Basic Care for Longer Lasting Batteries

Besides the degenerative process of sulfation which occurs on 84% of lead acid batteries, there are other contributing factors you should know when buying a battery as well as maintaining one that directly affect the lifespan of your battery.

1. Regular care for wet batteries

• Refilling of battery water. Only distilled (or battery water) should be used.
• Never let the level of your battery water to go below the lead plates, they should always remain submerged but never over fill them.

2. Regular use

• When a car battery is left in a state of discharge for too long the process of sulfation (which destroys your battery) increases.
• What this means is that a battery’s life is kept to an optimum when charged regularly and with the use of a Desulfator.
• If you are going to leave a car unused or battery uncharged for long periods of time do invest in a battery charger with a trickle charge function. The trickle charge function will ensure that your batteries are not overcharged.

3. The age of the battery when you bought it

• Some batteries can be bought new from the shelf but it may have been sitting there for months. That’s why most shops will keep their new batteries in the back and sell off their older ones first.
• The reason for this – Sulfation occurs once a battery is filled with electrolyte (acid)

• Solution? Always request for the newest batteries available or find out when a battery was delivered to the store.

4. Batteries generally last longer when kept cool

• For a tropical climates or in summer, if you have parked your car most of the time in basement car parks or shaded areas where the temperature is cool, then you would get a longer lasting battery. Sulfation increases with temperature.
• For temperate climates, it is essential to winterize your batteries.
  
  

5. Ensure that the battery is tightly secured

• When installing a battery, ensure that it is tightly secured as this reduces the stress on the battery from excessive vibration within the engine compartment.

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