A Key to Longer Life is Routine Maintenance ‒ That Goes for Batteries, Too.
In some ways, motive power batteries are a lot like people. Just as sticking to a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen can increase your chances of living longer, following a routine maintenance schedule as prescribed by its manufacturer can prolong the life of your motive power battery.
Today’s industrial motive power battery is designed to provide 1,000 to 2,000 duty/charge cycles, depending on the application and the operating environment. So, if a battery completes one cycle per workday, the life expectancy would be four to eight years ‒ all depending on how well it is maintained.
The following maintenance procedures, when properly conducted at the recommended intervals, are vital to getting the most life and performance from a motive power battery.
The most important part of routine battery maintenance is the proper charging. While today’s automatic voltage-controlled chargers can take the guesswork out of charging, it’s critical to strictly follow the charging protocols for your battery and implement a schedule.
A certain amount of water loss in batteries is normal and it must be replaced with distilled or reverse osmosis water. Low electrolyte level in a cell can cause the plates to oxidize and shorten the life of the cell and, subsequently, the battery.
The frequency of cleaning depends upon how quickly dust and other foreign matter as well as inadvertent electrolyte spillage accumulates on the battery. When the top of a battery is dirty or looks damp, it should be cleaned.
And remember, just like many successful fitness programs, developing a schedule and keeping records of maintenance conducted will help you stay with the routine and prolong the useful life of your motive power battery.
Contact us for more information, including the maintenance protocols on your Crown Battery product.