How often should I equalize my Gel Batteries?
Gel Batteries never need to be equalized. Here is why: One reason why batteriesare equalized is to combat voltage separation from cell to cell within battery.A 12-volt battery is composed of six 2-volt cells connected in series internally.A 12-volt battery reading 12.6 volts on a voltmeter should equal2.1 volts percell. However, when batteries are manufactured in a one­shot process cell,where the plates are activated within the battery, one cell may receive moreor less electrolyte than the other five cells of that battery. When this happensa battery's cells may equal:

2.13v - 2.12v - 2.13v - 2.11v -2.09v - 2.11v. (Sum=12.6volts)

Asa battery is discharged, the cells with the lower voltage will be drained furtherthan the cells at the higher voltage. As the same battery is charged, the cellswith the high voltage will be fully charged before the cells with the lower voltage.The more a battery is cycled, the more the cell separation takes place. Equalizingbatteries helps to bring all the cells of a battery to the same voltage.

Our batteries are manufactured using tank formationto activate the plates. This process guarantees a fully formed and voltage matchedplate. The extra handling of the plates provides an additional inspection steppingthe process to verify plate quality. Plates from hundreds of batteries are formedin a tank all at once providing not only balance from cell to cell offal battery,but also balance from battery to battery of a batch.

But don't I have to equalize my batteries toprevent stratification?
When liquid electrolyte or acid stratifies, the heavier charged ionsactually sink to the bottom of the cell, leaving discharged acid at the top.Thisallows the top of the plates to oxidize and corrode reducing performance andshortening life. The bottoms of the plates also corrode due to the action ofthe higher strength acid. This can happen in Stationary applications, such asthe solar industry, because the battery never moves.

Because our electrolyte is a thick-consistency gel,thisacid stratification can never happen, so no, it is not necessary to equalizeyour Gel Batteries.

I have been told that your Gel batteries getcharged with a lower voltage than other batteries and if you overcharge them,theywill be ruined. Is this true?

Overcharging shortens the life of ALL batteries!

Itis true that Gel batteries are charged at a lower voltage than most batteries.Our batteries should be charged to no more than2.35 volts per cell or 14.1 voltsfor a 12-volt battery at 68º F. The charging voltage of a battery varieswith temperature so you should always use a temperature compensating chargingsystem.

Overcharging any Sealed Valve Regulated battery, Gelor AGM will shorten battery life for reasons listed below:

SVR batteries are a “recombinant” battery. This meansthat the oxygen gas that is normally produced on the positive plate in all leadacid batteries recombines with the hydrogen ions on the negative plate. The “recombination” ofhydrogen and oxygen produces water, which replaces the moisture in a battery.Therecombination reaction will preserve most of the water if the battery is chargedat the appropriate rates.

Overcharging a SVR battery will overwhelm the recombinationreaction and cause permanent water loss. In essence the battery dies of dehydration.Themore the battery is overcharged, the quicker it will dry out. This is true ofall Sealed Valve Regulated Batteries, Gel or AGM.

Batteries are charged at different voltages for differenttemperatures. Batteries are charged at lower voltages in high temperatures andhigher voltages in lower temperatures. For this reason you want to make sureyour temperature probe is plugged in and functioning correctly.

All of the above being said, a Gel Battery will notbe immediately ruined due to overcharging.