NEWS & PRESS
The installation location and the resulting maximum ambient temperature must be taken into account:
With the AGM battery, it is essential to avoid a "build-up" of the thermal load due to (extremely) high ambient temperatures (thermal runaway). For this reason, the ambient temperature must not exceed +55 degrees Celsius. +85 degrees Celsius, not an uncommon value in the engine compartment, especially in summer, is considered uncritical for a maximum of 3 hours per day. Otherwise, this can cause premature total failure of the AGM battery, because the separator dries out and the grids can become extremely corroded!
- EFB batteries are usually installed directly in the engine compartment, exceptions prove the rule, as always.
- AGM batteries are often installed in the boot or in the passenger compartment. Recently, however, some car manufacturers have increasingly installed them in the engine compartment, away from the engine block and often equipped with a thermal protection cover.
In some cases, the batteries are installed in the luggage compartment or, less frequently, in the passenger compartment, in order to have the right battery and ambient temperature, safety aspects and optimum weight distribution.
If the battery is installed in the boot (as is the case with many BMW models, for example) or in the passenger compartment, an upgrade to an AGM battery is highly recommended. Especially if there are a large number of additional electrical consumers, maximum vibration/cycle resistance and optimum on-board network stability. This is because the thermal load on the battery due to the effects of heat is negligible here, in direct comparison with the engine compartment. The same applies to an electrical system battery in an electric car, because electric drives emit very little heat to the environment due to their high efficiency.
1. Keep it active and on the move.
Inactive batteries start to discharge in a process during which lead sulphate forms of the battery plates and obstructs the current flow. A charger keeps the battery in shape and prevents sulphation.
2. Keep it clean.
Ensure that the surface of the battery is clean and dry using an antistatic cloth. Moisture in the engine compartment causes current creepage, which consumes energy. In addition, do not use any so-called improvement agents.
3. Keep it safe in winter.
Battery starting performance declines in cold weather. Therefore, in order to have sufficient power, switch off additional consumers such as blowers and the heating until the engine is running. Moreover, turn them off before shutting down the engine.
4. Keep it running marathons.
During short trips cars often require more energy than the dynamo can generate and recharge, which means that the battery is subject to constant discharging. Therefore, if possible take the car out for longer runs in order to charge up the battery, or even better treat your battery to an external compensatory charge. The environment will be most grateful.
5. Keep it fit for winter with an extra charge.
Frequent short trips in combination with stop and start traffic reduce the energy level of the battery during every start and drive. Give your battery an extra portion of power with external charging, especially before the first cold winter weather arrives.
6. Keep your convertible in trim during hibernation.
Are you mothballing your car for the winter? If so and the battery is to stay in the vehicle, then remove the negative terminal. The battery must remain dry and cool (but frost-free). Recharge at the latest when an open-circuit voltage of 12.5V is reached. The solution for these requirements of seasonally driven cars is provided by regular compensatory charges and charge retention.
7. Keep a booster close at hand.
Due to the sensitive electronics in the vehicle, jump-starting should generally only be carried out with a jump-start device. Car-to-car jump leads can cause voltage spikes when disconnected, damaging or even destroying the vehicle's electronics.
Charging of conventional wet batteries and EFB batteries:
- Before charging, check electrolyte level and, if necessary, fill up desalinated or distilled water to the max. acid residue mark or 15 mm above the upper edge of the plate. The screw connections of the battery must not remain open during charging, it is best to close them again.
AGM batteries must not be opened, refilling with water is not possible or necessary.
- Connect the positive terminal (+) of the battery to the charging clamp (+) of the charger and the negative terminal (-) to the negative clamp (-) of the charger. Only switch on the charger after connecting the battery. Switch off the charger when charging is complete.
- A tenth of the capacity is recommended as charging current. (e.g. 44 Ah: 10 = 4.4 A charging current). With an automatic charger (e.g. Banner Accucharger) this setting happens, as the name suggests, automatically.
- Charging is complete when the current drops to 0 or no longer decreases or the automatic charger switches off. Provide good ventilation during charging. Attention: Highly explosive oxyhydrogen gas forms during charging! Fire, sparks, open light and smoking prohibited!
- AGM batteries must be charged with a voltage regulated charger, e.g. Banner Accucharger (max. 14.8V)!
As a general rule, fully automatic chargers (charging voltage limitation with 14.8V) are well suited for charging the battery installed in the vehicle. If your charger has an automatic mode with voltages >15.9V, the battery must be disconnected from the on-board electronics or removed from the vehicle. In the worst case the installed control units could be destroyed by overvoltages, the resulting damage would be enormous!
The requirements for starter batteries are strongly dependent on the climatic conditions and the additional electrical/electronic equipment. Today, most new vehicles are also equipped with a start-stop system that switches off the engine when the vehicle is stopped in order to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Conventional starter batteries can no longer fulfil this challenging task, which is why the use of special start-stop batteries with AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) or EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) technology is required.
Cheap batteries are therefore often the more expensive solution, as they can lead to starting problems in summer and winter.
There is a good reason why Duracell quality batteries have established themselves worldwide!
They combine the highest starting power, further increased cold start characteristics, optimised current consumption capacity and thus improved chargeability as well as a long service life.
Duracell Tip: Use the next largest battery for your car, for which there is usually enough space. Because these are additional power reserves for your vehicle! The price difference is usually extremely small and the alternator of your vehicle is designed for it!