How to maintain Lead Acid batteries?

  Invented more than one a half century ago, the lead-acid battery represents the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Moreover, being quite inexpensive as opposed to newer and high-performance technologies, lead acid batteries are used in a wide range of industries.

Lead acid battery maintenance:

Lead-acid battery industry counts for about 15 billion USD, as well as for up to 45% of the total value of batteries sold worldwide. But properly lead acid battery maintenance could be quite difficult, especially if you are not the expert in the electronics field.

Before getting started:

Before getting started make sure you know its exact system voltage, battery compartment size, as well as your energy requirements.

In addition, you should determine the type of lead acid battery used, choosing from high temperature lead acid battery and deep-cycle flooded ones, to AGM or gel batteries. Choosing the right type of battery is essential for your further energy requirements.

Regular maintenance:

Check your batteries on a regular basis to be sure they are getting charged. Use a hydrometer to check the specific gravity of your lead acid batteries. If batteries are cycled very deeply and then recharged quickly, the specific gravity reading will be lower than it should because the electrolyte at the top of the battery may not have mixed with the "charged" electrolyte. Check the electrolyte level in wet-cell batteries at least four times a year and top each cell off with distilled water. Do not add water to discharge batteries. Electrolyte is absorbed when batteries are very discharged. If you add water at this time, and then recharge the battery, electrolyte will overflow and make a mess.

Keep the tops of your battery clean and check that cables are tight. Do not tighten or remove cables while charging or discharging. Any spark around batteries can cause a hydrogen explosion inside and ruin one of the cells and you.

It is a good idea to do an equalizing charge when some cells show a variation of 0.05 specific gravity from each other. This is a long steady overcharge,bringing the battery to a gassing or bubbling state.Do not equalize sealed or gel type batteries.

Fig: Tools required (Hydrometer, Digital battery testers, Adjustable load testers, Constant rate discharge testers)

Storage specification:

All batteries, no matter their type, should be stored at proper temperatures and in proper conditions. Most batteries require a 15 degrees Celsius temperature, or approximately 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, extreme temperatures of up to -40 degree Celsius can be achieved for most chemistry.

Batteries should be fully charged and have the proper electrolyte level. Lead-acid batteries self-discharge over time and will need to be recharged to minimum levels even if they are not connected to a load. This rate of self-discharge varies with temperature -high temperatures increase the discharge rate while low temperatures slow the discharge rate.

How to prolong the battery life time?

To keep lead acid in good condition, apply a fully saturated charge lasting 14 to 16 hours. If the charge cycle does not allow this, give the battery a fully saturated charge once every few weeks. If at all possible, operate at moderate temperature and avoid deep discharges; charge as often as you can.

Safety precautions:

Always use extreme caution when handling lead acid batteries and electrolyte. Wear gloves, goggles and old clothes. The sulfuric acid in lead-acid batteries will burn skin and eyes and destroy cotton and wool clothing.

With proper care, lead-acid batteries will have a long service life and work very well in almost any power system. Unfortunately, with poor treatment lead-acid battery life will be very short.