Best Battery Desulfator/Reconditioner (That Really Works!)
Today on Car Battery Nerd, we’re checking out the Best Battery Desulfators.
First things first, let’s be clear about what a desulfator is.
It’s a device that attaches to your battery and reconditions it. The device removes lead sulfate from the battery plates, so that more of the power returns to the battery. That means the battery works better and lasts longer than it otherwise would.
It is NOT a charger; these little devices do not also charge the battery. Their sole purpose is to recondition and improve the health and power of the battery.
FYI, they’re all only for lead-acid batteries, not suitable for Lithium (LiFePO4).
We won’t keep you in suspense.
The winner was Pulse Max: F16 Pulse King.
In No.2 position, and easily the best for larger battery systems, was the Battery Rejuvenator (see price and specs on ebay).
In No.3 position was the original F16 Pulse King. And at No.3 was the Beyprern Lead Acid Battery Desulfator.
Read on for a complete breakdown of each product, and see how well, or otherwise, they worked.
Pulse Max: F16 Pulse King Desulfator
- Voltage: 12V only
- Weight: 40g
- Dimensions: 2.4L x 1.6W x 0.6H in
- Warranty: 3 Years
Update October 2025: The F16 Pulse King desulfators have been out of stock for nearly 9 months. We’ve reached out to the manufacturer, with no reply thus far.
Battery Rejuvenator
- Voltage: 12V-72V
- Weight: 0.53lb (240g)
- Dimensions: 6.57L x 3.74W x1.26H in
F16 Pulse King Battery Desulfator
- Voltage: 12V only
- Weight: 2.1oz (60.1g)
- Dimensions: 2.5L x 1.9W x 0.5H in
- Warranty: 1 Year
Update October 2025: The F16 Pulse King desulfators have been out of stock for nearly 9 months. We’ve reached out to the manufacturer, with no reply thus far.
Beyprern Lead Acid Battery Desulfator
- Voltage: 12/24/36/48V
- Weight: 4.6oz (130g)
- Dimensions: 3.54L x 6.69W x 1.18H in
We’ve got a ridiculous amount of experience with desulfators, we’ve seen some good ones and a heck of a lot more bad ones. We’ve tried them on a lot of different cars and seen how effective they can be.
They’re not miracle workers; there are some situations they won’t work – if a battery is very old, and in terrible condition, unused for a long time, then it really is a miracle you need, not a desulfator.
But apart from that, the good ones work really well to restore your battery health, make it last longer and help it to provide power closer to the power it provided when it was new.
How, then, did we choose the top battery reconditioning devices on the market?
We tested them for:
- How well they actually reconditioned the battery – measured by the improvement in CCA
- Quality of the unit itself – taking into account the casing, wires and connectors
- Ease of installation
- Method of usage, and usefulness in practice
Let’s get cracking, and check them out then!
Category Winners: Battery Desulfation & Reconditioning Devices
- Best Overall: Pulse Max Battery Desulfator
- Best for Larger Batteries: Battery Rejuvenator
- Best Value: F16 Pulse King (original model)
- Budget Pick: Beyprern desulfator
Full Battery Reconditioner Reviews
Here are the full reviews of the market’s leading battery desulfators.
F16 Pulse King: Pulse Max
Pros and who might need it:
Generated the most improvement in battery CCA (health and power)
In our tests, it was Pulse Max that increased CCA by the most. The amount of the increase was substantial in some batteries, for example increasing from 430CCA to 580CCA in one case (here are the Best Car Battery Testers, for checking CCA, by the way). Weak batteries that are struggling to start cars were improved to the point where starting is easy.
Rough and rugged unit
It’s really solid, an aluminium case. Looks like it could be bashed around a bit and still survive (not recommended, though!). The wires and connectors are also higher quality than in any other desulfator we’ve looked at.
You’ll have the possibility to revive multiple batteries
The Pulse Max comes with a 3 year warranty, we’ve never seen such a long warranty on a desulfator. With its build quality and tough casing, this one will likely outlast the original battery you put in on. So there’s a good chance you can revive and keep healthy a few batteries with this model. Some of you from the southern states will know the supposed 3-5 years that a battery “should” last is but a dream, a mirage!
The top choice for fleet owners, business/commercial vehicles, trucks, solar battery systems
Basically its by far the best option for anyone that uses expensive batteries or whose business relies on vehicles – you get easier starts in winter, and breakdowns are significantly less likely. And you’ll save a heck of a lot more money on battery costs and breakdown costs, compared to the pretty small cost for this unit.
Negative aspects:
It’s the most expensive
It’s double or more compared to the cheaper models on the market. That said, it does work quite a lot better than them.
It’s only a little better than it’s little brother
While it caused the largest increase in battery capacity in our tests, it only slightly outperformed the original F16 Pulse King, which is around 10-20% cheaper. You could argue the original model therefore represents better value.
Where can you get it?
Here’s where you can check it out on Amazon.
Update October 2025: The F16 Pulse King desulfators have been out of stock for nearly 9 months. We’ve reached out to the manufacturer, with no reply thus far.
Battery Rejuvenator
Pros and who might need it:
Caused the second-most improvement in battery health (CCA)
In our tests, it ranked after the Pulse Max and ahead of the original F16 Pulse King. That makes it the only desulfator we’ve ever tested to beat out any F16 Pulse King model.
The best for battery banks, and larger battery systems
It works great for high-powered battery systems, with a flexiblity the F16 Pulse King models can’t match. You can use the Battery Rejuvenator on systems up to 72V. It
Gives you two connection options
One of the limitations of the two F16 Pulse King desulfator models is that they only come with permanent connectors. This unit, however, gives you the option of permanent connectors or clamps. Why does that matter? Well, depending on your needs, you may only want the desulfator to do its job at specific times. If you don’t want to permanently attach the desulfator to the battery, with this model you can simply attach the clamps overnight while you charge, for example. Note that for the fastest desulfation, you’re better off connecting them permanently. In which case, make sure to buy a good quality desulfator, like each model on this list) which have a low current drainage.
Good, solid build quality
A pleasing strength to the unit in your hand. Not quite a match to the Pulse Max but better than the original F16 Pulse King, in that respect. And the clamps and wires are both high quality, hardy to high temperatures.
Negative aspects:
It’s still a little less effective at desulfating than Pulse Max
It didn’t manage to match Pulse Max’s CCA improvements, that model is still the most effective. However, it wasn’t too much of a difference, is the cheaper purchase, and works for batteries up to 72V.
Where can you get it?
Here’s where you can check it out on ebay.
F16 Pulse King Battery Desulfator
Plus points:
Its reconditioning performance is excellent
Third only to its big brother, Pulse Max, and the Battery Rejuvenator in fact. F16 Pulse King showed excellent capability to improve the battery health, consistently increasing the CCA value measured before and 2 weeks after installation.
From no start to good start
Two batteries which were unable to provide enough power to start their car were tested. Both these cars were churning over. They’d only start with a jump start. Then as little as 4 days after attaching F16 Pulse King desulfator, they were starting just fine.
Performance was much better than any other desulfator (except Pulse Max and Battery Rejuvenator)
There are plenty of desulfators on the market, but many have extremely limited performance. While the No.4 on this list was one of the desulfators that increased CCA enough for us to recommend it, there was a significant gap from 3rd to 4th place.
The best value on offer
The actual battery conditioning performance is not far off Pulse Max, and that’s at about 20-25% cheaper price. It’s around 50% more expensive than the Cleanpower desulfator but offers far superior ability to increase battery capacity, as measured by the Cold Cranking Amps (CCA).
Cons and why this model is not for you:
Build quality is a level below Pulse Max
The casing is plastic, and while it feels solid enough, it certainly doesn’t feel tough and completely solid as Pulse Max does. The components inside, the wiring and connectors are likewise a step down in quality. While they’re slightly better than the Cleanpower unit in third place, we have similar concerns about the longevity you can expect.
Where to get it?
You can look at pricing and details on Amazon here.
Update October 2025: The F16 Pulse King desulfators have been out of stock for nearly 9 months. We’ve reached out to the manufacturer, with no reply thus far.
Beyprern 12-48V Desulfator
Pros:
It really works, and at very low cost
The Cleanpower desulfator successfully increased the CCA of the vast majority of batteries tested on.
Potentially pays for itself pretty quickly
At such a low price, it doesn’t take much time for this to actually pay for itself. How? Well if your battery lasts, let’s say, a year longer than it otherwise would after using this desulfator, then you’re saving money overall. And that’s before you consider the fact that battery-related breakdowns will have become less likely.
You can use on more battery configurations
By which we mean that this unit will recondition batteries of up to 48V. That gives you a wider use range than just car batteries, which are almost always 12V.
Drawbacks and who it’s not suited to:
Seems to have inferior technology to the F16 Pulse King family of desulfators
The percentage increases in battery health were, across the board, smaller than those caused by F16 Pulse King desulfators.
Less convenient
With this type of desulfator, you have to attach it to the battery with little crocodile clips any time you want to desulfate the battery. With the F16 Pulse King models, you’ll have a one-time installation, and they stay on the battery, operating every time you drive (when voltage is above 12.6-12.8V) – that means th F16 desulfators are removing lead sulfate from the battery plates, without you having to do anything.
Typical plastic casing as seen on most desulfators
They do the job. The wires and clips seem decent enough. We just don’t expect a very long lifespan in the hot and heavy environment of the engine.
Where can you get it?
You can get it right here, on Amazon.
Essential info on usability
Be aware that the F16 Pulse King desulfators to be permanently attached to your battery, set and forget. They’ll work at 12.6V (or 12.8V for Pulse Max) and above. That means they’ll be in operation only when voltage is relatively high, in most cases that will be when the engine is turned on, (though, newer batteries may have a voltage higher than 12.6V so the desulfator will operate even with the engine off).
So the green light on the front of F16 (and blue light at the cable seal of Pulse Max) is likely to only be lit up when the vehicle engine is on. That’s to make sure it doesn’t drain your battery at all.
The Cleanpower model is not designed to be permanently attached to the battery but used when needed. So they’ll operate no matter the voltage of your battery.
Which model should I get?
If you want a model that could last a long time (even multiple batteries), and with the maximum ability to revive a battery, as well as keep it going stronger for longer, then it’s got to be the Pulse Max: F16 Pulse King battery desulfator. It’s the premium priced model, though.
If you want a balance of lower cost, yet still with excellent ability to revive and protect the battery, your choice is F16 Pulse King.
If you want a working desulfator at the lowest possible price, then the Cleanpower device is the one for you.
Will a desulfator work on my battery?
Perhaps this is the most important question. And our answer would be, yes, as long as it’s a battery that’s in terrible condition (and assuming it’s a normal lead-acid battery). For example, one that’s been left in a garage for a year untouched and unused. They’re not miracle workers. Just don’t buy a desulfator if that’s what you’re buying it for.
We’re big fans of these standalone battery desulfator, we’ve seen them make huge improvements to batteries, and rescue batteries that had seemed to be close to death.
Best Battery Desulfator (Reconditioner) Summary
This Best Battery Desulfator article went deep, no? We said we know a thing or two about these devices, didn’t we?
The three models on this page are the ones we’re comfortable recommending, the desulfators that really work.
The top battery conditioner/desulfator was F16 Pulse King: Pulse Max; the No.2 was the Battery Rejuvenator (see price on ebay right here); No. 3 was the original F16 Pulse King; and in No.4 position is Beyprern.
As we mentioned earlier, make sure you get the right kind for your needs, whether you want one that stays permanently on your battery, or one that you’ll attach and use occasionally.