Lead Acid battery desulfator

Hey guys,

I want to build a battery desulfator to try and recover some motorcycle batteries.
Has anyone built one of these before?

Some links for reference:
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Battery-Desulfation.htm
http://home.comcast.net/~ddenhardt201263/desulfator/lowpower.htm

http://web.archive.org/web/20070722133405/http://www.shaka.com/~kalepa/desulf.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20070722134010/http://www.shaka.com/~kalepa/desulfparts2.htm

and i'm thinking of building the circuit here:
http://www.alton-moore.net/graphics/desulfator.pdf

Any suggestions for a replacement for the GI826CT fast recovery diode? Looks like it's been discontinued.

Also, I was thinking of using an Arduino as a replacement for the 555 timer, and possibly using it to monitor the battery's restoration progress as well.

Thoughts?

I've not built one, but you can certainly use an Arduino to replace the 555 and monitor the battery voltage as well. For the diode, search Farnell/Newark/Digikey/Mouser/RS for the specification (>= 6A 100v fast recovery diode) and you will find lots of alternatives.

dc42:
I've not built one, but you can certainly use an Arduino to replace the 555 and monitor the battery voltage as well. For the diode, search Farnell/Newark/Digikey/Mouser/RS for the specification (>= 6A 100v fast recovery diode) and you will find lots of alternatives.

I've got something that should work in my digikey cart. (Picture attached)

What will I need parts wise to incorporate the Arduino for monitoring? I think i'll leave the 555 in place so I'll have a permanent setup that isn't dependent on an Arduino.

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