BATTERY CHARGERS DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS BATTERY TESTERS

BATTERY CHARGERS - TESTERS - DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS
Important OptiMate facts
1 : Why do batteries become sulfated?
TecMate has worked with OEs such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yuasa and East Penn Manufacturing
in learning why batteries sulfate & how to recover batteries from a deep discharged, sulfated condition.
We confi rmed the following:
When a battery is discharged, the sulphuric ‘battery’ acid separates into lead sulfate and water. When batteries
are left in a discharged state for too long sulfate crystals will form on the lead plates, increasing the electrical
resistance of the battery. The higher the concentration of sulfate crystals the higher the electrical resistance
which typically prevents current from being accepted by the battery at normal charge voltages (14,1 to 14,5V).
In winter the water separated from the acid in a discharged battery freezes at temperatures below 32°F / 0°C.
When water freezes it expands resulting in bent & buckled plates or a cracked casing.
Heat is a big killer of lead-acid batteries. At high temperature water evaporates, increasing the concentration
of lead sulfate which speeds up the formation of sulfate crystals. At some point the concentration of sulfate
crystals may become so high that permanent electro-mechanical damage (plates being short circuited) is
caused inside the battery.
2 : Why can OptiMate recover sulfated batteries that other smart chargers cannot?
If a standard smart charger that typically charge up to 14,1 to 14,5V is hooked up to a sulfated battery the
voltage will immediately rise from a very low level (typically less than half the battery voltage) to the maximum
as the charger ‘sees’ the sulfated battery as a full battery due to it’s higher than normal internal resistance.
Current into the battery remains in the micro amp range, too low to reverse the sulfation process. A standard
charger will indicate within seconds that the battery is fully charged and some may indicate the battery is faulty
and should be replaced.
OptiMate has a smarter charging method that fi rst detects condition of a battery and then it decides how to
charge it. It starts with forcing a small current pulse into the battery to see if the battery accepts charge. If not,
then OptiMate engages the DESULFATE mode and now the charging voltage is allowed up to a maximum of
22V in an attempt to force the battery to accept current. Usually within 5 minutes a battery with a chance at
recovery will begin to accept current, causing the sulfate crystals to disolve and combine with water remaining
in the battery to again form high concentrate acid. If the OptiMate determines that the battery has recovered
suffi ciently it will increase the charge current and the program will advance to bulk, cell balancing and verifi cation
charging.
3 : How would I know if OptiMate has successfully recovered a sulfated battery?
The fi nal charge stage of the OptiMate program is followed by a charge retention test to confi rm if the battery
has been adequately recovered. Indication of the result ranges from basic to comprehensive, depending on
the OptiMate model in use.
4 : Why do sealed AGM batteries recover from sulfation more effectively than fi ller cap / wet cell
batteries?
In sealed AGM batteries the water remains absorbed in the fi breglass mat separators whilst the lead sulfate
remain on the plates. Due to this sulfation will occur at a faster pace on the plates itself compared to wet cell /
fi ller cap batteries, but the water will not evaporate out of the sealed battery as it would with wet cell / fi ller cap
batteries. AGM batteries therefore have a much higher chance of full recovery even if the battery has been
left discharged for many months. The OptiMate charging method works best with AGM batteries, but will also
recover fi ller cap / wet cell batteries that have not suffered visible mechanical damage (e.g. bulging or cracked
case) or high loss of electrolyte.
The degree of effectiveness of the recovery depends on how soon after the battery became sulfated is it
hooked up to an OptiMate. We have letters on fi le from a number of OptiMate users testifying to effective
recovery of batteries left discharged (and believed to be dead) for two years.
5 : Can OptiMate’s high voltage desulfation mode damage vehicle electronics ?
The simple answer is NO. A sulfated battery’s voltage will initially be in the 2 to 6V range. Vehicle electronics
need 11V or more before current is drawn. Upon connection OptiMate will attempt to deliver current causing
T: 905 337 2095 F: 905 337 3962 sales@tecmate.com
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