Texas Army National Guard

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Vehicle Maintenance

Industry: Government Agency-Includes Military

Wastes Reduced: Batteries

Substance: Lead/Acid

Location: Eight TX

Contact: LTC Don Tryce

Phone: (512) 465-5001 ext 5717

Description:

In April 1994, the Texas Army National Guard purchased 240 Solargizer Battery Maintenance Systems from Pulse Tech Products Corporation. Solargizers are used on all wheeled and tracked vehicles from the 3rd Battalion, 141 Infantry, Texas Army National Guard. Units are located in Austin, McAllen, San Benito, Gatesville, Brownsville, Donna, Edinburgh, and Laredo. Periodic nature of use in the guard is hard on battery life.

P2 Application:

Complete units consist of a solar panel connected to a transducer which is in turn connected to the lead acid battery. The Solargizer Battery Maintenance System is designed to prolong battery life. It is a patented, solar-powered, electronic device that may be permanently attached to 12 or 24 volt lead-acid battery for a variety of vehicles and equipment. The objective of the Solargizer is to prevent sulfate build-up. When a Solargizer is attached to positive and negative battery terminals and placed in sunlight, it converts solar energy into a high-frequency, low-amperage pulsating electrical current within the battery. Pulsating energy surges continually clean battery plates of sulfate residue by causing sulfate molecules to break away from a battery's lead plate. After breaking away, sulfate crystals return to the battery's electrolyte solution.Low currents put into batteries during this process are sufficient to keep the battery fully charged with minimal solar exposure. Lead acid battery life expectancy is increased by 300%. In addition, the evaluation indicated that the use of this device provided a 300% increase in equipment availability, resulting in a significant increase in available training time. Retrofit of equipment is required. Estimated labor is 1 hour for combat vehicles (tracked) and 30 minutes for wheeled vehicles. Mechanical skills are required for installation

Environmental Benefits:

Using the Solargizer Battery Maintenance System, each battery is expected to last four times as long, thereby reducing battery waste and maintenance. Combined with the new Optima battery, battery life will be approximately equal to the vehicle life expectancy. At 76 lbs per battery (with 2.5 years life expectancy) and two batteries per vehicle, this amounts to a hazardous waste reduction of 60 lbs per year per vehicle.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The cost per unit was about $100. Regular batteries cost about $65. Maintenance, paper work for purchase and disposal costs are about $200 per battery change out. Over the 10 year life expectancy, the system will save almost $800 per battery or $80 per year

Source: TCEQ