MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION

OF STARTER BATTERIES

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Everything you need to know about the correct storage, maintenance and inspection of batteries.

Now is the optimal time to checkall your batteries and any external equalisation charging that may be necessary.

Storing and transporting batteries

 

  • Transport and store in an upright position, make sure your battery cannot tip over or slip.
  • Use short-circuit protection.
  • Storage conditions:
    • In a cool (between 0 and +25 °C), dry place.
    • Keep out of direct sunlight (do not put in the display window).
    • Make sure the battery surface and terminals are clean.
  • Ensure FIFO – First In First Out.
  • Regularly check the off-load voltage (open circuit voltage) with a digital voltmeter.

 

Influence of higher temperatures

If batteries are exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time, this always promotes water consumption and corrosion of the grids. Corroded grids are no longer able to conduct the current and the battery fails. The grid growth that also occurs can cause short circuits in the battery. 

 

Please note: Self-discharge speeds up when the ambient temperature is increased. Our standards

and specifications are adjusted to room temperatures of +20 to +25 °C and a relative humidity of 45 to 75%. According to a basic electrochemical principle, the self-discharge doubles with an increase in temperature of around 10 °C. Batteries in storage can therefore discharge much faster due to the influence of temperature in the summer months.


 

 

In general, the following applies:

To be able to measure the open-circuit voltage with a voltmeter, you should wait for approx. 5 hours after the battery has been completely charged, or at least 1 hour without discharging.

Immediately recharge when 12.5 V is reached at the latest.

Maintenance

 

Be sure to observe the following instructions in order to achieve a long battery life. 

 

  • Keep the surface of the battery clean and dry. 
  • Check the acid level regularly and, if necessary, top up with desalinated or distilled water to the max. acid level mark or 15 mm above the top edge of the plate. Never top up the acid. In the case of high water loss, the regulator voltage should be checked by a technician. 
  • Running Bull AGM/BackUp: AGM batteries must not be opened. It is not possible or necessary to measure the acid density or top up with distilled water.
  • Do not use any so-called enhancing agents. 

 

Caution: If the open-circuit voltage of a battery  drops to 12.5 V, it must be recharged immediately to prevent permanent damage to the battery.  

Avoiding premature battery failure

 

Inform the buyer about correct handling and follow Banner tips to avoid premature battery failure.

 

Banner tips

 

  • Install the strongest possible battery in terms of capacity. Retrofit original dimension: wherever there is room for spare batteries 190 mm high, these should also be retrofitted. Make use of the battery installation recommendations from Banner – Book of Power or the battery search. 
  • Online upgrade Upgrading: For each battery type with an upgrade option, an upgrade recommendation for higher energy requirements (or higher cold start requirements) is now displayed on the Banner website. The performance values of the batteries can be compared at a glance and click.
  • Capacity plays a much more important role in battery life than the amount of cold start current. The lower the discharge depth of a battery, the longer its cycle stability and service life. For this reason, the selection should be based primarily on the capacity and not on the cold start.
  • Frequent journeys over short distances, irregular driving profiles along with stop-and-start traffic, daily cold starts in the icy temperatures of last winter, additional electrical consumers such as heated seats and parking or rear window heating have lowered the energy level of your battery start for start and journey for journey. Treat your battery now to an extra boost of external recharging. At the latest always coordinate with the tyre change in spring or late autumn.
  • If electrical consumers are installed in the vehicle at a later date (sound system, parking heater, etc.), we recommend the alternative use of Running Bull AGM batteries.

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