Restoring old batteries

[Blake W.]

I was given a stack of old Corvette Restorer magazines from the 80's. In one of them (Fall 1988) is an article written by a Kevin L. Martin on restoring and maintaining batteries. He mentions a compound, tetrasodium EDTA in powder form that one can add to a sulfated battery. Can anybody elaborate on this? If it is something that works where can it be found? Thanks Blake

[Terry M.]

Re: Restoring old batteries *TL*

EDTA is a food preservative - I believe you can get it at a pharmacy without a prescription.
I sent off to England for some when that story appeared, put it in a battery. The battery lasted a long time - would it have lasted a long time anyway? I don't know. My experience is only anecdotal evidence.
Terry

[Chuck G.]

Re: Restoring old batteries

EDTA is also a chelating agent. Although I majored in Chemistry in College 35 or so years ago, I can't tell you much more. I believe it "scavenges" free metallic ions. It was used in dentistry in root canal work years ago too. If you had trouble getting down a canal, you used EDTA to "soften" the calcium matrix, hopefully opening the canal. It was marketed in dentistry under the trade name of "ED-TAC", or EDTAC... A chemical supply company might have it. Chuck