1) What
are sulfated batteries?
According to studies by “Battery
Council International” (BCI) from Chicago, 70% to 80% of
lead-acid batteries are replaced prematurely due to the
sulfation that occurs on lead plates. Sulfation is an
electrochemical reaction that occurs when a battery is
discharged. During normal use or in storage, a battery’s
sulfuric acid is active between the plates. This
reaction creates energy in the form of electric current.
It also transforms the acid’s chemical composition that
is in contact with the lead plates, forming a solid
residue (lead sulphate). Finally, the loss of sulphuric
acid reduces the electrolyte’s Specific Gravity, which
transforms into water. During a discharge period, the
sulfuric acid in liquid state becomes solid and the
electrolyte’s specific gravity reading drops. However,
after using the battery for a while, the discharging and
charging procedures will transform the solid crystal
residue into liquid again but doesn’t allow the lead
sulphate to return totally into liquid (at 100%). Some
will remain fixed on the plates or fall down to the
bottom of the battery. This is called stratification.
Sulfation reduces the electrolyte concentration and, as
a consequence, the cell voltage is also reduced. As
sulfation increases the internal resistance increases
and the added heat up generation produces a marked rise
in temperature. These higher temperatures then further
accelerate the dry-out processes often culminating in
the early failure of a battery. THIS CONTINUAL SULPHATE
ACCUMULATION ACCELERATES THE WEAKENING PROCESS AND
FINALLY “SUFFOCATES” THE BATTERY. |
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2) What are the symptoms of
sulfated batteries?
A general lack of capacity
(deliverable power). An increase in battery
temperature while charging or discharging. A strong
odor of hydrogen gas while charging or discharging.
An excessive use of water, turning the battery weak
and dried up. A rapid rise in battery voltage while
charging (stops the charger). |
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3) What is the ResureX®
battery regeneration treatment?
Battery regeneration is a procedure
that returns a sulfated battery to its original and
normal condition. |
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4) What
is the ResureX® solution?
ResureX® additive cleans and maintains
battery plates and separators. It helps lead sulphate
crystals dissolve and also prevents new sulfation from
forming. During de-sulfation treatment, the sulphate
residue melts slowly and progressively into the
electrolyte. This causes the acid’s specific gravity to
rise. At the end of the process, the entire sulphate
residue will have been returned to the battery’s acid
and the battery will work at its optimum performance.
DUO-REGEN ResureX® restores the battery plate
composition and improves performance by an
electro-deposition process allowing the battery to
operate at its optimum capacity (often well beyond its
original specifications). Resurex is unique in that it
is a De-Sulfator AND a Re-Activator. The treated battery
regains its capacity, controls corrosion, all gas is
captured during charging. This prevents electrolyte
evaporation and gas emission, thus decreasing the risk
of explosion. ResureX increases the service life of the
battery and reduces charging time thus reducing
downtime. Continue battery maintenance with the
preventive solution “WaterX®” (see FAQ
21). |
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5) What is the “Maxi-Life
Pulse Re-Activator”
The Maxi-Life Pulse Re-Activator is a
small electronic device permanently attached to a
lead-acid battery’s terminals. It uses cutting edge
technology to send a specially controlled pulsing DC
current into the battery. The current pulses convert
battery-killing sulfate crystals back to liquid
molecules in the electrolyte. The battery stays in top
condition and its lifespan is dramatically extended. A
Maxi-Life Pulse can be used on wet, gel-cell and even
dry batteries! |
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6) How is DUO-REGEN
different from other products I’ve heard about?
The DUO-REGEN
RENU-A-BATTERY KIT is a totally new
technology that has forced a change in battery theory.
The Maxi-Life Pulse is more than just a pulser.
It is a battery re-activator! There is
nothing else to truly compare it with. It is a new
scientific model and can be likened to the MAJOR change
society underwent when changing from gas to electricity.
That was, and this is, a major change
in technology. |
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7) I have an old battery.
How do I decide if it is worth treating?
First, the battery needs
to be in sound mechanical condition. Start by measuring
the voltage in each cell. There can be no dead cells.
The voltage should be even across the cells and
preferably +2.1 volts per cell. If you find uneven
voltage, rapid charge the battery for 15-30 minutes and
recheck the voltage. Use a hydrometer to check that the
electrolyte’s specific gravity is similar in all cells.
If hydrometer readings are relatively even (regardless
of the colour red, orange, green) and voltage is
relatively even the battery is suitable for
regeneration. |
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8) When should I treat a
battery?
The earlier you treat a battery, the
better. The battery will maintain its health and will
have an even longer service life. The newer the battery,
the more likely you can double, triple or even quadruple
its expected service life. Note – the battery must be
functional. The DUO-REGEN kit will not revive physically
damaged batteries or batteries with dead cells. |
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9) What
is the minimum voltage required by a Pulse unit to
produce an improvement in the battery?
The DUO-REGEN Maxi-Life
Pulse switches off when the battery voltage drops below
12.60 volts. This avoids deep-discharging a battery that
is unused for a long period. |
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10) If I have a battery
sitting on a bench and it has A VERY LOW VOLTAGE... say
only 5 volts output... if I add additive and connect a
pulse... will there be any improvement?
It depends… If the 5V level is a result of
a deep discharge state and all cells are connected and
functional, first rapid-charge the battery for 20-30
minutes. Then, check to see if the voltage recovers.
Often this low voltage indicates one of the cells has
failed. |
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11) Does the battery have
to either be on a charger or installed in a vehicle for
the pulse to function?
The Maxi-Life Pulse works only when the
battery voltage is above 12.60 volts. If the battery is
above this voltage the Maxi-Life Pulse will be working.
It will turn itself off when the battery voltage drops
below 12.60 volts for any
reason. |
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12) What will DUO-REGEN do
for batteries that are unused for an extended
period?
Consider what happens to boats that sit in
the yard for 6 to 9 months. What difference should be
expected from 2 identical boats, one with standard
battery and another with Duo-Regen treated
batteries? An untreated battery will take up to 24
hours to recharge and will likely suffer from
overheating in the process. Most of the time, these
batteries will fail and have to be replaced. A DUO-REGEN
treated battery will be permanently free from sulfation
and will retain its charge for 12 to 18 months. Even
after 2-3 years of storage, you will need only 20 to 30
minutes of charging to restore the battery to
service. Simply put, DUO-REGEN treated batteries
keep their charge long and have a longer service
life!. |
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13) I have a sealed
battery. Will a Maxi-Life Pulse work without ResureX?
It is not necessary to use
both parts of the DUO-REGEN system. However, using both
parts of the system will provide the best overall
results. The Maxi-Life Pulse assists in breakdown on
sulfation and prevents its return. The ResureX additive
has two useful benefits. First, it attacks and quickly
dissolves the hard-bonded sulfate crystals (Third layer)
that are coating the plates. Second, ResureX assists in
the electro-deposition of new metal particules (ppm) on
the plate surface. This actually improves its
capacitance. (With carefully drilled holes you can
add ResureX to a “sealed”
battery). |
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14) Can the Maxi-Life Pulse
be used with other than lead-acid batteries?
DUO-REGEN successfully treats NiCAD batteries in
heavy industrial applications. Good results can be seen
with Gel AND VRLA-AGM batteries. DUO-REGEN has a special additive for NiCad
batteries. Our MAXI-Life “Re-Activator” inhibits all
Internal Resistance in Ni-Cad and primary batteries. |
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15) Does the battery
benefit by keeping the Maxi-Life Pulse attached during
re-charge?
The MAXI-Life Pulse will assist any
charger by adding high-frequency desulfating current
pulses. |
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16) Should I remove the
pulse after a time?
No, The MAXI-LIFE Pulse should stay
attached to the battery at all times. The Pulse acts
continuously to prevent sulfation inside the battery.
The longer you have a Pulse connected, the greater the
improvement. Any battery that has been treated with
DUO-REGEN and is kept charged will retain its capacity
for years. |
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17) Should I have the pulse
attached when the battery is removed from a vehicle and
is under charge?
Yes, keep the Pulse attached to the
battery at all times. |
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18) Are there any
temperature limitations with the use of Resurex
additive?
ResureX has been
successfully tested at temperatures between -40 and
+40C. Note that heavily sulfated batteries typically
freeze at -20C. |
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19) I
have a truck with two batteries. Is one kit enough for
the two batteries?
No, each kit is designed
for one 12 volt battery. Each 12 volt battery needs its
own kit. |
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20) After I treat my
battery, how do I know if there is any improvement?
Usually untreated
batteries get worse with use. Once treated with a
DUO-REGEN Kit, batteries get better. Regular daily use
is sufficient for the process to operate. It’s a bit
like Body Building. After treatment exercise
improves the battery. You will generally “feel”
improvements very quickly such as improved starting,
better spark/ignition, reduced alternator load,
brighter headlights faster charging and
slower discharge. If you have access to battery
conductance testing equipment, we suggest you can do the
following to verify actual improvement of the battery
performance. First, test the battery and record results.
Then, treat the battery. Wait 30 minutes and retest.
There will already be an improvement of the Cold
Cranking Amps (CCA). Retest the battery weekly for the
next three weeks. You will see improvement every week.
The battery will improve more if it is used
more. |
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21) How much ResureX should
I add to a battery?
Batteries vary greatly in
size and thus the amount of Resurex used will also vary.
As a rough indicator, a small motorcycle battery will
only need 2 or 3 ml per cell. An automotive battery will
use 10 ml per cell. For more sophisticated calculations,
the best rule is to use 10 ml of ResureX for every 100
Amps of the manufacturer’s rating. The 60 ml ResureX
bottle will treat one automotive battery rated at
600CCA. For larger,
heavy-duty or commercial batteries, dose at 20 ml per
100CCA. For example, a 1200CCA battery will need 240 ml
of Resurex, divided into 40 ml per cell. However, with
larger batteries, it is recommended RESUREX be added in
two steps to avoid over-dilution of the
electrolyte. Therefore, add half of the ResureX before
charging and half after the end of the
charge. Note - for
best results the battery should be cycled (charged and
discharged) 21 times or used on a daily basis for two to
three weeks. The
Specific Gravity of a
treated battery should be checked and adjusted to around
1280 degree after the 21-cycle period is
complete. Do not
over-treat (add too much ResureX) as this will dilute
the electrolyte. |
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22) Will there be any other
changes to the operation of the battery?
Other than performance improvement, there
will be no noticeable change to the battery. However,
during normal charging a battery usually produces
hydrogen gas. After treatment, almost no hydrogen is
released and the battery does not heat up during the
charging process. |
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23) What is WaterX and
should I be using WaterX?
WaterX is an evaporation
preventative. WaterX should only be used after treating
a battery with ResureX and attaching a MAXI-Life Pulse.
Typically, examine the battery 4 to 6 months after
treatment. The frequency of topping off depends on the
usage of your battery (number of cycles in charge /
discharged) on the climate. If the battery works hard
and you are in a warmer climate, you will have to check
the electrolyte levels frequently and adjust them by
using “WaterX®” solution. After ResureX® treatment, a
rule of thumb is add WaterX® every time you need to top
off the battery. |
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24) What is the right level
of electrolyte?
The plates
must be covered before and
after charging. There should be almost
10 mm or 0.4” of liquid on top of the
plates. |
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25) Do I have to add acid?
No. In normal conditions, you should never
add acid. Only DUO-REGEN Resurex® or WaterX® solutions
should be used to fill up the levels. Do not use tap
water. Tap water contains minerals and rust that can
raise the current in the battery and destroy it.
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26) Does the battery have
to be discharged entirely before being charged again?
No. Excessive discharge can damage a
battery and reverse its polarity. For deep cycle or
commercial batteries, never discharge the battery under
the 80% discharge capacity. Reverse polarity can occur
and typically a battery had to be replaced when this
occurs. We can often recover this situation with the
DUO-REGEN treatment process. If you want to be kept up
to date continuously about your battery’s state of
charge, you will need a limit indicator to inform
you when discharge hits the 80% stage. Your nearest
DUO-REGEN services consultant can give you helpful
advice regarding the problems that your forklift battery
traction or any other deep cycle battery is going
through. The installation is simple, quick and will save
you money. |
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27) Can I store my
discharged battery?
No. Storing discharged batteries causes
formation of sulfate deposits at the bottom of the
plates (“stratification”). These sulfate crystals harden
progressively on the plates and considerably reduce the
performance of the battery. They may even damage it
permanently. |
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28) Can my battery freeze?
Yes. If your battery is discharged or
almost discharged, it can freeze. At
the 60% discharged level, the freezing point is about
–16°C. (3.5 degrees F). A completely discharged battery
(SG at 1100) has a freezing point at –7°C. (19 degrees
F). Charge a stored battery on Pulse
Mode once every 12 to 18 months. |
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29) Can I interrupt in the
charging cycles?
No. Interrupting the charge cycle allows
the battery plates to sulphate. |
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30) Can
I reduce water consumption by charging at a lower
voltage?
Reducing the charging
voltage level might reduce the fluid consumption level
but it can also contribute to
stratification. |
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31) What are common
charging mistakes that I can avoid?
Undercharging Generally, this
occurs when you interrupt a charging cycle or when the
non-adjustable charger is weak and is not charging
enough in time.
Overcharging By over charging,
you damage the positive plate. This will increase water
consumption and could damage the battery permanently.
Let a DUO-REGEN Network technician verify the
specifications of your charger.
Lack of
Fluid Never charge a battery before checking
that the plates are covered completely with liquid (at
least 10 mm or .4” and above). Permanent damage can be
caused if you don’t ensure the correct liquid levels.
Always verify the fluid levels, both before and after
charging.
Overfilling Overfilling with
water may cause the electrolyte to dilute.
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