SERVICING
Lifeline® AGM batteries do not need electrolyte additions as do flooded
lead-acid batteries, but periodic servicing is essential to assure continued
integrity of the battery system. Servicing should include good record
keeping to document the life history of the battery system and to identify
whether corrective action needs to be taken. See the LIFELINE®
TECHNICAL MANUAL for full Servicing schedule.
CHARGING
You can not short charge your batteries (like at lunchtime) without
long-term effects on your batteries. It is important to charge batteries back
to 100%
.
When you have a fully charged battery it is lead and sulfuric acid (Active
material). When you start discharging a battery, the chemical reaction
between lead and sulfuric acid provides energy for your application. The
byproduct of this reaction is lead sulfate. Lead sulfate is a soft material that
naturally covers the plates, both positive and negative, when the battery is
being discharged. The deeper the discharge, the more lead sulfate will
cover the plates. Once the load is turned off and it is time to recharge, lead
sulfate is easily converted back into lead and sulfuric acid. This is why it is
important to charge batteries back to 100%. If you don’t you will not convert
all the lead sulfate back into the active material. If a lead acid battery is not
immediately recharged, the lead sulfate will begin to form hard crystals,
which cannot be reconverted by standard charging voltages. The longer
this goes on, the harder it is to get all of your capacity back.