Abstract Sodium sulfate as an additive in the electrolyte solution of a 2V/20AH lead acid battery to determine the effect on the cycle life and performance of the battery has been investigated. The electrolyte solution was a combination of sulfuric acid and sodium sulfate with charge and discharge cycle processes carried out for 30 minutes each. The two different electrolyte solutions (dilute sulfuric acid and sulfuric acid-sodium sulfate additive) for the battery were done separately at negligible temperature change with an incandescent lamp of 6V, 10.3W applied as load for each of the discharge cycle process. The total quantity of voltage discharged by the sodium sulfate additive electrolyte (0.80V) was less than that of the dilute sulfuric acid electrolyte (1.20V) and this implies that the additive slightly improved the cycle life of the battery. The additive offered minimal positive impact to an already existing dilute sulfuric acid electrolyte of a typical lead acid battery. The effect of sodium sulfate additive on the life of the battery was discussed.
Keywords charge cycle; discharge cycle, sulfuric acid, sodium sulfate, Lead acid battery.