ElectricalSup_6

FleetMaintenance_NovemberDecember_2016

BATTERIES Best practices for vehicle battery storage When properly stored, batteries will last longer and function appropriately when they are needed 6 | ELECTRICAL TESTING SUPPLEMENT | DECEMBER 2016 When storing vehicle batteries for an extended period, instituting best practices will help ensure that batteries continue to operate efficiently. Photo from Bigstock by David A. Kolman, Editor, Fleet Maintenance magazine THE FACT IS, ALL BATTERIES gradually lose their charge when stored over long periods of time. Therefore, to ensure the life and maximize battery capacity, batteries need to be properly stored. How to do this is dependent upon a number of considerations, including: battery type, time of year, how the battery is stored and how long the battery will be in storage. BATTERY TYPES There are two main types of automotive batteries, says Jennifer Eirich, marketing manager, Odyssey Battery, specialty and rail, EnerSys: fl ooded, or wet cell, and Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA), also known as a maintenance-free. EnerSys (www.odysseybattery.com) is a global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications and the manufacturer of Odyssey batteries. “Flooded or wet cell batteries are traditional lead-acid batteries and are available in many size and design options for many different applications,” she says. “The most common design today is the maintenance free, fl at top, which the end user cannot service. A few older designs may have removable vent plugs to allow water replenishment.” VRLA batteries come in two primary types: gel cell and absorbed glass mat (AGM). Gel cell batteries – These use a thickening agent to immobilize the electrolyte so that if the battery container cracks, the cell will continue to function, explains Eirich. Since gel cells are sealed and cannot be refi lled with electrolyte, controlling the rate of charge is very important or the battery will be damaged. AGM batteries – The latest technology in lead-acid batteries, an AGM battery uses a fi berglass separator to hold the electrolyte in place and make it spill-proof through a sealed pressure valve design, she says. This “makes AGM batteries superior to all other lead-acid battery types for vibration and impact resistance because of the plate compression design.” AGM batteries are available in traditional lead-calcium grid or pure lead, which offers extended service life. Being sealed with pressure valves, these types of batteries are environmentally safe and can be classifi ed as non-spillable for unrestricted shipping. They can use similar voltage-set points as fl ooded cells and can be used as dropin replacements for them. Pure lead AGM batteries can be charged with higher amperage alternators and chargers for faster charge recovery. MAINTENANCE Odyssey Battery’s Eirich says AGM batteries are maintenance-free and electrolyte levels do not need to be maintained. She notes that these types of batteries should not be opened once in service “as permanent damage and failure may occur.” Flooded batteries, on the other hand, have an electrolyte level that must be maintained. This level must stay above the minimum and below the maximum level as indicated on the side of the battery,. She says, “Check this level only when the battery is on a fl at, level surface. If you need to increase the level, carefully add distilled water, avoiding any overfi lling.” There aren’t any primary differences regarding storage recommendations between fl ooded and AGM batteries if the vehicle is being stored with the battery still connected, says Gale Kimbrough, engineering and technical services manager, Interstate Batteries. An automatic maintenance charger should be attached to offset the vehicle’s key-off drains. “Be sure to attach a charger designed for the battery type,” he says. Interstate Batteries touts itself as the No. 1 replacement brand battery in North America (www.interstatebatteries.com). Kimbrough notes if a vehicle is stored with the battery, but the cables are disconnected, the vehicle’s computer may need to go through a re-learn after reconnection. ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Battery storage FAQs To learn about more about battery storage, visit: VehicleServicePros.com/ 20838369 Safe battery handling To learn about more about battery safety, visit: VehicleServicePros.com/20838364 10 storage tips To learn about more about battery storage tips, visit: VehicleServicePros.com/20838363


FleetMaintenance_NovemberDecember_2016
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