WHAT
ARE THE COMMON CAUSES OF PREMATURE BATTERY FAILURES?
| Normally,
premature battery failures are caused by one or more of the
failures listed below with water loss and sulfation
the main offenders. Prior to 1980, plate or grid shorts were
the most common failure. Since then the manufacturers have
significantly improved the life expectancy by using better
separators, plate alloys to reduce corrosion, and heat shields.
Relocating starting batteries to the passenger |
compartment
(or trunk) also has considerably decreased premature battery
failures. Batteries that have been in use for longer periods of
time will typically fail from multiple causes. All batteries
will fail at some point in time from old age (positive plate shedding
of active material or grid corrosion). |
|
12.1. For wet car batteries, lack of preventive maintenance, high underhood
heat, fast recharging (greater than
C/4), or overcharging causes a loss of water, which accounts for over
50% of the failures. For wet motive and stationary deep cycle
batteries, water loss due to the lack of preventive maintenance or overcharging
is the main culprit. Please see Section 3
for more information on preventive maintenance.
12.2. Sulfation from water loss, undercharging, electrolyte stratification
(especially in larger batteries over a 100 amp hours), using tap water,
excessive temperatures, or prolonged periods of non-use account for
approximately 85% of the deep cycle and starting battery failures that
are not used weekly (or bi-weekly in colder climates). Some vehicle
charging systems based on driving habits (short trips or high loads)
leave the car battery constantly undercharged and sulfated. Please see
Section 16 for more information on sulfation.
12.3. Battery post or terminal corrosion, which cause charging and discharging
problems. Please see Section 3 for more
information on preventive maintenance.
12.4. High ambient temperatures above 77° F (25° C) causing
accelerated positive grid growth or corrosion, increased self-discharge,
or thermal runway in AGM (Ca/Ca) and Gel Cell (Ca/Ca) VRLA batteries.
For every increase of 18° F (10° C) above 77° F (25°
C), the battery's life is cut in half due to positive grid corrosion
or the self-discharge rate is doubled.
12.5. Excessive deep discharges below 10.5 volts, such as leaving your
vehicle's lights on.
12.6. Misapplication, for example, using a starting battery in a deep
cycle application, a motive deep cycle battery instead of a stationary
for a UPS, or an undersized battery (or battery bank) that causes discharges
greater than the battery was designed for or will not produce enough
capacity.
12.7. Plate-to-strap shorts due to excessive vibration caused by loose
hold down clamps or vehicle running on rough surfaces or freezing.
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