reduce the normal gas release
period as the voltage required for such would need to be higher.
This is verified by the reduced topping up intervals for the
electrolyte.
Because Battery Equaliser actively cleans away the 'mossing'
and reduces its potential to adhere to the negative components
within the battery, bridging around the plate grid spines is taken
away. Charge current is now better transferred between the porous
separators due to un-choking, the charge current is not being
wasted through short circuit around the plate grids, the charge
current is more focused towards the sulfation rate and not gas
evolution, and Battery Equaliser opens the sediment crystal
structure and eradicates it.
THE CURRENT IS NOT WASTED.
Remember: When all of these things are going wrong within the
cell, current will transfer into heat. Heat is our enemy. Most
micro porous separators will close when temperature reaches 40°C.
This means that the current from the charger will take the easiest
course. The easiest course will be directed to the exposed plate
grid spines and the connecting strap. If the pores close,
temperature will continue to escalate but NOT be transformed into
usable power (active sulfation) from the mass of the lead as
specified. Another important point to remember is that, if a
battery is used in the correct manner and according to
specification, It can achieve an indefinite life. What needs to be
addressed is the importance of the separator. Even if the battery
has been treated with Battery Equaliser, these do have a
limitation. After a cell has passed a certain age, changing cells
assures us that battery dumping will be reduced by a huge
percentage over the years to come.
Author: John Willis-New, PhD
Inventor of Battery Equaliser formulation
