Although batteries comprise such a huge part of daily life for many people, most of us aren’t entirely sure how they work or how to maintain them. Batteries have come a long way since the first version was invented by Alessandro Volta in the 1800s. Today, batteries play an especially integral role in transportation. If you want to get the most out of your batteries, here are some maintenance essentials you should know.
Car battery maintenance
Keeping the terminals clean and free of buildup is essential to maintaining car battery life. Spend time ensuring all the connections are secure and completely clean. If a car battery doesn’t seem to be working, use a voltmeter to check that it’s putting out about 12.6 volts – this will rule out the possibility of the battery being dead. If damage to the terminals is too extensive, buy some replacements and apply battery terminal grease to keep the connections free of corrosion.
RV battery maintenance
For starting batteries and deep-cycle batteries, it’s important not to discharge from the batteries at more than 20 and 50 per cent of their respective capacities. Exceeding these limits before recharging the batteries will lead to them giving out sooner rather than later. To further increase your RV battery life, be sure to invest in multi-stage rechargers. Single-state rechargers may be cheaper to buy but they will reduce battery life.
Boat battery maintenance
An AGM battery is a popular battery option for boats, not only because of its high-performance design but also because it is safer to work with. The acid inside is in gel form instead of liquid and the system is closed, so there’s a diminished chance of it ever leaking. Additionally, AGM boat batteries do not require much ventilation because they are largely unaffected by temperature fluctuations. Although these batteries do not need watering, if you have a traditional flooded battery, it’s important to check the water levels on a regular basis.
Taking this information into account, your batteries will last much longer. Always take precautions before performing battery maintenance. If in doubt, contact us at Lifeline Batteries for more information.