Bringing to Life Dead VRLA/Gel Battery

VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid)/Gel Type batteries can be reasonably  brought to life from zero volts to full voltage capacity at 13.1v for a 12v rated battery by charging the battery continuously for approximately 1 1/2 weeks.   Rocket (Made in China) is the brand of VRLA/Gel battery I have used.  My own test was undertaken on 4 VRLA/Gel battery I own.  The charging voltage tested is 6 amps at 15v using automatic charger manufactured by Panther Philippines.

Unfortunately, the same procedure undertaken on a Motolite (Made in the Philippines) Solar Battery, a flooded deep cycle  battery, does not work.  At most, the Motolite battery only registers between 9v to 10v, after 2 weeks (Tested on 2 Motolite Batteries).

Notes on Lead Acid Battery

1.  Positive and Negative:  Lead Plates
2.  Separator:  Polyolefin
3.  Electrolyte:  Sulfuric Acid
4.  Charging time (Single Cell):  24 hrs at 5v (Creates Lead Dioxide in the Positive Plate
5.  Voltage Reading: 1.8 (Based on this; it will need 7 cells to create 12.6v or 8 cells which is preferred to create 14.4v for home solar use)

Note:
-  The battery cell still got very high internal resistance, most probably on the use of solid Polyolefin separator; a separate test will be undertaken to determine the cause of very high internal resistance

Notes on Battery Cell Separators

No. 1:  From Dr. Robert Murray

a) Acetone (1/2 liter)
b) Polyethelene Glycol - Brake Fluid - 20 ml
c) Cellulose Acetate - Cigarette Filter - 10g
d) Pure Silica - 5 liters


No. 2:  From Aquion Battery

a) Synthetic Cotton - Rayon


No. 3:  From Lead Acid Batteries
a)  Vulcan Rubber (Tires)

Baseline Voltages of Battery Materials

The following are the baseline voltages and polarities of various possible battery materials using common table salt (Sodium Chloride) as electrolyte:

(1) Copper (+) and Graphene (-)  = 0.11v
(2) Aluminum (+) and Concrete Nail / Zinc (-) =  0.2v
(3) Graphite (+) and Graphene (-) =  0.43v to 0.5v (basis for all carbon battery)
(4) Graphite (+) and Aluminum (-) = 1.0v
(5) Copper (+) and Aluminum (-) = 0.5v
(6) Graphite (+) and Concrete Nail / Zinc (-) = 1.06v to 1.27v
(7) Graphite (+) and Copper (-) = 0.43v to 0.51v
(8) Graphene (+) and Aluminum (-) = 0.25v
(9) Copper (+) and Concrete Nail / Zinc = 0.73v
(10) Graphite (+) and Activated Carbon (-) with Aluminum as current collector = 0.6v (Basis for All carbon battery
(11) Graphite Plastic (+) and Aluminum (-) with Sodium Sulfate as electrolyte = 1.2v

Note:  The material (Concrete Nail) is carbon steel coated with zinc


Experiment No. 1
Aluminum
Potassium Hydroxide
Separator (Polyolefin)
Vinegar
Graphite

Result:  1.1v-1.2v (0.8v); 2mA (0.2mA)

Experiment No. 2
Aluminum
Separator (Polyolefin)
Potassium Hydroxide
Graphite
Aluminum as Current Collector

Result: 1.1v-1.2v (1.12v); 5mA (1mA)

Experiment No. 3

Aluminum
Separator (Polyolefin)
Potassium Hydroxide
Separator (Polyolefin)
Graphite
Aluminum as Current Collector

Result: 1.4v-1.5v (1.35v); 0.5mA (0.1mA)

Experiment No. 4
Aluminum
Separator (Tissue Paper) + Potassium Hydroxide
Graphite Plastic
Aluminum

Result: 1.0v (0.8v); 9.5mA-10mA (9.5mA)

Experiment No. 5
Aluminum
Separator (Tissue Paper) + Potassium Hydroxide
Graphite Plastic

Result: 1.4v (1.4v); 10mA (13mA)

Experiment No. 6
Stainless Steel Screen
Separator (Corrogated Carton) + Potassium Hydroxide
Graphite Plastic

Result: 1.7v-1.8v (1.5v-1.6v); 15mA-16mA (13mA); Stainless Steel Screen was consumed by the chemical reaction;  More exposed areas to the air tends to make the voltage and amps higher.

Experiment No.7 (Fuel Cell - Single Cell; Test-Scale)
Aluminum in Glass Jar (Anode -)
Water (Tap Water)
Graphite Rod (Cathode +)

Charge Voltage: 12v-18v
Voltage: 1.8v-2.2v (0.7v after 6 hrs; with Hydrogen gas)
Amps: 1.2mA (0.4mA after 6 hrs; with Hydrogen gas)

Result:  Observable Redox reaction.  Visible bubbles of Hydrogen and Oxygen after 5 minutes.

Experiment No.8 (Fuel Cell - Single Cell; Slightly bigger surface area of Anode and Cathode)
Stainless Steel Mesh / Screen in Glass Jar (Anode -)
Water (Tap Water)
Stainless Steel Mesh / Screen in Glass Jar (Cathode +)

Note:  Stainless Screen Size is 1/2 of door size at Anode and 1/4 of door size at Cathode; Bigger surface area

Charge Voltage: 12v-18v for 5 hrs
Voltage: 0.7v-0.8v (0.6v after a few minutes with Hydrogen gas at Anode and Oxygen at Cathode)
Amps: 6.0-8.0mA (4.0-5.0mA after a few minutes; with Hydrogen gas at Anode and Oxygen at Cathode)

Result:  Observable Redox reaction.  Visible bubbles of Hydrogen and Oxygen after 5 minutes.