Energy storage

[tidla]

Been trying restore some life into a "new" but stood for a while leisure battery.

While on the tinternet doing a bit of light reading, did you know the lead acid battery was invented way back in 1859!

Has no one honestly not came up yet with a new method of energy storage thats small , lightweight and compact?

[steve6367]

Been trying restore some life into a "new" but stood for a while leisure battery.

While on the tinternet doing a bit of light reading, did you know the lead acid battery was invented way back in 1859!

Has no one honestly not came up yet with a new method of energy storage thats small , lightweight and compact?

Yes but not for a better price, yet...

[Sir Tigger KC]

I believe there's a chap called Elon Musk out in California somewhere who's been thinking about this. 

[STEMO]

I believe there's a chap called Elon Musk out in California somewhere who's been thinking about this. 

And his solution was........lots of little batteries.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I wish I knew how to store energy in myself. I just don't seem to have any these days.                     

[STEMO]

I wish I knew how to store energy in myself. I just don't seem to have any these days.                     

That's cause you're an old fart and not young and fit like wot I am. 

[Bigron]

"tidla", if your leisure battry is sealed, the recovery strategy is more difficult, but do-able. Repeatedly charge and discharge it slowly and it should eventually recover most of its original capacity.
If it is wet lead-acid, recovery is quicker and more certain, but very messy and you may not want to bother.
After idle storage, it will have sulphated up, with the internal plates coated in insoluble (almost!) lead sulphate. A technique that I have used in the past, when I was younger and could be bothered with such things, was to drain out all of the electrolye - SULPHURIC ACID, SO TREAT WITH RESPECT OR IT WILL EAT YOU! - and keep it somewhere safe and do not allow anyone to touch it.
Next, refill it with plain water; tap water will do, as it won't be in there all that long and then charge it again as if it were a normal battery.
It will hold a charge. Not much of one, but still a charge. When you are bored with waiting, empty out the water, which by now sould have released some of the lead sulphate, and dispose of it responsibly.
Repeat, and repeat and repeat until you have restored it to reasonable health or until you die, whichever comes sooner! 

Ron.

[STEMO]

I seem to remember, back in the depths of time, that they suffer from 'treeing', where the build up actually gets from one plate across to another, effectively shorting it out.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Just turn it upside down and give it a shake. It will ruin your clothes, much of your skin and any items in the vicinity, but is a lot quicker. 

[Bigron]

Ah, the gentle approach, Albs! Lessons in suicide later? 

Ron.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I have only had complete failure at that so far Ron. If I learn how to do it right, I will post up details.   

[TheBoy]

Some smart chargers have modes to deal with this, but, really, just buy a new battery, and look after it better.

[Bigron]

There are products that will dissolve the lead sulphate, but the cure is worse than the disease! 

Ron.