Use & Care Information

Sealed VRLA batteries are deep cycle batteries which require they be charged with a deep cycle/marine charger that produces a charge voltage between 13.8V & 14.5V.

Charging: Battery should be charged after every use if not connected to a charging system. Correct battery charging is required to obtain maximum battery life and performance.

Limited Warranty Provided: Warranty is provided for manufacturing or material defects for 1 year from date of purchase; for failures or diminished capacity resulting in performance below 80% of labeled capacity.

Required Warranty Claim Info and Preparation:

1. Battery must be charged with a marine /deep cycle charger for an adequate time immediately prior to testing and prior to making a warranty claim.
2. Battery Date Code. (On top of battery, and can be from 5 or 8 characters long, example R0115)
3. Battery Open Post Voltage (battery voltage when not being charged or drained)
4. Know the nature of the battery failure, diminished performance or defect

Please contact your retailer to submit a warranty claim.

Battery Maintenance

Battery Maintenance is an important issue. The battery should be clean. Cable connection needs to be clean and tightened. Many battery problems are caused by dirty and loose connections. Serviceable battery needs to have the fluid level checked regularly and only at a full charge. The fluid level will always be higher at a full charge. Distilled water is best; tap water is loaded with chemicals and minerals that are harmful to your battery, but not as bad as no water. Don’t overfill battery cells especially in warmer weather. The natural fluid expansion in hot weather will push excess electrolytes from the battery. To prevent corrosion of cables on top post batteries, use a small bead of silicon sealer at the base of the post and place a felt battery washer over it. Coat the washer with high temperature grease or petroleum jelly (Vaseline). Then place cable on post and tighten, coat the exposed cable end with the grease. Most folks don’t know that just the gases from the battery condensing on metal parts cause most corrosion. Hydrometer readings should not vary more than .05 difference between cells in a strong healthy battery.

When in doubt about battery testing, call the battery manufacturer.

Selecting and Buying a New Battery

When buying a new battery we suggest you purchase a battery with the greatest reserve capacity or amp hour rating possible. Of course the physical size, cable hook up and terminal type must be a consideration. You may want to consider a Gel-Cell or an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) rather than a Wet Cell; if the battery is not or cannot receive regular maintenance, as it should. This is a hard call, because there is very little that substitutes for maintenance.

Be sure to purchase the correct type of battery for the job it must do. Remember an engine starting battery and deep cycle batteries are different. Freshness of a new battery is very important. The longer a battery sits and is not re-charged the more damaging sulfation build up on the plates.

Battery Charging

Remember you must put back the energy you use immediately, if you don’t the battery sulfates and that affects performance and longevity. The alternator is a battery charger; it works well if the battery is not deeply discharged. The alternator tends to overcharge batteries that are very low and the overcharge can damage batteries. In fact, an engine starting battery on average has only about 10 deep cycles available when recharged by an alternator. Batteries like to be charged in a certain way, especially when they have been deeply discharged. This type of charging is called 3 step regulated charging. Please note that only special smart chargers using computer technology can perform 3 steps charging techniques. The first step is bulk charging where up to 80% of the battery energy capacity is replaced by the charger at the maximum voltage and current amp rating of the charger. When the battery voltage reaches 14.4 volts this begins the absorption charge step. This is where the voltage is held at a constant 14.4 volts and the current (amps) decline until the battery is 98% charged. Next comes the Float Step, this is a regulated voltage of not more than 13.4 volts and usually less than 1 amp of current. This in time will bring the battery to 100% charged or close to it. The float charge will not boil or heat batteries but will maintain the batteries at 100% readiness and prevent cycling during long term inactivity. Some AGM batteries may require special settings or chargers.

Battery Do’s

• Think Safety First.
• Do regular inspection and maintenance especially in hot weather.
• Do recharge batteries immediately after discharge.
• Do buy the highest RC reserve capacity or AH amp hour battery that will fit your configuration.

Battery Don’ts

• Don’t use unregulated high output battery charger to charge batteries.
• Don’t disconnect battery cables while engine is running — your battery acts as a filter.
• Don’t add tap water as it may contain minerals that will contaminate the electrolyte.
• Don’t discharge a battery any deeper than you possibly have to.
• Don’t let a battery get hot to the touch and boil violently when charging.
• Don’t mix size and types of batteries.

©2019 Power Source Batteries