A bit off topic but: Forklift Battery for free

[Cyric30]

Hello All

I know some of you definitly use off grid power system so i thought i would ask here first

first off would a forklift type battery work decently for a off grid system.?

THIS may be getting the cart before the horse so to speak (but when the carts free im guess it ok) im hoping to start my home this fall, but i had a gentleman offer me a forklift battery for the price of its scrap when i mentioned about wanting an off grid system (so if its dosent work i can still sell it for scrap so it would basicly be free if its a no go) he dosent know anything about it they unloaded it from what ever it was on and its been setting on the ground for a Year or so it will be dead im sure. and it most likly will not hold a charge, But ive read there are Methods for reviving dead batteries like these relativly cheaply something called a De-sulfinator SP? but im wary of miracle claims and was wondering if any of you good folks had any experiance with this or can put me on the right path.

i'll know more about the battery tomarrow when i get over to his place and look it over...

[glenn-k]

Grab it--

Hopefully there is a way to tap (exposed lug) the voltage you want or it is the voltage you want.  Most large inverters are 24 or 48 volts.

I have an e-book that tells how to build a de-sulfator for a very low cost.

The top book here will tell you all about forklift battery rejuvenating.  

http://poormansguides.com/

Very good quality for the money.

[fourx]

Yeah, grab it, Cyric- and ask him if he has any friends who play golf, and are getting a little too old for it- grab the golf buggy ones, as well.
Let us know what happens.

[glenn kangiser]

Here is a link to a homebrew off grid system..  He'd probably love a battery like that.  If you read his blog you may want to start at the bottom -- then maybe like me -- you like to know the end before the beginning.

Be sure to check out the home construction and materials used also.

http://www.williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/

[Cyric30]

thanks for the info Glenn

i went and looked at the the batteries and see how the guy got mistaken, he found some batteries that whee in metal trays and where very odd shaped assumed the where forklift batteries, turn out they where off of an older model John Deere tractor....so back to the drawinf board i got the local scrap metal centers to watch out for me some and there good about that kind of thing so we'll see

[skiwest]

I was in at a place to get my started rebuilt and started taking batteries with the guys.  Their take on it was that most starter problems came from crappy batteries.  So they recommented solargizer ,  a small solar cell ,  that removed the sulpher deposits on the battery.

They said that off the grid guys would buy batteries that had come from warrenty for the scrap price and with these cells get them back in shape.

from site  "Battery maintainers on this page are different from our other regular solar panels. They employ a rather unique Pulse Technology (tm). This technology totally eliminates sulfation from lead acid batteries -- known cause of premature battery failure and death. Solargizer provides constant electronic pulse that removes crystallized sulfur molecules from lead acid battery plates by individually re-energizing them and returning them to the battery acid. Thus extending battery life up to five times, and actually increasing operating efficiency of batteries to an incredible 100%. ""

[fourx]

Not available down here, it seems- it sounds like just another regulator. I remember people used to rinse their batteries out with something years ago and bring them back to life, but it was dangerous in some way or other..someone might remember.
I just buy four new heavy-duty car batteries every five years or so now- about sixty bucks each- and avoid anything that drains the system like fridges. Works out easier and far cheaper.

[glenn kangiser]

The pulse technology will rejuvenate the batteries.  The link to the Poor mans guide tells how to make a variable voltage pulser using similar technology to the Solargizer.

He uses a light dimmer to make the pulses at variable voltage.  Some of the new battery chargers use pulse technology and the Trace as well as other solar regulaters use it also.  It is called pulse width modulation.  The pulses break down the sulfate crystals.  It is not instant but will work on batteries that are not too far gone.

[glenn kangiser]

A link to Solargizer.

http://www.scsolar.com/Solargizer.html

[glenn kangiser]

A man who puts his money where his mouth is.

http://www.post-trib.com/news/467110,willoughby.article

Life is good off the grid