Republished from our EZ Green Solutions blog this post examines the potential and technologies for battery reconditioning.
Battery reconditioning allows for refurbishment instead of destroying or recycling batteries in a relatively simple, cheap, repeatable process.
The world sometimes seems to run on batteries, as so many things we use in our everyday lives involve batteries! We don’t even realise that the most common and obvious things such as cars, golf carts, special needs vehicles, digital cameras, laptops to name a few, all involve batteries! Batteries do have a nominal shelf life and lose capacity eventually. But do they really need to be replaced as the manufacturer recommends? After all, the manufacturer is interested in sales, revenue and his own bottom line – not yours!
Do we really need the cost … and the recycling cost if there is a way to extend battery life, if only 20% or so?
Recharging the batteries has become a common routine for many people around the world and following common practice, as the life of the battery dwindles, replacement is eventually recommended … much sooner, by the suppliers of new batteries, for some strange, costly and inefficient reason!
Whatever the application the battery serves, you do have a couple of options once it has been used, either throw it away, have it recycled or, there are now options to recondition and re-use.
Environmental Implications – Battery Recycling / Reconditioning
Battery recycling involves total destruction of old battery and recycling the to make a new battery helping the company to save the money against new batteries but this is very much a completely separate specialist process.
Battery reconditioning allows for refurbishment instead of destroying and recycling the batteries and with a relatively simple process allows an extension to the life of the battery on either a small domestic scale or a scalable process to say an SME (small business).
Both approaches are acceptable from the environmental point of view but reconditioning either on a small, or on a commercial scale, could prove to be an attractive and cost effective alternative from both an environmental and a commercial point of view
The simple process of battery reconditioning basically allows you to renew old batteries, even when they appear totally discharged or even, dead. It is now common practice for car batteries and extends to many other kinds of lead acid and lithium batteries as well. This also presents a possible route to another income stream for DIY enthusiasts and auto workshop businesses alike.
Regulation and Economic Pressures
From Asia to the Americas and Europe, increasingly tight government regulation on greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainability in general, are forcing change. Increasingly, battery technology is coming under the microscope for development with respect to operational efficiency and recycling. This is particularly a concern where components include lithium, lead and various either expensive, or just plain nasty components.
From the marketing point of view, the general public has become more aware of battery recycling as an option. This has helped build demand in the market and opened additional revenue streams for the industry. Battery manufacturers have also realised that used batteries, poorly managed, cause environmental and health and ultimately financial hazards if not properly attended to.
Even the manufacturers have started setting up their own recycling plants, obviously to encourage and profit from this process.
Overall however, with the commercial focus so far on mass recycling, and the costs incurred by the consumer in the form of higher battery costs, additional green taxes on disposal and recycling charges, there has been little commercial incentive to develop reconditioning processes … until now.
How and why would Battery Reconditioning work?
Refer for details to ‘Why Batteries Need to be Reconditioned’ (http://www.dbit.co.uk/BatteryReconditioning.Pdf) but I summarise the technology and the reasoning for you as follows:
There are only so many times that you can charge and recharge them. First they start to lose power and you find that there is less and less usable time that you have before you must charge again. Some people have termed this the memory effect. The term “memory” basically is described as the battery “remembers” its usual discharge point and superficially “needs” a charge whenever it hits that point.
Many people do not know about the ‘memory’ effect and just throw away the battery because they think it’s ‘dead’. This also follows the recommendations of the manufacturers and vendors who would obviously prefer to sell a new battery. Apart from the cost and throwing away good money, there are also significant environmental issues as discussed already.
More than likely, the battery can be revived providing that the battery isn’t completely damaged (i.e. from years of memory buildup and sulfation).
Rechargeable batteries do NOT last forever but they do last a long time – LEARN MORE
One of the main objectives in reconditioning a battery is to get rid of the sulfation (crystal formation) developed in the battery. This is done by leaving in some additives and then leaving the battery rest for some time. This leads to the rupture of the sulfation plaque and also allows the battery to charge properly to its full capacity – increasing the life expectancy of, for example, a car battery.
We do not solve the problem of sulfation by simply charging the battery. Therefore, even if you recharge your batteries, you would be well advised to reconditioning them periodically. Basically when we rejuvenate or recondition batteries we break down this crystal formation (sulfation). We see the problems and long term damage become significant when the crystals become ingrained from years of memory buildup.
The Business Opportunity for Battery Reconditioning.
With a few tools and based on the reconditioning course mentioned below, we can do this work at home. There is a relatively simple process involved in reconditioning batteries depending on the type of battery. There is nothing complicated, or secret, about the process – it just has not been publicised as an option for everyone.
In terms of markets and demographics for a business model, the market for those using batteries worldwide ranges from from car owners to business vehicle owners including milk floats, forklifts, mewps etc and across industries like trucking, automotive, electric carts, medical, recreational, warehouse, farming, telecommunications, construction and renewable energy form part of the demographic for this business. Added to these applications, there are also equipment batteries of various kinds, IT, communications, increasingly domestic appliances, lighting and heating down to the smallest controllers, all of which use battery technology which has a finite life to replacement or reconditioning.
From the point of view of assessing the business opportunity, Solomon O’Chucks has a very good article developing a business plan for recycling or reconditioning batteries: https://www.profitableventure.com/starting-battery-recycling-reconditioning-business/
Learn More about the possibilities that could build or enhance your business
Battery Reconditioning – a Simple Process for DIY and Small Business
While not necessarily complicated there are a few items of equipment needed for the reconditioning process and obviously the quality of the tools required will depend on personal preference and whether the application will eventually mature into a commercial venture: reconditioning chargers, electronic battery analyser, hydrometer, battery additives, drill and mechanical cleaning tools, and load testers.
The EZ Battery Reconditioning Method will allow you to bring dead batteries back to life, pretty much just as new. The business opportunity would, of course, be to buy old batteries, or better get them for free, and recondition them for resale and re-use.
EZ Battery Reconditioning supports the general environmental drive towards sustainability and could also serve as a sustainability opportunity in some businesses if they are working towards ISO 14001.
Battery Reconditioning – varying opinions, informed or not.
Numerous opinions abound regarding the process with some, of course, concluding that the process is a scam while others have completed valid testing and acclaim the process as a bona fide sustainable alternative with the added benefits to the cost and impact of battery recycling and pre-mature replacement.
I would point you generally to the internet and to the following so that you can make up your own mind: http://batteryreconditioninginfo.blogspot.com
“You can use these reconditioning units in any lead acid battery, which is the best part of them. The battery works well and there will be no car battery problems in mind to make this process, which is the biggest advantage. In case you are skeptical about doing this for yourself, you can get it done by a professional or you can be yours trading for the reconditioned, rather than buying new ones! This is where I’ll stop my battery of words and sign! It’s goodbye from me until next time!”
Learn More about the business possibilities Re-conditioning batteries …
This review, albeit from one supplier, outlines the opportunity for the consumer in these uncertain times emphasising that, “across the world there are thousands of types of kids toys, remote controls, wireless keyboards, kitchen gadgets and more that are dependent on drawing their power from these small batteries. They’ve become so integral to daily life that they’ve come to be considered as disposable. The problem is that they’re expensive to buy, over and over again, and are difficult to dispose of safely and without risking harm to the environment. There, in a few words, there are multiple reasons to try out [this] technique.”
Battery Reconditioning – The Pros
In the current era, even the most advanced electronics have a battery. If you figure out, buying batteries for each of your digital devices will alter your budget. You’ll end up spending much more than you had expected. You need to consider reconditioning before junking them.
https://www.best3dprinterreviewer.com/ez-battery-reconditioning-scam/ @CharlesStephenson (engineer) reviewed the EZ Battery Reconditioning System and summarised the Pros and Cons as follows:
• Ideal for beginners. Easy to read and follow through. Even if you have little or no knowledge about electronics and batteries, this course gives you a chance to learn and practice with ease.
• Environmental conservation guarantee. Disposing batteries exposes the ground to lead and cadmium. Reusing them is so far the most recommended approach.
• Money-saving. You will spend between $100 and $500 when acquiring a brand new battery. It depends on the brand of choice. The course costs you much lower with little effort involved.
• Money-back guarantee. The program has a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you feel the course is not worth it, you may return it.
• Universal and detailed instructions. The guide is very detailed in explaining reconditioning. It gives details of all the batteries in a comprehensive approach.
• Money-making opportunity. This is a major advantage because you do not just benefit from reconditioning, but also acquiring skills to start a business on the same time.
And the Cons?
• Available in online reading mode only. There is no video or physical books for this course. However, the colourful illustrations make the PDF format easy to read and follow.
• You’ll need dedicated efforts. It will require keenness and attention to detail to understand the concepts. Patience is key. You’ll not achieve everything in a day.
Conclusion and Recommendations
There is now an environmentally-friendly, cost-efficient alternative to dumping lead-acid batteries as they seem to approach their end of life
And the overall conclusion, which this author fully agrees with and will not supplement:“Is it worth your time? Definitely YES! The course is very reliable and beneficial in diverse ways. It is the best course that you’ll find out there with multiple advantages. The course deserves a 4.7/5 rating score. The use of simple and easy language, colorful illustrations, and the fact that it enables environmental conservation gives it a top rating.” [http://www.dbit.co.uk/BatteryReconditioning.pdf]
Learn More about the possibilities and simple processes
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