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Solar Fence Charger Lead Acid Battery Storage
and Maintenance
Looking to store your battery
for the off-season?
Proper charging and maintenance can help keep your
internal battery at full power when you need it again. Did you know that lack of use and
charge is one of the leading causes of premature battery failure? The
average battery life expectancy for the both the 6 and 12 volt batteries
in your solar fence charger is 3 to 5 years if used continuously.
Prolonged storage of the unit will reduce the life of the battery.
Maintenance Charge Schedule
The battery will discharge on its’ own (called self-discharge). If still
connected inside the fence charger, additional discharge may occur. Due to
these occurrences, storage time without a charge is limited. The rate of
self-discharge will increase with higher temperatures. At room temperature,
self-discharge for lead batteries is about 5% per month. In order to prevent
internal corrosion (sulfation) and limit capacity loss after prolonged storage,
it is necessary to periodically recharge the battery.
While stored, we recommend
charging your battery once every two months (more often if in a high
temperature climate). This can be done by simply allowing the
solar panel to charge the battery for at least 5 sunny days. You
can also charge the battery by using a
Parmak Taper Charger model
#951 for 6-volt batteries or model #952 for 12-volt batteries.
Whether you are storing your
Parmak fence charger, classic car, boat, or ATV, the lead acid
battery inside needs proper care to ensure optimum performance for the
next time you plan to use it.
Environment (Storage area)
Keep the battery in a cool place, temperature range: 5ºF to 80ºF (-15ºC to
27ºC)
Preferred temperature is below 86ºF (30ºC)
Keep the battery in a dry place, preferred relative humidity: 25% to 80%
Battery storage area must be free from vibration, dust, direct sunlight, and
moisture.
Keep the battery terminals clean and free of corrosion.
If
possible, disconnect the battery from the solar panel internally.
Safety
DO NOT SHORT CIRCUIT THE BATTERY
TERMINALS! A risk of electric shock an/or severe burns could
be the result.
NEVER allow an open flame or spark to come near a battery. Lead acid batteries
can produce explosive hydrogen gas.
Do not overcharge the battery.
Use a battery charger specifically designed for the capacity of your
battery.
Parmak #901 (6-volt) and #902 (12-volt) batteries should be charged
with a
Parmak Taper Charger model
#951 for 6-volt batteries or model #952 for 12-volt batteries.
Do not allow a battery to freeze. By maintaining the charge in a battery, you
will avoid any chance of freezing. A fully charged battery can only freeze if
the temperature reaches -70ºF. A fully discharged battery can freeze at
approximately 15ºF.
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