Archive for May, 2010

Welcome to our 3rd weekly installment of Battery Care Tips presented by Standard Battery Inc.

• Lead acid batteries should be brought up to full charge at the earliest opportunity.  Avoid continuously operating batteries in a partially charged condition.  This will shorten their life and reduce their capacity.
• Extreme temperatures can substantially affect battery performance and charging.  Cold reduces battery capacity and retards charging.  Heat increases water usage and can result in overcharging.  Very high temperatures can cause “thermal run-away” which may lead to an explosion of fire.  If extreme temperature is an unavoidable part of an application, consult one of our specialists about ways to deal with the problem.
• Inactivity can be extremely harmful to all lead acid batteries.  If seasonal use is anticipated, we recommend the following;
  • Completely charge the battery before storing.
  • Remove all electrical connections from the battery, including series or parallel connectors.
  • Store the battery in as cool a place as possible.  However, do not store in a location which will consistently be below 32°F.  Batteries will discharge when stored, the lower temperature the lower the self discharge.
  • When not in use, boost every two months.

All of the above maintenance can be avoided by using a simple and inexpensive product!!  Stay tuned and next week we will discuss that product in detail.  Or if you can’t wait that long call us and ask about our full line of PULSETECH products.