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Battery Capacity
Battery Capacity can be indicated as Amp Hours (Ah) or Watt Hours (WH).
1. An Amp Hour is measured by continuous
discharge for 20 hours. For example, if a
battery discharges 6 amps continuously for
20 hours before dropping to 10.5 VDC, the
Ah rating is 6 amps X 20 hours = 120 Ah.
Battery Resistance
1. Resistance (also called "impedance") is a
measure of the resistance of free flow of electrons
within the battery. Lower resistance is better.
Battery Faults
Sulfate accumulation:
Over the life of the battery the chemical reactions
on the surface of the plates which store and release
energy cause sulfates to build up. This slowly degrades
battery performance until the battery must be replaced.
Insufficient electrolyte:
If exposed to air, the battery plates will accumulate
sulfates rapidly. Also with low electrolyte, only the
portion of the plates in the electrolyte can function.
Short circuit of the battery plates:
If the plate insulators are damaged or lead
sludge builds up on the bottom of the battery,
the plates can short circuit and stop working.
Item 58759
For technical questions, please call 1-888-866-5797.
2. A Watt Hour is simply Voltage times Ah.
For example, a 12 volt battery rated at 120 Ah
is 1440 WH. (12 VDC X 120 Ah = 1440 WH).
2. In a 12V lead-acid battery, 5-10 mOhms
(milliOhms) is a good range. Resistance levels
over 20 mOhms may indicate a problem.
Over discharge of the battery:
Lead acid batteries should not be fully discharged.
If the battery becomes fully discharged, it may
be damaged. A fully discharged battery may be
restored by trickle charging over a 36 hour period.
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