Chronic undercharging can be very frustrating and can affect battery performance.
Undercharging occurs when the battery fails to receive a full charge after usage. Internally,
sulfation hardens on the lead plates to the point where it cannot be reversed back to electrolyte,
shortening the battery's life. Here are some tips to help prevent chronic undercharging:
Practice Good Charging Habits
The ANSI (American National Standards Institute) RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering &
Assistive Technology Society of North America) states that your battery must be recharged by
80% within 8 hours. Therefore, we recommend charging your batteries every night for a
minimum of 8 hours and once a week for 12 hours, depending on usage.
You can also practice good charging habits by not leaving your batteries dead or uncharged for
long periods. Failure to pay attention to these things will result in the battery being unable to
reach its full charge leading to undercharging.
Select The Correct Charger
It is also essential to pay attention to what kind of charger you are using when charging your
batteries. For example, a standard current or taper-current "trickle" charger should NOT be used
with Sealed Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries. Dual mode chargers or "smart
chargers" adjust the cut-off voltage for both sealed and flooded batteries and will cut off or go
into float mode once fully charged.
Only voltage-regulated chargers designed for Sealed VRLA batteries should be used for AGM or GEL batteries.
Battery Storage & Maintenance
Battery storage and maintenance are also important to extend the life of your batteries. Keeping
the terminals clean before charging is vital. The terminals on the battery may have accumulated
residue, which will affect the charging performance of the battery and can lead to undercharging.
Be sure to store your batteries fully charged and disconnected if not used for long periods and
avoid extremely hot or cold temperatures when storing. Any performance-related issues should
be handled by a trained wheelchair or scooter technician.
Chronic undercharging is preventable and prioritizing good battery health will help your battery's
overall performance and will increase your battery's lifespan.
Use these tips to charge your battery correctly and prevent chronic undercharging.
If you have any questions regarding proper battery charging habits, please get in touch with your
Sales Representative or submit a question/comment here, Contact | MK Battery.
