Take control of your battery life

To prevent the battery from deteriorating, it is recommended that you fully charge it before putting it in standby mode for an extended period of time. A battery is not an inert material such as metal or plastic - it contains chemicals that react constantly, even when the battery is not in use. The natural degradation of the battery can be prevented or significantly slowed down by proper handling.

Battery charging

A little recharge of the battery is better than no battery charge, but there are several ways to make it more efficient. Marine & Leisure batteries should not be completely discharged. Fully discharging them shortens their service life and reduces their capacity. To avoid this, the batteries should be recharged whenever the open circuit voltage drops below 12.5V.

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

In addition, be sure to disconnect the battery from the circuit during longer idle periods. In this way, we prevent unnecessary energy consumption by electrical devices.

Support for "life on board"

The choice of a battery to power your equipment is governed by different laws than the choice of a starter battery. It is not based on the characteristics of the vehicle or boat itself, but on how the on-board equipment is used - the amount of energy used and the time away from the charging point. Choosing a battery that suits our needs is very important. Insufficient energy not only makes us inconvenient, but can also be life-threatening if we lose access to navigation equipment and communication systems on the boat.

The advantage of Exide on-board batteries is that they are labeled in Wh (watt-hours) instead of in Ah (ampere-hours) traditionally. This solution makes it much easier to calculate the average daily energy consumption of the on-board equipment, and thus - to choose a battery corresponding to the energy demand. Calculations can be made using the Exide calculator:

https://www.exidegroup.com/pl/pl/battery-finder/leisure/boat

Correct stock management

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

The room temperature influences the self-discharge phenomenon of the battery - the higher it is, the faster it occurs and the more frequently the battery should be recharged. Conversely, traditional lead acid batteries are sensitive to sub-zero temperatures when deeply discharged. Their electrolyte may freeze and consequently damage the battery.

For this reason, it is recommended to fully charge traditional lead acid batteries before putting them to sleep during the winter. Exide AGM and GEL batteries , on the other hand, are freeze-resistant, 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 pole. Over time, this may increase the self-discharge phenomenon and reduce the battery power. Regular cleaning of the lid reduces this load flow.

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

About Exide Technologies:

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

Exide Technologies offers the latest battery manufacturing technologies, expertise, services and products under many well-known brands. As a supplier to the original equipment market for leading European vehicle manufacturers, Exide has made many ground-breaking energy storage projects to bring innovative solutions to the market. With two R&D centers, nine manufacturing plants and three recycling facilities in Europe, Exide is fully committed to implementing high-quality engineering, manufacturing and battery recycling projects, while continuing to innovate to meet the rapidly changing needs of customers. In fiscal 2021, Exide achieved a turnover of 1.3 billion euros.