FAQs

Sulfation is the formation or deposit of lead sulfate on the surface and in the pores of the active material of the battery's lead plates. If the sulfation becomes excessive and forms large crystals on the plates, the battery will not operate efficiently and may not work at all. Common causes of battery sulfation are standing a long time in a discharged condition, operating at excessive temperatures, and prolonged under or overcharging.

The lifespan of a battery will vary considerably with how it is used, how it is maintained and charged, temperature, and other factors.

The positive terminal of the first battery is connected to the negative terminal of the second battery, the positive terminal of the second is connected to the negative of the third, etc. The voltage of the assembled battery is the sum of the battery voltages of the individual batteries. So the batteries are connected: + to - to + to - to + to -, etc. The capacity of the battery is unchanged.

Gel cell or sealed lead acid batteries have basically the same chemistry as conventional wet or “flooded cell” batteries. The battery electrolyte is in a gelatin form (GEL) or is absorbed into a glass matt (AGM). The battery is then sealed with epoxy. They are exceptionally leak resistant and may be used in any position, but cannot be re-hydrated when they eventually begin to dry fail. Applications include UPS devices, emergency lights, and wheelchairs. These batteries contain 2 volts per cell with common voltages of 4, 6, and 12 volts. They are not recommended for use in deep cycle or forklift applications.

The reserve capacity of a battery is defined as the number of minutes that it can support a 25-ampere load at 80°F until its terminal voltage drops to 1.75 volts per cell or 10.50 volts for a 12V battery. Thus, a 12V battery that has a reserve capacity rating of 100 signifies that it can be discharged at 25 amps for 100 minutes at 80°F before its voltage drops to 10.75 volts.

An amp-hour is one amp for one hour or 10 amps for 1/10 of an hour and so forth. It is amps X hours. If you have something that pulls 20 amps, and you use it for 20 minutes, then the amp-hours used would be 20 (amps) X .333 (hours), or 6.67 AH. The accepted AH rating time period for batteries used in solar electric and backup power systems (and for nearly all deep cycle batteries) is the "20-hour rate". This means that it is discharged down to 10.5 volts over a 20-hour period while the total actual amp-hours it supplies is measured. Sometimes ratings at the 6-hour rate and 100-hour rate are also given for comparison and for different applications. The 6-hour rate is often used for industrial batteries, as that is a typical daily duty cycle. Sometimes the 100-hour rate is given just to make the battery look better than it really is, but it is also useful for figuring out battery capacity for long-term backup amp-hour requirements.

Under normal operating conditions, you never need to add acid. For a standard auto or marine battery, only distilled, deionized or approved water should be added to achieve the recommended levels mentioned above. When a battery is shipped in a dry state or accidental spillage occurs, electrolytes should be added to the battery. Once filled, a battery should only need periodic water addition.

In a partially discharged state, the electrolyte in a lead acid battery may freeze. At a 40% state of charge, the electrolyte will freeze if the temperature reaches approximately ­16.0°F. The freezing temperature of the electrolyte in a fully charged battery is -92.0°F.

Lead acid batteries are 100% recyclable. Lead is the most recycled metal in the world today. The plastic containers and covers of old batteries are neutralized, reground and used in the manufacture of new battery cases. The electrolyte can be processed for recycled waste water uses. In some cases, the electrolyte is cleaned and reprocessed and sold as battery-grade electrolyte. In other instances, the sulfate content is removed as Ammonia Sulfate and used in fertilizers. The separators are often used as a fuel source for the recycling process.

Old batteries may be returned to the battery retailer, automotive service station, battery manufacturer or other authorized collection centres for recycling.

The positive terminal of the first battery is connected to the positive terminal of the second battery, the positive terminal of the second is connected to the positive of the third, etc. and The negative terminal of the first battery is connected to the negative terminal of the second battery, the negative terminal of the second is connected to the negative of the third, etc. So the batteries are connected: + to + to + and - to - to -. In this configuration, the capacity is the sum of the capacities of the individual batteries and the voltage is unchanged. For example, if you take 5 6V 10AH batteries and connect the batteries in series, you would end up with a battery array that is 30 Volts and 10AH. If you connect the batteries in parallel, you would end up with a battery array that is 6 Volts and 50AH. By the way, this is how ordinary auto batteries are made. 6 2volt cells are put in series to give 12v battery and the 6 cells are just enclosed in one case. Many ni-cad batteries are done the same way.

Our Advanced Design Separator and Paste Formulation, together with lower internal resistance, performance engineering and careful assembly, work together to make ZUNAX the best deep-cycle industrial batteries available. Our exclusive separator is designed to deliver superior electrolyte distribution, lower water usage and reduced positive shedding, so our batteries last significantly longer. Our proprietary paste formulation is the key ingredient to long battery life.

Yes, all ZUNAX industrial batteries ship filled with electrolyte, fully charged and ready for immediate use, including international export shipments. Yes, provided your existing charger was sized correctly for your forklift at the time of purchase.