Recondition Old Batteries and Get More Life Out of Them
Recondition Old Batteries: Reconditioning old batteries is an effective and environmentally-friendly way to save both money and the planet! Reconditioning batteries is fast, simple, and you might even make some cash out of doing it!
Battery reconditioning has become an increasingly popular career choice, offering simple skills anyone can learn without the need for professional licenses or experience.
Recondition Old Batteries Check the Voltage
Reconditioning old batteries is an excellent way to save money and extend their lifespan, with this process being relatively safe, cost-effective and eco-friendly.
Before beginning reconditioning old batteries, you need to measure their voltage. A multimeter or analog voltmeter are effective methods for doing this.
Most multimeters contain multiple settings that may seem complicated to use at first. But it’s crucial that you find out which setting best matches your battery type and use this information when measuring its voltage levels.
Measure the voltage of a battery with your multimeter by touching its probes to its terminals – red on positive and black on negative. Ensure the red probe connects with its positive terminal and vice versa.
Fully charged lithium batteries should register around 4.2 volts on a multimeter, however if their voltage falls significantly lower, this indicates they could have become discharged or damaged.
For accurate voltage readings, set your multimeter to DC mode (direct current), or 12V if it includes car battery test range. This mode will give you more accurate readings.
Once your multimeter has been set to DC voltage, touch both red and black probes of your multimeter to the terminals on your battery – generally marked with V’s on one end and wavy lines on the other.
Low voltage indicates a battery is depleted and should be replaced; high voltage shows it’s healthy enough for continued use.
Checking your battery’s internal resistance with a multimeter is another option, simply connect probes to its terminals and read off results.
Reconditioning old batteries using a multimeter is a cost-effective and simple way to extend their lives, and can even be done yourself without professional services. Before beginning the reconditioning process, make sure all battery caps are removed from and cleaned well – this will prevent damaging the battery or contaminating it with harmful chemicals that might compromise its integrity.
Remove the Caps
Reconditioning old batteries can save money and extend their lifespan, as well as be an efficient process that is safe and straightforward.
Step one of reconditioning your battery involves taking away its caps. This task is straightforward and will yield a battery that looks and works just like new.
Recondition Old Batteries: Keep your batteries clean to avoid issues caused by dirt and grime accumulation. Regularly cleaning them can also prevent dust accumulation that clogs your vents.
Before beginning to recondition your battery, be sure to thoroughly clean it and remove any corrosion build-up on its terminals and cables. This will prevent short-circuiting that could potentially cause its destruction.
Once the caps from your battery have been removed, it is important to examine its electrolyte level. If this level drops too low, distilled water should be added in order to replenish its reserves.
Keep an eye on your battery voltage levels, too. If they drop below those recommended by the manufacturer, take steps to address them as soon as possible.
Reconditioning your battery requires several tools and items; once complete, this will allow you to restore its full potential and power again.
Battery chargers are essential to the process of reconditioning batteries as it allows you to charge them properly.
Once your battery has been reconditioned, you can install it into your vehicle and begin using it without fear that it may be damaged or fail prematurely.
Reconditioning your battery after every 2,000 miles or so can extend its lifespan and protect both it and your car from damage, giving you additional years from each battery you own.
Remove the Corrosion
Batteries can corrode quickly if exposed to heat and moisture, and could even leak if improperly stored and handled. Corrosion could damage or destroy electronics, so it is vitally important that they be regularly checked for signs of corrosion before discarding corroded cells from their cases.
Corrosion can be caused by several different factors, including exposure to heat and moisture, corrosion inhibitors, overcharging, bad terminal ends or poor storage. The best way to combat corrosion is by keeping electronics stored in cool, dry environments away from direct sunlight; using only fully charged batteries with no expired dates when possible and never overcharging.
To remove corrosion, the easiest and quickest method is dipping a cotton swab in vinegar or lemon juice and using it to scrub the area in which there is corrosion. The acid contained within these solutions will neutralize alkaline bases found in most household batteries and dissolve any build-up of corrosion that has taken hold.
Once the corrosion has been cleared away, you can install new batteries and bring your electronic device back to its usual operation. However, make sure to fully wipe away any trace of corrosion before installing new ones.
Removing corrosion is a quick, simple, and inexpensive project that doesn’t take too much time or resources to complete. To stay safe when conducting this task, wear gloves and eyewear protection to avoid being exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals.
To remove remaining corrosion, mix a small amount of baking soda with water and apply the mixture directly onto corroded battery terminals or areas such as corrosion in general. Allow it to sit for at least 5 minutes, before using a brush to scrub away.
After you are finished cleaning, reattach the battery cables in reverse order and close the hood. If you have thick rubber gloves on, you may also use a wire brush to scrub terminals and other affected areas with thick bristles.
Sandpaper may help to gently chip away corrosion without harming battery contacts in the battery compartment. Be sure to wear protective gloves during this process; acid contained within sandpaper could pose a significant threat to bare skin.
Recondition Old Batteries Clean the Terminals
Corrosion around battery terminals can disrupt their electrical connections and decrease battery charging efficiency, so regular maintenance should be conducted to keep your battery in top shape.
Step one in cleaning your battery involves unbolting and unsnapping any clamps securing terminals to its posts – typically bolts and nuts on top post batteries, while side post ones typically feature clamps which fit over threaded studs on each post.
Once the clamps have been unclamped from your battery, it’s time to clean away any corrosion and dirt buildup. Baking soda mixed with water makes an effective cleaner; 1 tablespoon per pint (2 cups).
Once dipped into the solution, take a toothbrush and start scrubbing both inside and outside of terminal clamps with it to remove powdery corrosion on battery terminals. Scrubbing will help to reduce powdery corrosion forming on them over time.
Once your terminals have been scrubbed clean, use a spray bottle filled with water to rinse the terminals – but take care not to overspray, as this may create additional issues for your battery.
Petroleum jelly will help to prevent corrosion of terminals, keeping them looking their best for an extended period.
Once all areas have been dried completely, reconnect the battery cables to their terminals and tighten them fully so as to ensure there is no residual corrosion present on either terminals or cables. This will ensure there is no further corrosion on either.