Tips for Industrial and Vehicle Battery Maintenance
The professionals at Industrial Batteries Inc. have extensive experience with battery maintenance and below are their tips for properly maintaining industrial and vehicle batteries.
14/10/2022
Properly maintaining industrial and vehicle batteries can extend their life and prevent you from having to replace your battery before it’s time. This not only saves you money, but it also means less hassle in your life because you don’t have to worry about a battery unexpectedly going bad. The professionals at Industrial Batteries Inc. have extensive experience with battery maintenance. Here are their tips for properly maintaining industrial and vehicle batteries.
Temperature Matters
The single biggest detriment to any battery
is temperature. Excessive heat or excessive cold
adversely affects a battery’s performance and
decreases its lifespan. If you live in an area
that gets extremely hot in the summer or
extremely cold in the winter, you’ll need to
take precautions to keep your battery from
overheating or freezing.
The liquids
that keep your battery cool can evaporate in
high temperatures, leading to an inability to
cool down. In the winter, cold temperatures slow
everything down, including the chemical reaction
inside your battery that allows your vehicle or
machinery to start. If this slows down too much,
the battery won’t hold enough charge to ignite
the engine.
Try
to limit short trips in your vehicle or short
operation cycles for your equipment in the
summer. Short run times don’t allow the battery
to fully charge, which will further weaken your
battery in hot weather. Combine trips or loads
to length the run time and keep your battery
fully charged. In the winter, use a battery
blanket when your vehicle or machinery isn’t
running to keep it warm. Additionally, park
inside or away from the wind to protect the
battery from freezing even further.
In an
industrial environment, consider installing fans
near where your equipment is stored to keep the
batteries from overheating. This is usually more
of a concern for industrial batteries than
freezing, especially in warmer environments, but
if your equipment is kept outside, battery
blankets might be required in harsh winter
climates.
Corrosion and Grime Kill
When battery posts become dirty or corroded,
you may discover that your
battery doesn’t stay
charged as long as it should. This is because
the dirt surrounding the battery posts becomes a
conductor that only serves to drain the battery.
For this reason, keep your battery’s posts clean
and free from dirt, grime, and corrosion.
Fortunately, it’s very simple to keep these
clean with materials you probably already have
around your home.
Grab an old toothbrush,
some baking soda and water, a pair of rubber
gloves, a rag, and some petroleum jelly. Put on
the gloves, mix the baking soda and water
together, dip the toothbrush in the mixture, and
scrub the battery’s posts until the grime and
corrosion is gone. Rinse the baking soda from
the terminals with a spray bottle of water and
wipe them with the rag until they are completely
dry. After they’re dry, dab a small amount of
petroleum jelly onto the posts to lubricate them
and discourage future buildup.
Conclusion
Maintaining your industrial or vehicle batteries is the key to long-lasting performance. As always, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for maintenance procedures in addition to the tips given here to make sure you’re doing all you can to protect your battery’s lifespan.