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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Anti-Sulfation Battery Chargers

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Anti-Sulfation Battery Chargers -- page: 1 2     MG 08-24-2010 @ 2:09 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1254 Joined: Nov 2009 I see in my latest Hemmings Classic Car magazine an ad for a Deltran Battery Tender which claims to "tripple" battery life. Quote: "A battery can not sulfate if it is connected to a Battery Tender" Some sort of super-trick circuitry in this charger which puts out DC pulses at a very high frequency and actually de-sulfates the battery plates. "BatteryMINDer" is another brand which claims the same thing. I recently purchased a Chicago Electric Charger (Model 65834) from Harbor Freight which hums/vibrates while charging and works well but makes no claim to be an "anti-sulfation" charger - I wonder if it is though. Anyway, have any of you had any experiences with these type of anti-sulfation chargers? supereal 08-24-2010 @ 2:39 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 "Anti-sulfation" is a sales gimmick, in my opinion. Sulfation is a natural occurrence in conventional lead-acid batteries. It happens as the battery is discharged and recharged, and the more rapid the charging, the faster the battery declines. Most of us have discovered that the Optima "saturated glass mat" battery is the near perfect choice for old cars. It can be mounted in any position, and does not leak acid to eat away the battery tray, etc. The only drawback is that it must be slowly charged, but will hold a full charge for months or longer, and start your car like is was run yesterday. They are a bit pricier than the old lead acid type, but remember, it isn't what you pay as much as how often you pay it. MG 08-24-2010 @ 2:46 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1254 Joined: Nov 2009 I agree with you about the advantages of the Optima but I can't seem to find them in the "Group 2L" size anymore. The Group 2L fits the under the floor installation in my '34. I don't want to install the Optima on it's side or at an angle even though I know you can. supereal 08-24-2010 @ 2:52 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Sometimes it does take a bit of ingenuity. When I put an Optima in my '47 several years ago. I constructed a wooden box to hold it. I made the sides of the box from "bead board", and routed the top to resemble a conventional battery, complete with three caps. After a coat of black paint, it looks so much like a "real" battery that most can't tell the difference. Don't be afraid to mount the Optima on its side, or any other way it will fit the carrier, as it cannot leak. MG 08-24-2010 @ 2:58 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1254 Joined: Nov 2009 I would rather find a Group 2L and have it sit vertical (posts up) as I want to have quick access to those posts.......MG lightflyer1 08-24-2010 @ 5:30 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 107 Joined: Oct 2009 When I bought my Optima I bought two. If you tape them together with duct tape and then black electirical tape it looks more like a regular battery and fits very well like a stock battery. I have my own back up in case one dies. A used dead one would work as well. Being that the floor location in my '35 fordor is inconvienent I have two of the small HF chargers connected and the wire is accessed from under the drivers running board area under the battery. I bought another plug set to cap them when not in use. It works very well for me and is essentially invisible. This message was edited by lightflyer1 on 8-24-10 @ 5:32 PM 40guy 08-24-2010 @ 5:58 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 270 Joined: Oct 2009 Sulfation is cause for concern only if the battery remains in a discharged state for an extended period of time. The plates can be damaged to the point the battery cannot be charged or will not hold a charge. 37RAGTOPMAN 08-25-2010 @ 5:32 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1958 Joined: Oct 2009 my take on the sulfation issue. if you drive your car and it has this problem , your charging system is set TO HIGH,and need to be ajusted and watched so it does not create that problem,boiling of battery acid, I have used battery tenders with great results,ON A REGUALR AUTO ZONE 6 VOLT BATTERY better then NO CHARGING,does keep the battery charged, but you should keep a eye on it, and run the car every few weeks or months, the worst this you can do is let it sit for 6 months that try starting it, this is my 3 cents worth, 37RAGTOPMAN an KEEP ON TRUCKIN,!!!!!!!!! TomO 08-25-2010 @ 8:00 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7252 Joined: Oct 2009 MG, Optima has its own unique size and shape. In order to install one in the upright position in a pre-1940 car, you must make a new battery carrier. If you are going to install it in the 2L case, you must remove the bottom of the battery case and then make a shelf deep enough for the Optima to fit while leaving the battery case sitting on the old carrier. AS Supereal said, there is no way to prevent sulfation, but a fully charged battery on a battery tender will last longer than one that is allowed to self discharge over a period. You must keep a careful watch on the water level and only fill the battery with steam distilled water to ensure the maximum life of about 5 years from a standard battery. Tom tudorbilll 08-25-2010 @ 9:11 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 108 Joined: Oct 2009 I have been useing two trickel chargers one for each car.I bought at walmart 4-5 yrs ago still have the same bats. why pay more?

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