Making the correct choice of battery for your application is
no laughing matter and ensuring that your investment is protected
requires careful planning.
Common mistakes made with battery installations include:
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Not enough capacity
Skimping on battery capacity is a mugs game. The simple fact is that if
you are using 120 Ah per day in your application and you have only 200Ah
of battery capacity, you are going to repeatedly damage your batteries.
You should never plan to draw down on more than 50% of your battery capacity,
and size your system to support that. |
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Incorrect charging
AGM batteries, as with all batteries require a specific charging to avoid
damage. Over charging, or punching in too much voltage or amperage will
cause runaway chemical reactions outside the design the of the battery.
ALWAYS use a battery charger designed for charging AGM's. We market of
range of battery chargers for the task, or ensure that your installation
has a smart charging system with a program for AGM's |
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Flattening batteries
Flattening a battery on the camping trip because the beer MUST be kept
cold is going to cost you more than a hangover. All batteries are damaged
when flattened, and taken too far will destroy them in one outing. Ensure
that the appliances drawing the power, or the circuit has low voltage
protection. The humble flood light or cheap car fridge has the ability
to take down your investment in one night. |
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Over charging
AGM's while charging create Hydrogen and Oxygen just like most other technologies.
The semi sealed, pressurised environment helps contain the H's and the
O2's inside the unit, but if the battery is charged too fast, or overcharged
the valves will trigger releasing gases and changing the balance of chemicals
and once escaped, there will be no topping up, the battery will eventually
be useless. |
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Undersized wiring
AGM's typically have good cranking ability, with the Absorbed Power range
having excellent cranking characteristics. We still get calls about engines
not starting or undervoltage buzzers sounding. This is typically found
to be a corroded connection, loose connection, unsized wiring or wiring
runs too long. Ensure that your installation takes full account of these
issues. |
| The simple answer to all technical issues is design the entire
installation carefully, engaging the know how of a low voltage professional
to protect your investment and your satisfaction. |
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