More Stuff to Know About SLA Batteries
Sealed Lead Acid [SLA] battery performance and extended service life depends upon solid and correct charging. The main culprits are shoddy procedures and inadequate charging equipment. These two factors contribute to decreased battery life and unsatisfactory performance. They also increase the chance that the battery’s warranty becomes void. Read the article below to learn about charging and maintenance tips for your SLA battery.
Apply a DC voltage higher than the open circuit of 2.15 volts per cell to the terminals of the SLA battery to charge it. You can use any of the standard charging techniques to complete the charge. However, to obtain maximum capacity, service life, and acceptable recharge time use constant voltage-current limited charging.
During constant voltage [also called taper charging] the battery’s current acceptance decreases as the state of charge increases and the voltage decreases. When the current stabilizes at a lower level for a few hours the battery is fully charged.
When applying this to a cycle you should limit the initial current to 0.20C [C is the nominal Amp-Hour capacity of the battery]. Continue charging the battery until it reaches 2.45 per cell at 68 degrees F [20 degrees C]. Hold the charge at 2.45 volts per cell until the current drops. The current should drop to about 0.01C ampere. At this point the battery is fully charged. You should now charge to “float” voltage.
“Float” of stand-by service. Continuously hold the battery across a voltage source of 2.25 to 2.30 volts per cell. The battery seeks its own current level and maintains itself in a fully charged condition when held at this voltage.
The absolute worst enemy of SLA batteries is continuous over or undercharging. Lead acid batteries do not respond well to it. Owners should be cautious and insure they disconnect their charger after cycle charging or make sure the float voltage is set properly.
Air circulation is important. There is a chance of off-gassing hydrogen and oxygen when a battery is overcharged. Always provide adequate air circulation. Furthermore, you should never charge or discharge a battery in a hermetically sealed enclosure.
An SLA battery should not be stored in a hot location or in a state of discharge. When a battery remains discharged for some time it cannot easily take a charge.
SLA batteries characteristically self-discharge. Make sure to charge this battery type after 2 months of storage. Batteries not charged after two months could lead to permanent capacity loss. This is the result of sulfation.
Sulfation occurs when a battery goes un-used for a long period of time. The electrolyte solution begins to break down. Sulfur in the solution leaches from the electrolyte. The electrolyte sticks to the lead plates as converted lead sulfuric crystals. The crystals coat the plates and prevent the next crank. Sulfation disturbs the battery’s ability to accept, hold, and deliver a charge. If left unchecked sulfation renders a battery useless. To extend SLA battery life without charging, consider storing the battery at 50 degrees F [10 deg C] or less.
If you pay attention to the items mentioned in this article you should have fewer problems prolonging the life of your SLA battery.
Need a replacement Sealed Lead Acid [SLA] battery? LaptopsForLess.com has a huge selection of SLA batteries in stock, at very reasonable prices [often a fraction of the cost of manufacturers’ own brand replacements]. We stock the following categories of Sealed Lead Acid batteries; ATV Batteries, Emergency Lighting Batteries, Motorcycle Batteries, Personal Watercraft Batteries, Scooter Batteries, Security Batteries, Snowmobile Batteries, UPS Batteries, Utility Vehicle Batteries, Wheelchair Batteries and many more.
