battery conversion

[lonewolf]

I have been testing the alum battery conversion.I am impressed with it and have been using it for my off grid power. I have been testing with only 1 battery for awhile.I like it and thinking of using it perminately.I also am tring to study the chemistry of the alum.Their is a question I have to John B. or anyone who knows .Lead acid batteris need to be inclosed and vented to the outside.Does the alum battery gas like the acid, if it does is it harmful?Should the alum batteris be vented to the outside?Also what about the epsom salt battery?I have been reading about that to.Can the alum and epsom salt be mixed to have a better mix, or has this not been thought of?

[BobZilla]

Hi Lonewolf,
Without knowing how you have done your batteries I can only give you a general answer about the gassing. If you have wet cells then yes you should be cautious with them. Do you see it bubble when it reaches a full charge? Usually while still on charging and the voltage is up around 14.5 volts or so you will see tiny bubbles. The danger is not so much that it is a toxic gas but rather that it is highly flammable. It is actually what is known as Browns gas and it is a mix of hydrogen and oxygen. This is happening through electrolysis of the water. The reason it is such a concern is that many people will have a battery box enclosure like in an RV or a small closet in a cabin, whatever the situation but it is an enclosed space. The gas will build up to a dangerous level and the slightest spark can set it off. Static electricity or especially if you use cables with clips, you go to disconnect or connect a clip and get the slightest spark,, BOOM. SO BE CAREFUL. If you are not in a confined space it is less of a concern but still use caution.

I cannot speak on the epsom salts, I have not used them.

[D Rhodes]

Hi Lonewolf and Bobzilla,
I am amazed with my lead acid converted to lead alum conversion! It is a 55aH starter battery which was discarded. I have been cycling it on my SSG and drawing it down at the C20 rate. But last cycle, the 3rd one since conversion, I brought it down to less than 1 volt!! Then I put it on charge after a few hours resting. I had taken my wheel off, so set up my 5filar set up in SS at 1 amp draw. It charged for 22 hours peaking at 14.70volts. I am about to go put it under load again.
I have a 90aH one as well, which I use as a primary battery for my SSG. I am amazed that they will still put out 1 amp whilst charging on the SSG all the way down past 10.50v...they still put out an amp at 8volts and 7 volts right down! Then they charge up again like nothing has happened!? How can a battery behave so differently with a different chemical in it?

[lonewolf]

Thank you Bobzilla for the reply. I know about the gas I was just woundering about any other harm , but I see I ony need to be safe with the gas as far as the ventilation and with making sure it does not have any sparks around the battery, with any battery for that matter.


D Rhodes, good to see others are having great succes with thier convertions to alum.What are your restting voltages on your 12 volt batteries? Mine have been at 12.6-12.8 when I check after a charge.I will be checking the battery again to see where it is at again soon.

Also anybody try the epsom salt convertion? Or tried to mix epsom salt with the alum to see if their is any improvment?

[D Rhodes]

My resting voltage after charge on the 55aH one is around 12.20v. After discharging down to almost Zero Volts it rested at around 9 volts. I charge it to around 14.50v. It is currently hooked up to 0.83A of computer fans(3) Been going 22.5 hours now. Was resting at 12.2v before I started, now at 11.2v. Don't know how to gauge the work it does as I would normally stop discharge at 12.2v on a lead acid battery...but with these Alum's I can keep drawing it down to 0!!
I have not done the Epsom salts one, but can give one a try.

[why_me]

Hello, I have used a new formula on my 12 volt Autocraft 16-B battery. 50/50 mix of alum and sodium carbonate, sodium silicate and activated charcoal. Use 1/3 equal parts and mix thickly with distilled water, not to thick. The battery is unadulterated with acid, no acid, the lead plates were virgin. After filling with the mix about half to 2/.3 up, fill it up with distilled water. After each cell has been added to, shake it upside down to rightside up to equally distribute the matters. do this after each loading to each cell until the cells are full. The uncharged battery after filling registered 7 volts with a 300 milliamp charge. Now it is on the charger and I periodically check the volts and amps and it is taking a full charge. I will keep all of you updated as it goes along. Kudos to Plengo for his formula that I used and mixed it with John Bedini's.

[D Rhodes]

Awesome Mikey and why_me! It is amazing what is possible in a backyard shed! Mikey, that 14awg er of yours, how much conventional energy is going into the charge battery when you have it cranked up? Do you mean that the input of 2.2A is conventional energy going in, as I know we cannot measure the radiant? I have not built an oscillator yet. Love your video showing all your machines by the way.I subbed your channel. Do more while they are running!

[why_me]

Thanks D Rhodes, I have also used the same formula to make 1.5 volt rechargeable batteries. I also made the batteries to be as near the same size as any other 1.5 volt battery. You can make them like this: Use Pex plastic tubing about 1/2 inch in diameter(according to my measuring tape}, Watts PB121N nylon hex head plug 1/8 inch(according to the package). and a copper tube cap 3/8 inch(according to the package). You have to tap the end of the Pex so the nylon plug will screw into the pex tube.(The tap I used did not match the threads, but it gave a conduit to be threaded) Use a magnesium ribbon to twist around a Philips head screw driver.(1/8 diameter) Use about an inch of twist. Make one end more flat and at least 1/2 inch extended so it will pass through the nylon hex head. Use a soldering gun to make a hole in it. CAUTION! The magnesium ribbon is extremely fragile and will break! After twisting and fitting through the nylon head CAREFULLY put it into the pex tube and secure it until tight to the tube. Painstakingly fill the tube with the wetted, not wet, mixture until absolutely full and a little bulge. Make a tiny piece of paper towel and use it on top of the mix just before putting the cap on the tube. Use distilled water and put a drop at the time on the packed mix, when it beads on top and will not absorb, put the tiny piece of paper towel on top, then cap it. Use masking tape to secure the copper cap to the pex tube. Go to the other end and put a drop of water into the negative side hole until full. (Magnesium end) Now measure the voltage, it should be over 1.5 volts. This battery is a rechargeable battery and gets stronger with use.

[why_me]

I forgot to add that the pex tube should be cut at 1 5/8 inch so the entire length of the battery is as near to a regular battery as possible.

[why_me]

The little batteries can also use copper caps at both ends, just make sure the negative cap closes over the magnesium strip so you can see it on the outside of the tube. Completely enclosed now, full of the dry mix, it should read right at 2 volts. Mine did.

[why_me]

An update on my 12 volt battery conversion, I gave a full charge using 2 amps, then ran 2 ham radios(12 volt units) until they shut off at 4.5 volts, then I ran, I am still running 46 LED's and the loaded voltage shows 3 volts at 2.5 amps. Unloaded the voltage shows 4.5 volts. When it finally runs down, I will recharge it and watch the results. I will post that here.