Monthly Archives: August 2012

People store batteries for a variety of reasons. Some want to sell them or keep them as spares. Others retain batteries until it's time to take them to a disposal facility. Regardless of such reasons, it is important to keep them in a safe place and take the proper precautions. This will minimize the loss of power, prevent rust, limit corrosion and reduce the risk of fire.

How to Store Batteries
First, you will need to remove and examine the battery in question. Be careful not to create a short circuit in the process. Large car and boat batteries have the potential to cause serious electrical shocks. Popular Mechanics magazine recommends disconnecting the negative terminal of a car battery first. Check the battery for any corrosion or other damage. Carefully remove corrosion from large, valuable batteries. If a small household battery has corroded, put masking tape over the terminals and dispose of it as soon as possible.

Manufacturers recommend charging used automotive batteries before

Solar batteries are used in conjunction with solar power panels and are usually stored in enclosed locations where venting may not be an option. In this case you would require a virtually maintenance-free type of battery that offers an extremely low chance of mishap. Solar panels are often times mounted in difficult to access or remote locations and you want a battery for your application that will survive the elements and last a long time. So what type of battery do we recommend for use with solar panels? Sealed AGM!

AGM stands for absorbed glass mat. These batteries evolved from gel-type batteries. The glass mat is actually a Boron-Silicate glass mat that is really fine and this glass mat is about 95% absorbed with the electrolyte. Because the electrolyte is absorbed in the glass mat, if the battery is broken, there won’t be any caustic and dangerous leaks. So in actuality, AGM batteries are non-toxic and extremely low maintenance. The reason why flooded batteries are higher maintenance

There are many battery-recycling solutions available to the public. In everyday life, it can be easy to overlook the problem caused by not recycling batteries. For example, just imagine how many cell phones Americans will go through in the next few years. Most of the time, those used cell phones will end up in trashcans and make their way to landfills without being properly disposed. This is a problem because of the hazards that decaying batteries can pose to our environment. As a consumer, it is important to take advantage of the convenient, and often free, battery-recycling programs available.

In 1996, a non-profit battery recycling program called, Call2Recyle was established as the only free battery-recycling program in North America and since then has recycled over 70 million pounds of batteries in an effort to remove batteries from landfills and reduce pollution caused by the improper disposal of batteries. The way it works is quite simple; collection sites associated with the Call2Recycle

Before you are proficient at preventing battery accidents you need to understand the characteristics of a battery. For batteries with electrolytes, the electrolyte solution reacts with lead plates inside of the battery and this reaction creates an electrical charge. As a battery’s energy is consumed, this chemical reaction is reversed and the battery then requires charging.

The chemical reaction that produces an electrical charge creates a gaseous byproduct called hydrogen gas. When hydrogen accumulates to a concentrated level and mixes with oxygen, then BOOM! This is how most battery explosions occur.

Educate Yourself About Battery Accidents

So, before you work with batteries, be sure that you educate yourself on your surroundings. You should know where the closest sink or eye wash station is and also where the closest shower is. If your eyes do get exposed to battery acid, flush continuously for 15 to 20 minutes and seek medical attention. Additionally, battery terminals can shock you!

Dirt bike batteries can be misleading. To the nonchalant dirt bike rider the selection of dirt bike batteries can seem like you are in a candy bar aisle; all of the candy bars look the same, but they don’t all taste the same. The same holds true with dirt bike batteries.

Dirt bike batteries may look the same and perform the same to the unseasoned rider, but your dirt bike can certainly tell the difference and over time, so can your wallet. 90% of dirt bikes are manufactured with one OEM brand so selecting a replacement is the first time you can make a good decision.

Dirt bike batteries are very important components that not only start your bike but also provide added power and in some cases, higher performance levels. Most dirt bike battery manufacturers strive to give you the maximum amount of performance when you are pushing hard on those rough back roads.

There are a couple of things that a good rider will look for in a battery:

1) that the bike starts on the first try every time and

Batteries are everywhere these days. We find them in things like alarm clocks, smoke detectors, flash lights, iPods, remotes, etc… and most of these batteries are used singly. If you’re eco-conscious and have ever wondered what to do with your spent, small batteries, here is some good info.

Many types of batteries contain harmful metals and chemicals that if disposed incorrectly could potentially contaminate our natural resources like water supplies and food supplies. If you’re using small batteries, you’re most likely using single-use batteries or small rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries most likely contain more harmful chemicals like cadmium. Regardless of the type or of the use, it is important to dispose of these batteries in the same manner.

You should take caution to store your spent batteries in a safe location like a box in a basement until you’re ready to make a trip to a location that participates in battery recycling programs. Many stores like Staples or Radio Shack

The batteries used in boats today are high-tech and expensive. The operator should be able to measure the charge and translate the reading into the condition of the battery. Here are a few methods for measuring the charge of a marine battery.

There are measuring tools available for purchase that can be used to measure the state of charge of a battery if you do not have a voltage metering system installed. For batteries that use electrolyte there is something called a Hydrometer, which can detect the amount of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte and displays this reading as a charge. The amount of sulfuric acid will change with temperature so in order to ensure consistent readings, be sure the battery is around 80F. Additionally, electrolyte batteries will have multiple cells so the hydrometer readings should be taken from each individual cell. Use the owner’s manual of your hydrometer to determine if the reading is good or bad. A bad battery will typically have deviations between cells. A

Ever wondered what it means to connect batteries in series or in parallel? Ever wondered which is better…or if it matters or even what the difference is? Here is some basic information on how to get the most out of your batteries while preventing damage.

When talking about battery installation with multiple batteries you need to keep in mind the total capacity and total voltage. Capacity is rated in Amperage-hours (ah) and Voltage is rated in Volts (6V, 12V, 24V). There are generally two standard hour lengths used, 20 and 10 to allow consumers to compare apples to apples. Simply put, divide the stated hour metric into the AH rating to see what amperage load will last the rated hours. For example a 210Ah rating at 20Hr will run a 10.5Ah load for 20 hours. Amperage loads larger than this number will last for a shorter period of time and loads smaller than this number will last longer than the stated 20hrs. The 1:1 ratio will not continue as you deviate to either side of the standard amp hour

The power and speed of your golf cart depends upon the strength of its batteries. Several factors determine how long your batteries will last. These include how well you maintain and charge your batteries. With proper maintenance and care, your battery can last several years. At some point, the batteries will reach the end of their serviceable life. These instructions will help you replace your own golf cart batteries and save money.

Locate the Golf Cart Battery and Assemble Your Supplies

In some models, the batteries are located beneath the driver’s seat. In other models, the batteries are in a compartment in the front end of the cart. Open the compartment to determine the type of batteries that your particular cart requires. Possible options include a single battery or a set of six. While replacing the battery is not difficult, it is essential that you know and comply with the manufacturer’s guidance for replacing your golf cart battery. You will also need a wire brush, insulated wrench,

RVs typically have two categories of batteries: house and starting. Malfunctioning house batteries may cause your electrical equipment like televisions, air conditioning, and refrigerators to behave erratically and if you are without a generator, you may be in a bit of trouble. Be prepared by checking the condition of your batteries regularly. This is a vital preventative maintenance check that doesn’t take much effort.

In the event that your starting battery dies, it is possible to jump it in the same way you would jump your car. If the starting battery does not maintain a charge and you receive warning indications from your indicator lights on the RV, then it is time to replace your starting battery.  If your house batteries do not maintain a charge, you need to replace them together (if more than one).

Having one good battery and one bad battery does not help as you would shorten both of their useful lives. House batteries may be connected in parallel or in series which means that