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![]() From an upcoming article: Surprising Results from Nanopulser Test It's natural to be skeptical of gimmicks, gadgets, or chemical concoctions reputed to work minor miracles. We met an enthused gentleman at the 2006 Boat Show who claimed to have a device capable of rejuvenating many batteries that had been discarded as "dead," and would substantially extend the life of properly functioning, fully serviceable batteries. I thought, "Well of course he does. This will probably wind up in the bogus idea pile, right next to the cow magnets that supposedly improve fuel economy and the 90-wt miracle oil additives that all but promise to perform an engine overhaul." The gentleman carried a notebook filled with test results from users around the world; but I'm not very impressed with tests conducted by unknown persons in unknown conditions. There's always a chance that the companies or organizations might not even exist. The gentleman's device, called a Nanopulser (tm), next appeared on my radar when Seattle's Boat Electric began mentioning the product in display ads in this publication. I spoke to Lori Hogan of Boat Electric and learned that Boat Electric has been doing a local test of the Nanopulser (tm) since the product was first presented to them in September of 2005. "We don't want to carry anything that we aren't certain is going to actually do what the manufacturer says it is supposed to do," said Lori. "We had somebody ask us to carry a similar product a while back, but they wouldn't let us have a unit to test so we passed on that one. Pulse Genetech, the manufacturer of Nanopulser (tm), allowed us to actually try one of their devices in a real world situation, and now that we are convinced it works as advertised we will be carrying them in inventory." The chemical reactions that occur within a battery cell create lead-sulfate during discharge. In a perfect world, and if batteries were always allowed to fully recharge before being discharged again, the lead-sulfate would revert back to its basic components of lead, lead dioxide, and sulfuric acid as the battery regained voltage. In the real and imperfect world, small traces of lead sulfate collect on the positive and negative electrode plates. The lead sulfate is an insulator, and reduces the surface area of he electrode plate actually exposed to the electrolyte. As batteries age, the amount of lead-sulfate continues to build on the plates, continuously decreasing battery performance until one or more cells will not accept or hold a charge. When one of more cells have failed, the normal practice is to consider the battery "dead' and purchase a replacement. According to Nanopulser's claims, verified by the results at Boat Electric, if a battery is only considered "dead" because the plates have become sulfated it is now possible to restore acceptable performance and postpone replacement. The operating principle behind Nanopulser (tm) is the continuing application of sharp but low level electrical impulses that can inhibit the formation of lead-sulfate deposits as well as dissolve existing deposits in the cells. One of Boat Electric's customers purchased a new 4D battery in September of 2005, and brought in a failed 4D core. Boat Electric chose this opportunity to try the Nanopulser (tm) in a "real world" situation. When the test began, on September 6, the battery voltage tested at 10.8 Volts, (definitely dead as a doornail for 12-volt systems). CCA (cold cranking amps) were just over 950. A Nanopulser was applied to the battery, and then the battery was placed on a low-level "float" charge device. The battery was allowed to "desulfate" from September 6 until October 21, 2005, and Boat Electric took the following test readings during the process. Voltage: 9-6: 10.8 9-13: 12.8 9-23: 13.2 9-30: 13.3 10-13: 13.4 10-21: 13.4 Cold Cranking Amps: 9-13: 960 9-16: 950 9-23: 950 9-26: 1010 9-30: 1110 10-07: 1130 10-13: 1140 10-21: 1140 The desulfating test concluded on October 21, 2005, but the toughest test was yet to come. Would the newly restored battery remain viable once it had been removed from the float charge? The 4D was disconnected from the charger in October and left on the cold cement floor of a warehouse until February 13, 2006. When tested again in mid February, the 13.4-volt charge had fallen back to 11.75-volts, losing no more voltage than most "brand new" batteries would have lost in the same time period under the same conditions and still capable of adequately powering most equipment rated at 12-volts. Nanopulser (tm) is a self-contained system that actually draws its power from the battery or battery bank it is being used to condition. Power draw is 40mA. The Nanopulser is set for an automatic shutoff when voltage drops to 11.6 V to prevent a draw down of a battery not connected to a recharge circuit. (If a dead battery is being desulfated it will require the introduction of energy from an external charger). There is also a 24-volt Nanopulser (tm) that draws 30mA and has an auto shutdown at 23.2 volts. While the resurrection of a dead battery is an impressive feat, the greater benefit to most boaters will likely be extending the life of healthy batteries by preventing sulfation before it takes its toll. As Lori Hogan explained, "We think that boaters with a Nanopulser will be able to run their battery charging systems at lower voltages. It's possible to knock the sulfate off a plate by introducing some high voltages during the charge process, but there is a risk of damage to the electrodes whenever those high voltages are being shot through the cells. The Nanopulser (tm) keeps the plates clean without the risk." Nanopulser (tm) retails for $90, and a single unit will condition all of the batteries in a bank. (The 24-volt unit retails for $130.) I may be a skeptic when it comes to gizmos, gadgets, and miracle cures, but I know all I need to know about Boat Electric. If Lori and her crew have tested the Nanopulser (tm) and found it effective as advertised, that's good enough for me. I find a simple test on the concrete floor of the Boat Electric warehouse more persuasive than 50-pages of scientific equations assembled by some testing laboratory or a "testimonial" letter written by Heaven Only Knowswho. |