Due to my habit of accumulating surplus UPSs (and handheld spotlights), I have at least two dozen of 7.2A-H SLA batteries of varying manufacturing dates. The overwhelming majority of them are beyond the ability of conventional chargers to revive and have sat in my garage for years.
Are these worth anything to anyone? Experimental de-sulphating? Bullet casting? Ballast? Worth $20 to anyone for me to haul them up to DMS?
Not worth bullet casting, the required processing would cost more than just buying clean lead. Plus it would put the processor in danger while processing. I’ve done a bit of research on this as we have been offered battery lead a few times now at Hatcher’s.
Good to know.
LOL, it seems you post changed while I was typing.
I won’t state it as not possibly feasible. But, the cost, time required, and possible harm to one’s self is more costly than I and many others are willing to accept. To make things worse, you might not know your lead is still tainted till you are breathing acidic gasses during your second or third melting.
I’m not an expert on the processing of battery lead, I’ve done some research from having it suggested in the past and I do not want to process it or suggest the practice for Hatcher’s. But, I would reconsider given better information.
If you have no takers and want to recycle, try Altex Electronics in Carrollton. Last time I was there they had someone who accepts batteries and printers for recycling. Call first to make sure - (972) 267-8882
https://www.altex.com/computers-electronics-store-dallas-carrollton-texas.aspx
Seems my ninja edit was fast enough to escape the revision counter but you were faster.
Baking soda can be used to neutralize the acid in a lead-acid battery. But that doesn’t mean the process isn’t involved with extensive PPE and might be more applicable to car batteries with liquid electrolyte than SLAs which often have more of a gel electrolyte.
Now, most sealed lead acid batteries are Absorbed Glass Matt (AGM). Seems like that would make it even more of a pain to deal with.