Take control of your battery life

To prevent deterioration of the battery, it is recommended to fully charge it before storing it for a long time. A battery is not a passive material like metal or plastic - it contains chemical compounds that constantly react between them, even when the battery is not in use. Natural battery degradation can be prevented or significantly slowed down with proper maintenance.

Battery charging

A little boost is better than no charge, but there are a few ways to make it more efficient. Marine & Leisure batteries should not be completely discharged. Full discharge shortens their life and reduces capacity. To avoid this, the batteries should be recharged whenever the open circuit voltage drops below 12.5 V.

When the battery is deeply discharged, an external charger must be used to charge it, as solar panels cannot provide enough charge to restore the optimal state of charge. Repeated use of an insufficiently charged battery may shorten its life and reduce its capacity. The correct charging method combines periodic voltage checks with the use of a reliable charger that can fully charge the battery. Such a charger is a good alternative to a traditional charger because it guarantees that the battery will not be overcharged.

Additionally, remember to disconnect the battery from the circuit in case of longer periods of standstill. In this way, we prevent unnecessary energy consumption by electrical devices.

Life on board support

The selection of a battery to power the equipment is governed by different rules than the selection of a starting battery. It is not based on the parameters of the vehicle or boat itself, but on the way on-board devices are used - the amount of energy consumed and the time away from the charging point. Choosing a battery that meets our needs is very important. Insufficient energy not only exposes us to discomfort, but can also endanger our lives if we lose access to navigation equipment and communication systems on the boat.

The advantage of Exide batteries intended for powering on-board devices is that their parameters are marked on the labels in Wh (watt hours), instead of traditionally in Ah (ampere hours). This solution makes it much easier to calculate the average daily energy consumption of on-board devices and, consequently, to choose a battery that meets the energy demand. Calculations can be made using the Exide calculator.

Correct inventory management

Batteries should be kept in a cool (0-25°C), dry and well-ventilated area, free from sparks or very low temperatures. In the battery warehouse, the basis is to follow the FIFO (first-in, first-out) principle, thanks to which we minimize the storage time of batteries. It is also important to check the voltage regularly, especially in the case of batteries flooded with electrolyte.

The temperature in the room affects the self-discharge of the battery - the higher it is, the faster it occurs and the more often the battery needs to be recharged. On the other hand, traditional lead-acid batteries are sensitive to sub-zero temperatures when deeply discharged. Their electrolyte may freeze and, as a result, damage the battery.

For this reason, it is recommended to fully charge traditional lead-acid batteries before storing them for the winter. Exide AGM and GEL batteries , on the other hand, are resistant to freezing, so they can be a very good choice.

Batteries should be kept clean - not only for aesthetic reasons. Dust, oil and moisture can accumulate on the battery case and form a layer that conducts a small charge from the positive to the negative terminal. Over time, this may increase self-discharge and reduce battery power. Regularly cleaning the lid reduces this charge flow.

Exide has a well-deserved reputation for its marine and recreational batteries. As an original equipment manufacturer (OE), it also supplies high-quality batteries that meet the needs of users to the aftermarket. The Exide Marine & Leisure battery range includes products such as: Exide Start, Start AGM, Dual, Dual AGM, Dual EFB, Equipment, Equipment AGM, Equipment GEL and Equipment Li-Ion. Some of them received the DNV certificate - the most important confirmation of quality that a product for marine applications can receive.

About Exide Technologies:

Exide Technologies ( https://www.exidegroup.com ), headquartered in France, near Paris, is a global provider of stored electricity solutions for the automotive and industrial markets. It designs, produces and distributes the latest generation of batteries for a wide range of applications - from passenger cars and off-road vehicles, through intra-warehouse logistics, stationary applications, to railways and military.

Exide Technologies offers the latest battery production technologies, knowledge, services and products under many well-known brands. As an original equipment supplier to leading European vehicle manufacturers, Exide has achieved many breakthroughs in energy storage, enabling innovative solutions to be brought to market. With two research and development centers, nine production plants and three recycling plants in Europe, Exide is committed to implementing high-quality engineering, production and battery recycling projects, while continuing to introduce innovations that respond to dynamically changing customer needs. In fiscal year 2021, Exide achieved a turnover of EUR 1.3 billion.