Warranty
Product warranties are made by the manufacturer of the product. Our battery products are designed to meet or exceed the performance of the original equipment manufacturer's product and are warranted as follows:
- Motorcycle: 1 year
- Personal watercraft: 1 year
- Golf caddy: 1 year
- Battery Chargers: 2 year limited warranty on Accumate; 1 year on others
- Westco Mazda Miata: 4 years: first year exchange, balance pro-rated
- All others : 1 year warranty
Note: This warranty excludes damage due to misuse or neglect, improper charging or improper application of battery. To attain warranty service, you must contact the manufacturer. The battery manufacturer warrants only to the original purchaser that this battery is free of defects in material and workmanship for 12 months from date of purchase and that the charge of the battery has been maintained at or greater than the minimum level considered necessary under industry standards for batteries to perform effectively upon installation. The manufacturer generally requires 2-3 weeks to process a warranty. You are responsible for disposing your spent or defective battery to a recycling center.
Return Policy
We recommend that you thoroughly research the product you are considering before purchasing. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, your battery purchase may be returned within 15 days for a refund minus a 20% restocking fee. The battery return must be in new & re-sellable condition. All products must be returned with its original box and packing materials provided by the manufacturer. Customer is responsible for return shipping costs unless otherwise agreed upon. Return authorization number is mandatory prior to return. We recommend tracking and insuring all returns. We will refund shipping costs only if the shipment is our error (wrong item shipped, shipping damage). To attain a Return Authorizing Number, please contact us at help@apexbattery.com. Please note that our Returns Department address is different from our Ship From address. Credit will be issued after our returns department receives and processes your return. Please allow at least 7 business days from the date of your return for your credit to be issued. Credit may take up to 2 billing cycles to be reflected on your statement. If the batteries are damaged in shipment, we will ship you another battery.
Corporate & Government Accounts
We are committed to providing quality products at the best prices for our corporate customers. Corporations can place orders online or fax at 1-413-803-4848 using the corporate or government credit cards. Net-15 day terms are only offered to government organizations and established businesses. The minimum order is $100. Please submit the following credit application to 1-413-803-4848 prior to order. The credit application is found here: Credit Application for Business Account. Upon credit approval, your Purchase Order will be processed within 1-2 business days.
If you need a quotation on a volume order, please fax us a request for quote
at 1-413-803-4848 and one of our Account Managers will provide you with a competitive
quote ASAP. Your order will ship within 24 hours from one of the 20 warehouses.
Our information:
Apex Battery
446 S Anaheim Hills Rd, Ste 177
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807
Phone: 1-800-921-4349
Fax: 1-413-803-4848
Email: help@apexbattery.com
Replacment Batteries
UPS replacement battery packs contain replacement batteries only. You must re-use your existing cabling and hardware.
Though rare, manufacturers change battery specifications without notice. Please inspect the batteries in your unit before placing your order. Specifically, please check the dimensions and the terminal configuration.
Quantity Discounts
| Number of Batteries Purchased | Discount |
| 50 | 7% |
| 100 | 10% |
| 500 | 15% |
| 1000 | 20% |
Recycling
Batteries are hazardous materials and responsible recycling procedures are vital because our earth is the only one we have and hazardous waste disposal laws place heavy penalties on offenders. You may ship your used or defective batteries to Apex Battery. You may also inquire in the the phone book under scrap metal dealers and you will usually find listings of recycling businesses in your area. We also assure you that all your spent (junk) batteries we receive are delivered to E.P.A.-permitted smelters exclusively.
Charging
- When charging conventional batteries, loosen vent caps and ventilate charging area.
- If the battery feels hot to the touch during charging: STOP CHARGING.
- Connect the charger to the battery properly: the positive charger lead to the positive battery post; the negative charger lead to the negative battery post.
- Charging can give off hydrogen and oxygen that explode if ignited. No smoking, sparks or flames are to be around batteries while charging.
- A fully charged AGM battery's voltage should read about 12.7 volts.
Maintenance, Storage & Handling
The old wet cell batteries must be periodically cleaned using a baking soda and water mix.
Our sealed Gel and AGM batteries require very little upkeep & maintenance during storage. Their advanced technology eliminates the need to monitor and maintain water levels (unlike lead acid batteries). The sealed design means much longer periods between charges when the battery is inactive. A fully automatic charger such as the Accumate (LS6/1.2) battery charger or LS2606 , is adequate to charge and maintain our sealed batteries. These types of chargers can be applied occasionally or can be left on indefinitely.
Always wear protective eyewear & proper attire when handling batteries. The hydrogen gas that batteries make when charging is very explosive.
MSDS Sheet for MK Small Sealed Batteries
MSDS Sheet for MK/Deka Gel Batteries
MSDS Sheet for Deka/MK Wet Lead Acid Batteries
MSDS Sheet for UB (Universal Battery) Batteries
General Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why should I buy a sealed battery from us and not a conventional "flooded" motorcycle battery from somebody else?
There are significant advantages.The batteries that we sell are the finest sealed & maintenance-free batteries. We believe in investing in only the best battery out there. There are significant advantages. AGM & Gel batteries aren't the cheapest, but they are the best.
Why are your batteries better?
- Safer. Due the much lower production of hydrogen gas during charging. The AGM design incorporates special safety valves in the battery case, which are designed to prevent pressure build up inside the battery during periods of excess over charging.
- Maintenance-free. Sealed maintenance-free design means you never have to worry about checking water levels. You'll never have to check or add electrolyte again, unlike conventional batteries which require periodic fluid checks. Do not require water.
- Sealed. Spill proof. They can be mounted in virtually any position (because they are sealed).
- No corrosion. Liquid-free AGM design will not leak or corrode on paint and chrome. It also eliminates corrosion around the battery terminals. Our AGM batteries are liquid-free, so they do not corrode around the battery terminals.
- More discharge current. They have less internal resistance that offers more CCA amperage than wet batteries. AGM batteries have less internal resistance which allows them to produce more discharge current (cold cranking amperage) vs. comparable conventional "wet" batteries,and AGM batteries also recharge faster.
- Heat & vibration resistant. By nature AGM batteries are more heat and vibration resistant than conventional batteries, both which contribute to the large majority of failures in motorcycle & competition auto applications.
- Slower self-discharge rate. Slower self-discharge rate (longer shelf life) means battery can sit for extended periods of time without constant monitoring. A wet battery discharges 15% a month, where our AGM batteries discharge only 2-3% a month. AGM batteries have less internal resistance which allows them to produce more discharge current (cold cranking amperage) vs. comparable conventional "wet" batteries, and AGM batteries also recharge faster
- Longer service life.
- Lower deep discharge failure.
- Higher bulk charge acceptance rate (which means up to a 15% shorter recharge time).
- Do not require special hazardous shipping and can be used near saltwater.
Can I expect a longer life from an AGM battery?
Yes. Because there is no evaporation of water, you don't have to “maintain” the electrolyte levels. Most batteries corrode because of sulphation resulting from this. This dramatically abbreviates the lifespan of the battery.
Do AGM require special charging?
No, though we recommend a smart charger that tailors the current to the batteries level.
What are the different types of batteries?
There are two types: starting batteries & deep cycle batteries. Starting batteries are made to handle quick bursts of electricity to ignite automobile engines (think of a sprinter). Deep cycle batteries have less instant energy but greater long-term power (think of a marathon runner).
What is the difference between the normal wet cell (flooded) battery, and the more expensive Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries?
Wet cell batteries are serviceable (you must periodically add water). AGM batteries store better, do not sulfate or degrade as quickly as wet cell batteries. AGM batteries will give greater life span and greater cycle life than a wet cell battery. The AGM batteries we sell are the best deep cycle batteries.
What is an AGM battery?
AGM is an abbreviation for absorbed glass mat. In this type of battery design, the acid is completely absorbed into glass mat separators that are sandwiched between the lead plates. (It's so embedded into the plate that it's almost dry to the touch.) It's a totally sealed and maintenance-free design. There are no discharge tubes or fillers caps, which eliminates the need to maintain water levels and offers no concern about acid leaks on valuable parts and accessories. This is highest performing battery that technology brings: no more adding acid, no more corrosion, longer lasting power, higher performance, completely sealed for convenience. Sealed Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries (also know as "starved electrolyte") have a very fine fiber Boron-Silicate glass mat between their plates.
Why is an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery better than a conventional battery?
It is true that AGM batteries are more expensive than Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca) batteries. AGM batteries offer the following advantages over conventional batteries:
- Safer. Due the much lower production of hydrogen gas during charging.
- Maintenance-free. Sealed maintenance-free design means you never have to worry about checking water levels. You'll never have to check or add electrolyte again, unlike conventional batteries which require periodic fluid checks. Do not require water.
- Sealed. Spill proof. They can be mounted in virtually any position (because they are sealed).
- No corrosion. Liquid-free AGM design will not leak or corrode on paint and chrome. It also eliminates corrosion around the battery terminals.
- They have less internal resistance that offers more CCA amperage than wet batteries.
- Heat & vibration resistant. By nature AGM batteries are more heat and vibration resistant than conventional batteries, both which contribute to the large majority of failures in motorcycle & competition auto applications.
- Slower self-discharge rate. Slower self-discharge rate (longer shelf life) means battery can sit for extended periods of time without constant monitoring. A wet battery discharges 15% a month, where our AGM batteries discharge only 2-3% a month. AGM batteries have less internal resistance which allows them to produce more discharge current (cold cranking amperage) vs. comparable conventional "wet" batteries, and AGM batteries also recharge faster
- Longer service life.
- Lower deep discharge failure.
- Higher bulk charge acceptance rate (which means up to a 15% shorter recharge time).
- Does not require special hazardous shipping and can be used near saltwater.
Should longer service life be expected from an AGM battery?
Yes. The main reason wet batteries fail is due to the fact that water levels are not properly monitored coupled with the fact that they are not very vibration resistant. AGM batteries do not have to be constantly maintained and are much more resistant to both heat and vibration, which is why they offer longer service life. AGM batteries eliminate water loss due to heat and evaporation. Most people don't check their conventional battery's water level on a regular basis, and as the electrolyte level in the battery goes down , sulphation begins, which will dramatically shorten a conventional battery's life. Also the AGM battery's lead calcium construction provides better resistance to vibration and thereby increasing its service life.
Why is a Gel Cell battery better than a conventional battery?
Sealed VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead-Acid) Gel Cell batteries use GRT (Recombinant Gas Technology) and use a thickening agent like fumed silica gel to immobile the electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte like the wet batteries. They have a lot of the same advantages of AGM batteries. When comparing Gel Cell to AGM and Spiral Wound AGM batteries, Gel Cells will typically:
- Greater ability to withstand a deep discharge, but not temperatures over over 100°F (37.8° C) because of the possibility of "thermal runaway".
- 10 to 15 cycle preconditioning or "break-in" period.
- Less Cold Cranking Amps.
- 80% of the capacity of a similar sized AGM battery and physically larger.
- Slower recharging times and intolerant of higher charging voltages.
- Lower capacity in cold temperatures.
- Up to 20% more life cycles.
- Costs more to manufacture.
- Charging losses of 4% and maximum continuous discharge rate 25% of their capacity.
Do I need to charge my battery when I get it?
No. Our batteries are ready to go out of the box if installed within the first 30 days. We always ship our batteries pre-charged.
Do sealed AGM motorcycle batteries require special charging?
No, most AGM motorcycle batteries can use the same low amp battery chargers that conventional motorcycle batteries use. We recommend a 1-2 amp "Smart" style charger, which will charge only to a certain point then decelerate down and maintain the battery safely for long periods.
Are sealed batteries safe?
Yes, they are safer than the conventional wet or flooded type of motorcycle battery. AGM technology incorporates special safety valves in the battery case, which are designed to prevent pressure build up inside the battery during periods of excess over charging.
How do I check a sealed battery's voltage?
You need a volt meter to read it's voltage. A fully charged AGM battery's voltage should read about 12.7 volts.
Definitions
Ampere-Hour: A unit of measure for a battery's electrical storage capacity, obtained by multiplying the current in amperes by the time in hours of discharge. A battery that delivers 5 amperes for 20 hours delivers 100 Amp-Hr of capacity (5 amperes times 20 hours).
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): CCA is the discharge load measured in amps that a new, fully charged battery, operating at 0° F (-17.8° C), can deliver for 30 seconds and while maintaining the voltage above 7.2 volts.
Reserve Capacity Rating: The time in minutes that the battery will deliver 25 amperes at 80 degrees. This rating represents the time the battery will continue to operate essential accessories during night and bad weather driving if the alternator or Generator Fails. Normally the best buy will be the heaviest battery that best suites your application and that has the lowest cost (including maintenance) for the total amount of power it will produce over its service life.
Separator: A divider between the positive and negative plates that allows the flow of current to pass through it.
Watt: The unit for measuring electrical power, i.e., the rate of doing work, in moving electrons by or against an electrical potential. Formula: Watts = Amperes * Volts.
About batteries
Types of Car and Deep Cycle batteries
- Wet (also known as "flooded", "liquid electrolyte", "vented", or "VLA" cell). Within the wet category, the three most common battery types are Standard (Sb/Sb), Low Maintenance (Sb/Ca) and Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca), which are defined in more detail below.
- Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA). In the VRLA category, there are AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat), spiral wound AGM, and Gel Cell lead-acid batteries.
- Sealed Lead Acid. The one additional category for smaller (typically below 50 AH) Deep Cycle batteries is SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) using AGM or Gel Cell construction. They are sealed with a safety pressure relief valve or plug in case of excessive gas pressure build up due to overcharging.
Selecting a type of battery
When selecting a battery type, it is extremely important that you select one that will match the voltage output of your charging system. The easiest way to accomplish this is to replace your battery with the same or compatible type of battery that originally was installed. If you change your replacement battery to another battery type, you might have to adjust the charging voltage to prevent undercharging or overcharging that could damage or reduce the service life of your new battery. For example, replacing an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) wet sealed Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca) with a wet non-sealed Low Maintenance (Sb/Ca) battery (with filler caps) might cause the Low-Maintenance (Sb/Ca) battery to be slightly overcharged and consume more water. If you charge a Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca) battery with a charging system or charger designed for a Low Maintenance (Sb/Ca) battery (with filler caps), you could undercharge the Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca) battery. Replacing any other non-Gel Cell type of battery with a Gel Cell could overcharge it. When in doubt, replace with an AGM or spiral wound AGM battery.
Deep Cycle batteries are broadly divided into motive and stationary applications.
- Motive applications are where the battery is discharged in operations that will consume between 20% and 80% of the battery's capacity and then recharged (which is considered to be one cycle). Some examples of motive (also known as "cycling" or "traction") applications are for batteries used in recreational vehicles (RV), motor homes, caravans, trailers, boats, wheelchairs, golf carts, solar, floor sweepers, folk lift trucks and other electric vehicles (EV) and typically have 200-500 cycles per year. Non-sealed wet Standard (Sb/Sb), wet Low-Maintenance (Sb/Ca), VRLA AGM or VRLA Gel Cell batteries with pasted, tubular or Manchester ("Manchex") positive plates or VRLA Spiral Wound AGM batteries are recommended for motive deep cycle applications.
- Stationary (also known as "float", "reserve", "backup" or "standby") applications are where stationary batteries is used to provide backup or standby power during loss of the primary source of power such as uninterruptible power systems (UPS), emergency lighting systems, security systems, telecommunications systems, etc., and typically have 2-12 cycles per year. Generally, stationary batteries have longer service lives, more life cycles and cost more than motive batteries. The chargers for motive and stationary batteries are different as well. Non-sealed wet Standard (Sb/Sb), wet Low-Maintenance (Sb/Ca), wet Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca) batteries with pasted or solid (Planté) positive plates are recommended for stationary applications.
Wet Deep Cycle batteries, such as Marine/RV, leisure and some golf cart, that use pasted positive plates are less expensive to manufacturer and have few life cycles and shorter service lives at 50% average Depth-of-Discharge (DoD) level than the Deep Cycle batteries with solid (Planté), tubular or Manchester (or "Manchex") positive plates. They also have significantly fewer life cycles at the 80% average DoD level. Be aware that some starting battery manufacturers have added handles and stud type terminals to their cheaper starting batteries and sell them as Marine/RV Deep Cycle. The major disadvantage of VRLA (AGM or Gel Cell) Deep Cycle batteries are their high initial cost (up to three times over the cost of a wet Standard (Sb/Sb) batteries), but arguably can have an overall lower total cost of ownership due to a longer service life, no "watering" and other labor costs, and faster recharging. The total cost of ownership should be considered when buying Deep Cycle batteries.
Advantages and disadvantages of the different types of batteries
- Conventional or Wet Standard (Sb/Sb). Standard or "Conventional" (Sb/Sb) non-sealed lead-acid batteries (with filler caps) have Lead-Antimony (Sb)/Antimony (Sb) plates and have been commercially available for almost 100 years. They have a:
- Tolerance for a wide range of charging current (to 25% of the battery's capacity) and voltage.
- Long service live (if properly maintained).
- Increased water consumption.
- Low tolerance for heat (they will lose half of their service life for every Increase of 15° F (8.3° C) over 80° F (26.7° C).
- High self discharge rate (depending on the temperature up to 50%-60% per month).
- Charging losses of 15%-20% and maximum continuous discharge rate 25% of their capacity.
Summary: For these reasons, they have almost been completely replaced by wet Low Maintenance (Ca/Sb) batteries for high temperature underhood starting applications, but are still used for many Deep Cycle motive applications. Wet Standard (Sb/Sb) batteries are generally the least expensive lead-acid batteries.
Flooded , Wet or Low Maintenance (Sb/Ca)
The wet (or "flooded" cell) Low Maintenance batteries (with filler caps) have a Lead-Antimony (Sb)/Calcium (Ca) dual alloy or hybrid plate formulations. They have most of the same characteristics as a wet Standard (Sb/Sb) batteries, except they can handle the high underhood heat better. Some battery manufacturers, such as Johnson Controls, build "North" and "South" Car battery versions to make up for the differences in cold and hot climates. Some also construct special Car batteries that have a higher tolerance to heat by changing plate or connecting strap formulations or providing for more electrolyte. For off road applications in trucks, recreational vehicles (RVs), motor caravans, 4x4s, vans or SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles), some battery manufacturers build "high vibration", "heavy duty", "commercial", or "RV" battery versions designed to reduce the effects of moderate vibration. A wet Low Maintenance (Sb/Ca) battery will typically cost a little more than a similar sized wet Standard (Sb/Sb) battery.
Wet or Maintenance-Free (Ca/Ca)
Wet Maintenance Free batteries have a Lead-Calcium (Ca)/Calcium (Ca) plate chemistry or formulation, for example, Delphi 's ACDelco. The advantages of Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca) batteries over Low Maintenance (Sb/Ca) are:
- Less preventive maintenance due to less water loss.
- Greater overcharge resistance.
- Reduced terminal corrosion.
- Up to 400% less self discharge.
- Less risk to consumers because there is less to service.
Summary: However, they are more prone to deep discharge ("dead" or "flat" battery) failures due to increased shedding of active plate material and development of a barrier layer between the active plate material and the grid metal. If a Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca) battery is sealed, water can not be added when required. For that reason, in hot climates, using non-sealed wet batteries (with filler caps), so you add distilled water, for under the hood or a sealed AGM battery inside the passenger compartment or trunk is highly encouraged for longer battery service life. Wet Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca) batteries are generally more expensive than wet Low Maintenance (Sb/Ca) batteries.
AGM, or Absorbed Glass Mat
It is true that AGM batteries are more expensive than Maintenance Free (Ca/Ca) batteries. AGM batteries offer the following advantages over conventional batteries:
- Safer. Due the much lower production of hydrogen gas during charging.
- Maintenance-free. Sealed maintenance-free design means you never have to worry about checking water levels. You'll never have to check or add electrolyte again, unlike conventional batteries which require periodic fluid checks. Do not require water.
- Sealed. Spill proof. They can be mounted in virtually any position (because they are sealed).
- No corrosion. Liquid-free AGM design will not leak or corrode on paint and chrome. It also eliminates corrosion around the battery terminals.
- They have less internal resistance that offers more CCA amperage than wet batteries.
- Heat & vibration resistant. By nature AGM batteries are more heat and vibration resistant than conventional batteries, both which contribute to the large majority of failures in motorcycle & competition auto applications.
- Slower self-discharge rate. Slower self-discharge rate (longer shelf life) means battery can sit for extended periods of time without constant monitoring. A wet battery discharges 15% a month, where our AGM batteries discharge only 2-3% a month. AGM batteries have less internal resistance which allows them to produce more discharge current (cold cranking amperage) vs. comparable conventional "wet" batteries, and AGM batteries also recharge faster
- Longer service life.
- Lower deep discharge failure.
- Higher bulk charge acceptance rate (which means up to a 15% shorter recharge time).
- Do not require special hazardous shipping and can be used near saltwater.
Gel Cell
Sealed VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead-Acid) Gel Cell batteries use GRT (Recombinant Gas Technology) and use a thickening agent like fumed silica gel to immobile the electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte like the wet batteries. They have a lot of the same advantages of AGM batteries. When comparing Gel Cell to AGM and Spiral Wound AGM batteries, Gel Cells will typically:
- Greater ability to withstand a deep discharge, but not temperatures over over 100°F (37.8° C) because of the possibility of "thermal runaway".
- 10 to 15 cycle preconditioning or "break-in" period.
- Less Cold Cranking Amps.
- 80% of the capacity of a similar sized AGM battery and physically larger.
- Slower recharging times and intolerant of higher charging voltages.
- Lower capacity in cold temperatures.
- Up to 20% more life cycles.
- Costs more to manufacture.
- Charging losses of 4% and maximum continuous discharge rate 25% of their capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions on Charging
Is the battery charger working correctly? Could there be a problem with the wiring or other components of the wheelchair?
You can determine the next step in the troubleshooting process once you know the voltage of each battery.
My batteries were over-discharged and my battery charger will not start. What do I do?
Have you ever had a customer state that their batteries will not take a charge even though the charger was plugged in overnight? When you checked their batteries, you found that they both read 9 volts? This is usually due to a light or a brake being left on for an extended period of time, which drains the batteries.
The reason why the charger is not working is that most wheelchair battery chargers need to read at least 21-22 volts in order to begin charging. This is how the polarity protection system of many chargers works. If the user were to hook up the positive and negative backwards, nothing would happen to the charger or the batteries because the batteries never read any voltage so it never started.
The drawback to this polarity protection design is when a user over-discharges their batteries below the 21-22 volt cutoff. Although the charger is connected, it does not receive the signal to begin the charging process so the batteries never get charged.
The best way to solve this problem is to remove the batteries from the wheelchair and charge each battery separately with a 12-volt battery charger. When each battery is fully charged, they can then be reinstalled in the chair and returned to service. Note: It may take the batteries up to 15 cycles to return to their former capacity if they have been severely discharged.
Frequently Asked Questions on Wheelchair & Mobility Batteries
How often should I charge?
- Daily Users: Charge daily. This applies to anyone who actually uses his or her equipment outside of the home.
- Occasional Users: Always be sure to charge before an outing and always after active use. The ideal recharge point is about 50% on a scooter or wheelchair gauge.
How do I charge my batteries correctly?
To properly charge your mobility battery, follow these simple procedures:
- Use the manufacturer's automatic charger for all routine charging.
- Never use an automotive or wet-type charger on gel/sealed batteries. (They'll quickly ruin your battery).
- Never run your battery completely flat.
- Don't “top off” the battery with frequent charging.
How should a battery be stored?
- Always store your batteries FULLY CHARGED.
- Check all batteries once a month and recharge as needed.
- Wet batteries can hold their charge up to 3 months.
- Sealed batteries can hold a charge for up to 6 months.
- When storing a chair or scooter for more than 2 weeks, charge the batteries and then disconnect them.
- Avoid hot and cold extremes when storing.
What is the proper way to store batteries for the Winter?
Store batteries fully charged. Check them once a month and recharge as needed. Sealed batteries can hold their charge from 6 to 12 months. Remember, if storing your chair for longer than a couple of weeks, it's best to charge the batteries and then disconnect them.
I want to store my Gel batteries outside for the winter. At what temperature do the batteries freeze at?
Gel batteries can be stored in sub-freezing temperatures as low as -25ºF without freezing as long as they are fully charged prior to storage. The self-discharge rate of fully-charged batteries is so low in these conditions that they will not require charging for many months; however, if your gel batteries are frozen … they will not always recover.
To attempt recovery the following is the best plan of action:
- Bring them inside and let them sit at room temperature for two days. (They must reach 60ºF).
- Charge the batteries normally. (Follow standard safety procedures).
- Run a capacity check either through a quality discharge tester or by operating your power wheelchair in a controlled environment.
- If you don't get enough run time then repeat steps 2 and 3.
Do I have a battery problem or a charging problem?
The Digital Voltmeter is still the most valuable tool in the Mobility Technician's arsenal for sealed batteries. The starting point for checking batteries is always the charge voltage. In 24-volt systems we know the chances for two bad batteries are less than 1 in 10,000. So what we need to determine is WHICH battery is bad or if either battery is bad. This is accomplished by checking the voltage of each battery separately.
The voltage for a pair of batteries can read in excess of 24-volts which can incorrectly be assumed to be a good set. However, you must check the batteries individually.
Two batteries in a 24-volt system charge and discharge together almost as one 24-volt battery. A wide voltage separation between two batteries indicates that you may need to replace both batteries. If both batteries read similar voltage, they should be fully charged before doing any further testing.
Frequently Asked Questions From The CATV Industry
How often should I equalize my Gel Batteries?
Our Gel Batteries never need to be equalized. Here is why: One reason why batteries are equalized is to combat voltage separation from cell to cell within a 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 equal 2.1 volts per cell. However, when batteries are manufactured in a one shot process cell, where the plates are activated within the battery, one cell may receive more or less electrolyte than the other five cells of that battery. When this happens a battery's cells may equal:
2.13v - 2.12v - 2.13v - 2.11v -2.09v - 2.11v. (Sum=12.6 volts)
As a battery is discharged, the cells with the lower voltage will be drained further than the cells at the higher voltage. As the same battery is charged, the cells with 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. Equalizing batteries helps to bring all the cells of a battery to the same voltage.
Our batteries are manufactured using tank formation to activate the plates. This process guarantees a fully formed and voltage matched plate. The extra handling of the plates provides an additional inspection step in the process to verify plate quality. Plates from hundreds of batteries are formed in a tank all at once providing not only balance from cell to cell of a battery, but also balance from battery to battery of a batch.
But don't I have to equalize my batteries to prevent stratification?
When liquid electrolyte or acid stratifies, the heavier charged ions actually sink to the bottom of the cell, leaving discharged acid at the top. This allows the top of the plates to oxidize and corrode reducing performance and shortening life. The bottoms of the plates also corrode due to the action of the higher strength acid. This can happen in Stationary applications, such as the solar industry, because the battery never moves.
Because our electrolyte is a thick-consistency gel, this acid stratification can never happen, so no, it is not necessary to equalize your Gel Batteries.
Frequently Asked Questions From The Solar Industry
How often should I equalize my Gel Batteries?
Gel Batteries never need to be equalized. Here is why: One reason why batteries are equalized is to combat voltage separation from cell to cell within a 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 equal 2.1 volts per cell. However, when batteries are manufactured in a one shot process cell, where the plates are activated within the battery, one cell may receive more or less electrolyte than the other five cells of that battery. When this happens a battery's cells may equal:
2.13v - 2.12v - 2.13v - 2.11v -2.09v - 2.11v. (Sum=12.6 volts)
As a battery is discharged, the cells with the lower voltage will be drained further than the cells at the higher voltage. As the same battery is charged, the cells with 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. Equalizing batteries helps to bring all the cells of a battery to the same voltage.
Our batteries are manufactured using tank formation to activate the plates. This process guarantees a fully formed and voltage matched plate. The extra handling of the plates provides an additional inspection step in the process to verify plate quality. Plates from hundreds of batteries are formed in a tank all at once providing not only balance from cell to cell of a battery, but also balance from battery to battery of a batch.
But don't I have to equalize my batteries to prevent stratification?
When liquid electrolyte or acid stratifies, the heavier charged ions actually sink to the bottom of the cell, leaving discharged acid at the top. This allows the top of the plates to oxidize and corrode reducing performance and shortening life. The bottoms of the plates also corrode due to the action of the higher strength acid. This can happen in Stationary applications, such as the solar industry, because the battery never moves.
Because our electrolyte is a thick-consistency gel, this acid stratification can never happen, so no, it is not necessary to equalize your Gel Batteries.
I have been told that your Gel batteries get charged with a lower voltage than other batteries and if you overcharge them, they will be ruined. Is this true?
Overcharging shortens the life of ALL batteries!
It is true that Gel batteries are charged at a lower voltage than most batteries. Our batteries should be charged to no more than 2.35 volts per cell or 14.1 volts for a 12-volt battery at 68º F. The charging voltage of a battery varies with temperature so you should always use a temperature compensating charging system.
Overcharging any Sealed Valve Regulated battery, Gel or AGM will shorten battery life for reasons listed below:
SVR batteries are a “recombinant” battery. This means that the oxygen gas that is normally produced on the positive plate in all lead acid batteries recombines with the hydrogen ions on the negative plate.. The “recombination” of hydrogen and oxygen produces water, which replaces the moisture in a battery. The recombination reaction will preserve most of the water if the battery is charged at the appropriate rates.
Overcharging a SVR battery will overwhelm the recombination reaction and cause permanent water loss. In essence the battery dies of dehydration. The more the battery is overcharged, the quicker it will dry out. This is true of all Sealed Valve Regulated Batteries, Gel or AGM.
Batteries are charged at different voltages for different temperatures. Batteries are charged at lower voltages in high temperatures and higher voltages in lower temperatures. For this reason you want to make sure your temperature probe is plugged in and functioning correctly.
All of the above being said, a Gel Battery will not be immediately ruined due to overcharging.
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