Ask the Expert: What causes sulphation in a lead acid battery, and are there solutions to fix this?

April 25, 2014

More often than not, sulphation is caused by user neglect or in many cases, just not paying attention to your battery.

Q: What causes sulphation in a lead acid battery and are there solutions to fix this?

A:More often than not, sulphation is caused by user neglect or in many cases, just not paying attention to your battery.

This problem can occur whenever a battery is discharged and not recharged properly in a timely manner. This discharge could be due to an electronic load, such as leaving a light or other electronics on, or just simply letting a vehicle sit too long.

When batteries become discharged, crystals build up from lead sulphate. If the battery is not charged immediately, the crystals grow and the battery loses capacity. Some battery chargers, including CTEK's, can desulphate the lead plates by dissolving the large lead sulphate crystals. The battery regains partial or original capacity after desulphating.

(Infographic : See happens to batteries without proper battery maintenance.)

Information provided by: CTEK

About the Author

Matt Ingram | Regional Sales Manager, CTEK

Matt Ingram, Regional Sales Manager for CTEK, is the company's expert in battery charging and maintenance.

CTEK Power, Inc. is based in Twinsburg, Ohio. CTEK manufactures a complete range of new generation high-quality, reliable battery chargers and accessories for private and professional use that are effective, user friendly and above all safe to use. CTEK has become the most trusted name in battery charging, manufacturing and distributing both CTEK and OEM branded chargers. A leader in Switch Mode Technology, CTEK’s cutting edge innovations have made it a global industry leader selling more than 4 million chargers in over 60 countries worldwide.