What You Need to Know About Battery Maintenance
When it comes to the batteries the keep our vehicles running, you either love them or hate them.
They either work and we love them or they don't work and we hate them. And when running a vehicle-based business it's not just the inconvenience of a bad battery that will drive you crazy. It's the money that you lose every second your cars, trucks, and motorcycles aren't on the road.
A little bit of battery maintenance can help ensure you won't be waiting for a new battery to get your day and your car moving again.
At RB Battery we have a great selection of batteries, and here are some tips on how to keep them running.
Car and Truck Battery Maintenance
In today's complicated vehicles your car battery does so much more than it used to. But one thing remains the same, car and truck batteries are meant to start your vehicle with an initial big jolt of energy. A simple understanding of starter battery maintenance is something you need to know.
There are two main types of vehicle batteries that help your car keep running under increasing demand: dry charged, and wet charged batteries. Both of them create and hold a charge through the use of lead plates and an acidic electrolyte solution. Here's a quick run-through on lead-acid battery maintenance.
Dry Charged Batteries
Dry Charged batteries are manufactured without any electrolyte fluid in the battery. The good thing about them is that they have a long shelf life.
In some cases, this gives them up to a 5-year shelf life. They're tough and work well in high-heat extreme temperatures of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The bad news is that before you use them you have to add electrolyte fluid and charge them. Electrolyte fluid is the catalyst that makes your battery create a charge. It's usually some form of acid and water.
Adding electrolyte fluid and activating a dry-charged battery is a complicated and dangerous process. It's is not something you want to try at home. If you're going to buy one and keep it around for emergencies, make sure you have the tools and the talent to activate and charge the battery or know a mechanic who can do the job for you.
Also, periodic maintenance of a dry-charged battery is vital. Check your electrolyte fluid levels every two months or so, and top off the fluid levels as needed. Low fluid levels will damage your battery over time.
Wet Charged Batteries
These types of batteries are generally maintenance-free batteries and come from the factory ready to work.
Wet charged batteries are manufactured with the electrolyte fluid sealed inside. That makes them safer than dry-charged batteries. There's no need to do anything but hook it up to your automobile and go.
But that doesn't mean you can just ignore them, and it doesn't mean they'll keep running forever. Our wet-charged batteries are equipped with a special magic eye indicator that makes it easy to monitor battery life.
These types of batteries are great for cars and trucks that in constant use. They work well in our high heat, and can last for up to four years, even under the harsh conditions where our batteries work so well.
Motorcycle Battery Maintenance
If you're on two wheels instead of four, chances are you're going to need a gel battery for your motorcycle.
In gel batteries, the electrolyte fluid is replaced by a gel. The upside of a gel battery is the battery can be placed in any position, even upside down, without affecting the performance of the battery. Plus, gel batteries don't leak.
Gel batteries also have a very low discharge rate, which means they will still work after a fairly long time sitting around.
Gel batteries are maintenance-free battery. But, if you're going to store them for a long time, keep them away from excessive heat. Long exposure to the kinds of brutally hot temperatures in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia will shorten the battery life.
Energy Storage Battery Maintenance
If the solar age isn't upon us, it's close. China and Japan are producing significant amounts of solar power. And, solar's energy is slowly increasing it's share of the energy market.
Solar energy isn't nearly as popular in Africa but even in the oil-rich Middle East, the use of solar energy is on the rise.
That energy needs to be available when the sun's not shining and that's where Deep Cycle batteries make a big difference. These batteries put out steady amounts of power over long periods of time. In addition to solar power storage, deep cycle batteries are used on electric vehicles like golf carts.
Deep Cycle Battery Maintenance
Deep Cycle batteries come in two different types: flooded deep cycle batteries, and VRLA deep cycle batteries.
Flooded deep cycle batteries are filled with electrolyte fluid. While generally maintenance-free, fluid levels will need to checked and topped off from time to time. VRLA batteries are truly maintenance-free and have electrolyte fluid replace by a gel
Deep cycle batteries are designed to discharge most of their energy over time. Keeping them running requires recharging them after a long day's use. In the case of golf carts, most of these batteries will have to be hooked up to a separate charger.
If you have batteries for storing solar power, a day of sunshine should give them a full charge.
Ready to Buy?
At RB Battery we've got the battery you need, and the knowledge to take the mystery out of battery maintenance.
Our collection of batteries are tough and built to withstand the harsh conditions that will send other batteries into the dust. If you're not sure what kind of battery you need, our staff is here to help.
If you have any questions, we'll answer them. we'll work with you until we're sure you've got the exact battery you need to keep your car or your cart, or your solar-powered home, up and running for the long term.