Rejuvenating Edison Flooded Nickel-Cadmium ED-160's and ED-240's

[SunEagle]

Yeah, got it wet cleaning up electronics after some big NiCd packs let loose, that's where I learned.

And, as for their capacity, right now one set has replaced a single lead-acid and even with 40 year old KOH has been running my whole room here, computer, radio, lights, etc, off of my panels. I'm very pleased even at their diminished capacity. Some seem quite dead, but only four so far out of the whole lot look flatlined. The others will come back to life at some capacity, probably 80-90% of their original cap I'm hoping. I have enough of them there *will* be one complete set of ED-160's that really kicks ass above the rest. After cleaning out the interior, they just need to cook on my panels for a couple of months. I set it to top off at 15.5v. The used set has actually gained performance that I've been using as-is over the past three months, this is why I steadfast don't believe you Sunking when you diss' my Edisons.

Bailey

While your experiment with those NiCd batteries may work for a while you have to understand that in the majority of the times most "flat line" batteries never get revived to the point of being trustworthy again. You can pump as much "fluid" as you want into them but in the end you will just be flushing money down the drain.

[Sunking]

Justin I will give you a couple of hints where to look.

SBS Battery.
SAFT Battery.

[wayne23836]

Justin, I have a new set of Saft spl 340, the paper work with them dated 2015-05-07 has a note:#1. Cell oil shall not be used in the cells. #2 No electrolyte changes required. However if you can't get them back to life then nothing to lose, I would try Inetdog's sugestion. Good Luck.

Wayne

[wayne23836]

I just did a little follow up at the " maintenance of saft railroad batteries" It states for ED and SCM batteries 1/8 inch of cell oil on top of electrolyte. Use cell oil or high grade mineral oil only. No oil to spl batteries. Hope this helps if you have not already found it.

Wayne

[Mike90250]

You only need the float oil for long term usage. I'd skip adding it till you discover which cells are viable.

[plataoplomo]

I have been attempting to find any documentation on these

Got more documentation than can be easily posted here. Contact me via email.

[Stealth]

Got more documentation than can be easily posted here. Contact me via email.

Can you share some with me? I'm new so I cant PM

[inetdog]

Can you share some with me? I'm new so I cant PM

There is no PM function in the Forum any more....

[plataoplomo]

in the end you will just be flushing money down the drain.

I disagree. I brought 171 cells back to an average 75% of the original specs. Average cell age is 33 years old. I've been running on that bank for just shy of 3 years now.

share

Sorry for the delayed response. I do not check this forum very often.

Here you go.

[SunEagle]

I disagree. I brought 171 cells back to an average 75% of the original specs. Average cell age is 33 years old. I've been running on that bank for just shy of 3 years now.





Sorry for the delayed response. I do not check this forum very often.

Here you go.

Getting a battery back to 75% of it rating may be possible but not always and at what cost. You also have to get rid of all that fluid which is toxic and can't just be dumped down the drain.
IMO there are other ways to save money and reviving dead batteries is not a guaranteed or cost effective or environmental path to take.