About Car Batteries

Car batteries supply electric energy to a vehicle. Another name for car battery is SLI battery. SLI stands for the power to start the motor, lighting and the ignition system of the engine. Car batteries are also the main power source for a vehicle.

Batteries that are being stored will require monitoring and to be periodically charged. If you are planning to store a battery, then the battery will need to be fully charged. Leave the battery in a cool place and clean for corrosion deposits. You don’t want to store a battery in a warm environment because high temperatures will cause plate corrosion and a self-discharge rate. Lead-acid car batteries should always be kept fully charged. You can measure the charge of a battery by terminal voltage. Car batteries can be charged by a float charger and a constant voltage method.

Most lead-acid batteries are filled with an electrolyte solution before leaving the manufacturing plant. The manufacturer usually ships the car batteries to the retailers ready to sell. In the past, retailers had to fill and charge the batteries before selling. The complete process was time consuming and dangerous. Retailers also had to fill batteries with acids, which are highly corrosive. Acid can cause damage to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Filling a battery is not a problem for retailers now except when dealing with ATVs or motorcycle batteries.

Car batteries that are stored with electrolyte will slowly deteriorate because of sulfation. Batteries will also need to be installed within one year of being manufactured. You can find the manufacturing date printed on a sticker located on the battery.