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Proper Care for Sealed Lead Acid Batteries

By Bobby George

Sealed lead acid batteries are very versatile and useful in many different situations and applications. As their name clearly indicates, these batteries are completely sealed and require virtually no maintenance during their lifetime. However, this does not mean that there are not steps to take in order to assure these batteries last a long time. Here are some useful tips for keeping your SLA batteries up and running.

First, you always want to keep an SLA battery charged. Sealed lead acid batteries are like car batteries in this respect. If you leave them very long without a charge, you will most likely find an incapacitated battery when you go to use it again. If you plan on storing an SLA for a long period of time, take it out every once in a while and charge it up to full capacity.

Also, if you need to store an SLA, or if you will simply be using it in a confined space for a long period of time, make sure the battery is placed in a mild-temperature environment. This will help you avoid having the battery overheat and perhaps melt or swell. It is also a good idea to keep an SLA battery out of direct sunlight.

Finally, many people find it beneficial to use a charger such as the Battery Tender to keep their batteries hooked up to a trickle charge when not in use. The benefits of this have been discussed above. However, this product is also capable of sending small "pulse" current through the battery. This is effective in breaking up any deposits built up on the battery's plates, which shorten the life of your battery. Keep these three things in mind and you are sure to get your money's worth out of your sealed lead acid batteries.