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Advice

How reliable your battery will be and how long it will last depends on the right choice of battery as much as the maintenance. Here, you’ll find some basic information on how to take care of your battery and which one to choose. We hope the advice is helpful. For any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our experts.

BUYING THE RIGHT BATTERY

Batteries vary in dimensions, strength, terminals (left or right positive, thickness and shape of the terminal). This is why it’s so important for the retailer to have information about the vehicle or the old battery that needs to be replaced.
We suggest you use a battery with more capacity than the original as most car producers tend to cut costs by supplying less powerful batteries.
As in most industries, battery technology has greatly advanced and today higher quality batteries are made with various alloys added to lead (silver or calcium alloy). Ca or calcium alloys used for making the mesh assure significantly lower self-discharge and enable longer storage time. Better anti-corrosion due to new mesh expansion technology and lower water consumption ensure a longer life span of the battery, especially at the high temperature under the car bonnet.

INSTALLATION

When you buy a battery, it’s ready for use. You need to turn off the car engine and all other electricity- consuming elements. Remove the old battery by first unplugging the negative terminal and then the positive. When installing the new battery, the reverse order applies; plug in the positive terminal first. We suggest you clean the clamps and oil them. Striking on the connecting joints can cause irreversible damage because of possible mechanical interruption to the electrical current, ultimately ending in explosion. Connections such as terminal shields and caps, containers and pipes should be taken from the old battery. If there is a vent pipe, connect it to the vent opening and close the opposite vent opening with the cap.

MAINTENANCE

To keep your battery working, keep it clean and dry. Check the level of acid regularly and, when needed, add distilled water, but never add so-called high-performance liquids or acids. When the acid density is lower than 1.21 kg/l (1.18 with filling acid 1.23) the battery needs to be recharged. An empty battery should be recharged within two days or irreversible damage occurs. The electrolytes of an empty battery will freeze at 0°C and freezing causes permanent mechanical damage to the battery. If you feel your battery is using too much water, check the generator regulator.
The batteries should be charged to levels of 14.2 to 14.4 V. We suggest you occasionally check the charging level in your car at a repair garage or at specialist shop.

SAFETY INSTRUCTION

The battery is charged with lead acid which is very harmful to the human body. If it accidentally comes into contact with your eyes, flush them for couple of minutes with gently flowing water and consult a doctor for further advice. If the acid spills onto your clothing, we suggest using soap to neutralise the acid and plenty of water to rinse the residue. Always keep the acid and the battery as far away from children as possible.
The battery contains some explosive gasses so keep the battery avoid sparks away from open flames or smouldering objects.
To prevent environmental issues, never dump old and used batteries in the bin, let alone in a forest or field, because they contain hazardous components. All listed outlets are obliged to take care of the waste; we all have special containers to dispose of the batteries properly.