Battery Maintenance – 1st International Specialized Vehicles

Battery Maintenance

The maintenance of your deep cycle batteries always falls on the responsibility of the owner, and failure to do so may result in the voiding of your limited warranty. We highly recommend taking good care of them. Maintenance should be done frequently, following some of these tips.

Identify Your Battery Type

Lead acid batteries are generally classified by application and by construction. Deep-cycle batteries are used for golf cars.
There are two popular construction types: flooded batteries (wet) and VRLA batteries (Valve Regulated Lead Acid). In the flooded types, the electrolyte is a solution of sulfuric acid and water that can spill out if the battery is tipped over. In VRLA batteries, the electrolyte is suspended in a gel or a fiberglass-mat (AGM technology), allowing these batteries to be mounted in a variety of positions.

Age & Condition

Batteries older than 3 years old tend to fail faster as they have lived an adequate lifespan and performed as expected. Heavy use conditions, where the cart(s) are used 8+ hours a day, tend to shorten the life of a deep cycle batter and allow for performance from 2-4 years.

Watering

FLOODED BATTERIES ONLY Water your batteries regularly.

Flooded, or wet cell batteries require watering periodically. Check your batteries once a month after installation to determine the proper watering schedule. Add water after fully charging the battery and use distilled water.
Watering must be done at the right time and in the right amount or the battery’s performance and longevity suffers.
Water should always be added after fully charging the battery. Prior to charging, there should be enough water to cover the plates. If the battery has been discharged (partially or fully), the water level should also be above the plates. Keeping the water at the correct level after a full charge will prevent having to worry about the water level at a different state of charge.
Depending on the local climate, charging methods, application, etc., we recommend that batteries be checked once a month until you get a feel for how often your batteries are need watering.
Failure to properly water and care for your deep cycle batteries will shorten the life expectancy of your batteries, and require replacement far too soon before they should.

Important Things to Remember

Do not let the plates get exposed to air. This will damage (corrode) the plates.
Do not fill the water level in the filling well to the cap. This most likely will cause the battery to overflow acid, consequently losing capacity and causing a corrosive mess.
Do not use water with a high mineral content. Use distilled water only.

CAUTION: The electrolyte is a solution of acid and water so eye and skin contact should be avoided.

Identify Your Battery Type

Age & Condition

Watering

CUSTOMER CARE

WORKING HOURS

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