Battery Reconditioning Epsom Salt/Magnesium Sulfate – What You Need To Know

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You might wake up one day, get into your car to start it, and discover it won’t start. You can quickly become frustrated, especially if you have an urgent appointment or meeting to attend. Most people often think buying a new battery is the only solution to a failing battery, but this is not entirely true. There are many ways to fix the battery in your car. In this article, we’ll talk about the Epsom salt battery reconditioning method.

What is Epsom Salt or Magnesium Sulfate?

What is Epsom Salt-Magnesium Sulfate

Magnesium sulfate is another name for Epsom salt. This type of salt is made up of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen-based chemical compounds. Although people refer to it as “salt” because of its chemical structure, it is an entirely different chemical from table salt.

Epsom salt solution has various uses, one of which is the ability to repair failing automobile batteries. This type of salt is a helpful treatment for reviving dead or failing batteries, which usually results from sulfation.

Sulfation occurs when sulfate crystals grow on the lead plates of the battery. It is best to perform preventive maintenance as soon as this begins to happen.

What Are the Benefits of Epsom Salt Lead Acid Battery Reconditioning?

Epsom salt acid battery reconditioning of old batteries has several essential benefits. Below are some of these benefits.

Preserves Battery Functions

Lead-acid battery reconditioning ensures that the battery’s function remains intact. The reconditioning procedure offers the battery a refresh option, allowing it to operate as new while still holding a sufficient charge.

Cost Saving
Battery reconditioning is an obvious way of saving money on the cost of buying a brand-new battery. This benefit applies mainly if you follow the safety measures.

A new battery may cost you as much as $50 to $120 for a standard 12V battery, while the more expensive brands cost even more. The materials required for the reconditioning procedure are pretty affordable. The methods are also convenient.

It Is an Environmentally Friendly Procedure
Another advantage of reconditioning batteries is that it helps the environment. Reconditioning is an ecologically beneficial procedure since fewer “dead” batteries end up in the trash. Bear in mind that the battery recycling process is challenging.

How to Desulfate a Lead-Acid Battery With Epsom Salt

The process of desulfation or reconditioning requires suitable materials, tools, and technical know-how.

Battery Reconditioning Materials and Tools

When reconditioning a battery, the materials and tools you will need include:

  • Epsom salt
  • Distilled water
  • Baking soda
  • Bucket
  • Sandpaper or steel wool
  • Goggles
  • Gloves
  • A toothbrush (old or new)
  • Funnel
  • Apron
  • Voltmeter
  • Battery load tester
  • Flathead screwdriver

You can find the majority of these materials and tools at any local big-brand store or hardware shop.

Procedure (Step-by-Step)

Unsure of how to start the reconditioning process. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Step 1 – Test to see if reconditioning will work for the battery
The first thing to do is confirm that the battery needs reconditioning and whether or not it will respond to the process.

Use a voltmeter to measure the reading on the terminals of the battery. A battery that will react to reconditioning will read between 10 and 12 volts on the voltmeter. If the voltmeter records less than 10 volts, there’s only a slim chance for the process to work.

Step 2 – Suit up and create space to work

Now that you’ve confirmed that reconditioning can work on your battery, it’s time to put on your protective items:

  • Apron
  • Gloves
  • Goggles

Now you can get to work. Remove and place the battery on a flat surface, preferably a table.

Step 3 – Clean the battery
Remove the battery terminals and scrape off the corroded parts. Dip a toothbrush into a cleaning paste or any other battery cleaning product and scrub off the terminals with the toothbrush.

A foaming reaction at the terminal indicates that the solution is effective. Steel wool is more suited for highly corroded batteries. Clean and wipe the terminals entirely afterward.

Step 4 – Prepare the cleaning solution
Prepare the solution for the reconditioning process. The solution should contain 4 ounces of Epsom salt in a heated half-quart of distilled water at 66oC (or 150oF).. Pour the Epsom salts into the plastic bucket containing the distilled water and stir continuously.
Step 5 – Empty the battery cells

Keep a bucket of water and a half-pound of baking soda nearby. Remove the battery cover and the cell covers underneath with the flathead screwdriver.

Slowly pour the contents of each cell into a bucket, one after another. You can either add baking soda as you go or wait until all of the cells are empty before adding it.

Baking soda will neutralize the battery acid in either case, allowing you to dispose of it at any recycling center safely.

Step 6 – Clean the battery cells

Once you’ve emptied the cells, it’s time to clean them. Consider this the half-phase of the reconditioning procedure.

Next, add one gallon of distilled water to the remaining baking soda. Stir this mixture thoroughly, then use the plastic funnel to pour it into the cells. After each cell is filled, put the caps back on and gently shake the battery from side to side.

Do this for a few minutes, then open the lids as you did before and dump the contents into a plastic bucket. You can now recondition the battery.

Step 7 – Reconditioning

This is the stage where you’ll need the Epsom salt solution. The solution replaces your battery cells, and the mixture will serve as your new electrolyte.

The Epsom salt solution will increase the battery’s amperage and voltage. Pour the new electrolyte into each battery cell using a clean plastic funnel until you fill each cell.

Step 8 – Recharge the battery
You should handle this stage as meticulously as possible. First, remove the battery caps to prevent the battery from heating up or overflowing. If you allow pressure to build up in the battery, you risk getting injured.

Before charging the battery, ensure that the charger is as far away from the battery as possible. The next thing is to connect the battery at a speed of 12V/2 amps and allow it to charge for 36 hours.

Step 9 – Test the battery

Test the battery using your voltmeter. If the voltmeter readings are over 12.43v, the battery is ready. However, if the voltmeter readings fall below 12.43v, you must recharge the battery for another 12 hours.

Check out our guide How to recondition a car battery to learn other reconditioning methods. You can also learn how to rejuvenate a car battery using vinegar here.

Safety Precautions You Need to Consider

Although reconditioning is a beneficial process for anyone who’s not ready to spend money on getting a new battery, several risks are involved.
Also, when you understand what you’re about to do, you can quickly determine whether it is worth it or not. We’ll briefly discuss some of the risks involved in reconditioning.

First off, you should remember that the battery’s electrolyte solution is an acid containing some amounts of lead metal. Sulfuric acid, which is very corrosive and produces fumes that you should not inhale. The solutions are hazardous to human health and the environment.

You need to handle the battery carefully during reconditioning. Therefore, we recommend that you invest in some quality safety equipment, including corrosion-resistant gloves, aprons, and goggles.

How Long Does the Battery Survive After This Procedure?

The lifespan of a battery after reconditioning depends on the battery capacity and age. However, you can repeat the process several times more, extending its lifespan after each procedure.

Epsom Salt Battery Mythbusters

Batteries are shrouded in a lot of myths, and one of them is whether or not Epsom salt works for battery reconditioning.
Here’s why Epsom salt is indeed effective for reconditioning:
A single replacement reaction occurs between lead sulfate and magnesium sulfate. Because lead is less reactive than magnesium metal, the latter may take its place on the plates.

Keep in mind that magnesium sulfate is very water-soluble. Hence, the lead metal surrounding the areas is progressively removed.

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about this process and their answers.

Is Epsom salt good for lead-acid batteries?

Yes. However, the age and capacity of a reconditioned battery determine how long it will last. Theoretically, you can repeat the process several times, extending the battery’s life beyond the average of three to five years.

Will Epsom salt damage a battery?

Not exactly. If your battery is not already damaged beyond repair (reading less than 10 volts on the voltmeter), Epsom salt will revive it. However, it’s essential to take all the necessary precautions to prevent accidents.

How much Epsom salt do I put in my battery?

When reconditioning, 4 ounces of Epsom salt in 4 cups of water should do the trick. Stir the Epsom salt in the water until the water is clear. You can speed up the process by using boiled water, but it’s not compulsory.

How does Epsom salt replace battery acid?

The Epsom salt and distilled water mixture will act as the new electrolyte in your reconditioned battery, increasing its amperage and voltage. So, the quick answer to this question is that Epsom salt becomes the new electrolyte in place of the battery acid.

How do you make battery acid?

Battery acids in rechargeable lead-acid batteries contain sulphuric acid (H2SO4) mixed with distilled water to a 30 – 50% concentration. The acidic pH of battery acid is usually around 0.8. Therefore, you must handle it with care.

What is a suitable voltage for charging car batteries?

We recommend charging your car batteries at a high voltage (above 12V). However, you should keep a constant eye on it to prevent overcharging, and you must prevent it from reaching its total (100%) capacity. Nevertheless, you can leave it to charge with a float voltage of 13.6V to 13.8V.

Can you put baking soda in a battery?

If you’re doing it for the sake of neutralizing the sulfuric acid in the battery, then yes. However, it cannot replace sulfuric acid as an electrolyte. Epsom salt is more suited for this purpose.

At what voltage are batteries considered dead?

You should consider your battery dead if its voltage readiness is less than 10 volts. Reconditioning such a battery will most likely waste time and might expose you to unnecessary health risks.

The Takeaway

If you’re considering purchasing a brand new battery because your old one doesn’t have enough charge to start your car, epsom salt battery reconditioning might be a better option.

Once you determine that the battery still has between 10 and 12 volts, there’s a great chance that reconditioning will revive it. Reconditioning will save you some money and time. However, be careful while doing it and always use safety gear.
James Owen

James is an engineer and a professional blogger. He has gained extensive experience over the years, handling all types of power projects. He loves to share his experiences with all things related to batteries, generators, and other power-related topics.

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