How to Exactly Apply Equalizing Charge To a Lead Acid Battery

What Is An Equalizing Charge, Exactly Why Is It Needed, And Just How to put on One To a Lead Acid Battery?

Applying an equalizing charge to your lead-acid batteries may help them charge better and last for a longer time.

So whether you are a battery reconditioning expert or a rookie, it is essential you are aware what an equalizing charge is and exactly how to utilize one to a lead-acid battery, so you can get the most from your battery.


This easy technique is something that should be done on a somewhat regular schedule, and it is essentially the controlled overcharging associated with the battery.

So in this article I will let you know:

• Why an equalizing charge is required
• What problems an equalizing charge fixes in your lead-acid batteries
• Two different ways to apply an equalizing charge
• Which kinds of lead-acid batteries you ought not apply an equalizing charge to
• And just how often you ought to apply an equalizing charge to your lead-acid batteries

Why Is An Equalizing Charge Needed?

An equalizing charge is necessary because lead-acid batteries have sulfation conditions that prevent proper charging.

Sulfation takes place because small sulfate crystals form when a lead acid battery is within use. That is normal rather than harmful; however, as soon as the battery is just partially charged for a prolonged period, these sulfate crystals turn into stable crystalline and buildup on the battery’s negative plates.

When this takes place, it prevents battery pack from dealing with a full charge.

Additionally, an equalizing charge is necessary for a second reason. As time passes, cells in a lead-acid battery will are more and more unbalanced, with a few cells overcharged and some undercharged. But an equalizing charge will correct these sulfation and unbalanced cell issues.

Things that cause Sulfation in Lead-Acid Batteries:

• When batteries are undercharged, they develop sulfation as a result.
• Normal recharging of a deep cycle battery with a consistent charge may also cause sulfation.

So some extent of sulfation is inevitable in lead-acid batteries.

How Come An Equalizing Charge Help?

When you perform an equalizing ask you for will break up the crystalline regarding the battery’s plates and allow the sulfate to re-mix aided by the sulfuric acid.

Additionally, an equalizing charge will ensure the cells operate with similar amount of charge in place of having some cells which can be overcharged and some which are undercharged.

These two factors may help the battery charge and perform better, as well as go longer.

How Is An Equalizing Charge Applied To The Battery?

The Straightforward Way (Use Automatic Equalizing Mode On A Battery Charger):

The easiest way to apply an equalizing charge to a lead-acid battery is by using a high-quality battery charger which has a computerized equalizing mode. Many new battery chargers have this setting so finding a quality charger that can equalize your battery should not be an issue.

Should you choose use a charger who has an equalizing mode, just be sure you leave your battery connected and powered up long enough to perform the equalization.

The Manual Method To Apply An Equalizing Charge To A Lead-Acid Battery:

If you do not need it a charger that does an equalizing charge automatically or you would like to manually apply an equalizing charge yourself, it is possible to follow these steps:

Step 1) Move out your battery charger (i.e. one does not have an equalizing mode).

Step two) Get out your lead-acid battery and make certain that the battery is a FLA (flooded lead-acid) battery.

*IMPORTANT: Applying an equalizing charge with other forms of batteries could potentially cause damage and it is not recommended. This consists of SLA (sealed lead-acid) batteries like AGM (absorbed glass mat) and Gel batteries.

Step 3) Remove all electrical connections into the battery.

Step 4) Connect the battery into the charger.

Step 5) Charge the battery until it offers reached an ordinary full charge.

Step 6) at this time the charge is usually automatically terminated because of the charger.

Step 7) in case the charger won't have an equalizing mode, you should now restart the charger when the initial full charge has been reached. Restarting the charger can be carried out by disconnecting AC power and reconnecting it. This method will extend the charge time for the battery by 1-3 hours.

Step 8) Gassing and bubbling of the electrolytes and other negative effects will occur because of correct equalizing.

Step 9) make certain you take specific gravity readings together with true state regarding the battery’s charge every hour during this process using a temperature compensating hydrometer.

Step 10) ensure you also replace any water that is lost when you look at the equalizing process.

*note: we show how to do that in our Battery Reconditioning course

Step 11) Check to see if the equalizing process happens to be completed. You will be aware if this has happened when the specific gravity values are no longer increasing through the gassing stage.

*note: In the event that charger ends the method automatically, ahead of the equalizing charge has been completed and prior to the gravity readings are constant, then restart the charger and continue the equalizing through to the gravity readings are constant.

How Frequently Should You Apply An Equalizing Charge Into The Battery?

Different battery manufacturers recommend different intervals for when to apply an equalizing charge. The most frequent interval is monthly. But other manufacturers recommend once every six months, while others recommend every 10 or 12 cycles.

So seek the advice of the battery manufacturer to see what they recommend and then follow that interval. Additionally, make sure you are adding water to your battery on a monthly basis and every time you perform an equalizing charge.

Is There More That You Can Do To Maximize A Lead-Acid Battery’s Life?

Performing these equalizing charges and adding water regularly to a flooded lead-acid battery will extend the life of this battery and help it perform optimally.
But there’s a means you can easily extend the life span regarding the battery even more and even bring a dead lead-acid battery returning to life again.

Our EZ Battery Reconditioning course shows you exactly how to do this step-by-step. The straightforward method we explain to you simple tips to do in our program is quick, very easy to do, and doesn’t require advanced tools or equipment.

If you like to go on it one step further and bring any lead-acid battery back again to life again …as well as  a number of other kinds of batteries, have a look at new presentation i recently put up to find out more.