Posted September 29th, 2009 by webmaster | No Comments
AA Alkaline Batteries are a Handy and Efficient Power Source
First introduced in the 1940s, the AA alkaline battery continues to be popular for use in portable electronic devices, such as CD and DVD players and digital cameras.
Today, it is known in China as the #5 battery, while Germans colloquially refer to it as Mignon. Regardless of the various names, however, an AA battery is universally recognized as a handy, efficient and highly affordable power supply.
An alkaline AA battery unit is composed of a single electrochemical cell powered by the reaction between zinc and manganese oxide. Users can rely on this type of battery because of its longer shelf-life and higher energy density, especially when compared to zinc carbon and zinc chloride varieties.
Battery Web, a leading online provider for all battery types, offers AA alkaline batteries from leading brands such as Duracell, Optima, Universal, Dell, Energizer, IBM and Panasonic. To learn more about their products, visit BatteryWeb.com or call their toll-free number, 877-746-2288.
Posted September 16th, 2009 by webmaster | No Comments
Alkaline Batteries: Longer Shelf Life, Higher Power Density
Commonly used in portable gadgets such as CD and DVD players, digital cameras and remote controllers, alkaline batteries are a type of power supply that features the reaction between zinc and manganese oxide.
Compared to zinc-carbon type or zinc chloride types, an alkaline battery is known for longer shelf-life, ease of use and handling, and higher energy density. In fact, because its manganese dioxide material is purer and denser, an alkaline battery can support the operation of electronic devices by up to three to five times longer than zinc-based batteries. In addition, they are generally more affordable than most other battery types.
Battery Web offers alkaline cells of the AAA, AA , C, D, or 9-volt variety. Buyers can choose from a wide range of brands, including Energizer, Optima, Dell, IBM, Duracell, AC Delco and Panasonic.
For more information about the company’s selection of alkaline batteries, check out BatteryWeb.com or call 877-746-2288 today.
Posted September 9th, 2009 by webmaster | No Comments
Heavy Duty AGM Batteries Require a Top-Quality AGM Charger
For a heavy duty Advanced Glass Mat (AGM) battery, only the highest quality AGM charger should be used.
When built by the best manufacturers, AGM charging units can protect the battery from overcharging, extend battery life and ensure the battery’s optimal performance. Some brands now even offer chargers that can reverse sulfation, a process that involves the crystallization of lead sulfate and renders batteries unable to conduct electricity.
Among the popular makers of AGM chargers today are Schumacher, BatteryMINDer, Auto Meter and Power-Sonic. These top-of-the-line AGM charger brands are sold at Battery Web, an online store that carries a wide selection of wet and sealed types of batteries and matching charging kits.
At Battery Web, all products come with the company’s customer satisfaction guarantee, and are available for fast and secure shipping everyday. This online shop also offers volume discounts. For more details about their product offerings, log on to BatteryWeb.com today.
Posted September 2nd, 2009 by webmaster | No Comments
AGM Battery: High Power Density
Now used in portable electronic devices, motorcycles, sailing or power boats and battery electric vehicles, an absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery first became popular for use in military aircraft units in the 1980s. Then and until now, AGM batteries are known for being low-maintenance, energy-efficient and durable.
For one, AGM cells feature a sealed battery technology that allows them to discharge more slowly, handle higher temperatures better and distribute power more efficiently. Further, this type of VRLA battery can be stored for a long time without leaking or freezing, and will not even require recharging.
Compared to other types, AGM batteries are also lightweight and easy to handle. And because of their ability to weather shock and vibration, they are recommended for motorcycles and performance automobiles where there is a high risk of the battery being disturbed.
Call 877-746-2288 or visit BatteryWeb.com to find a formidable AGM battery selection that includes brands like Panasonic, Universal, CSB and Lifeline.
Posted July 17th, 2009 by admin | 3 Comments
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As far as battery maintenance goes, I’m the worst ever. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve needed to jump on my lap-top, use my cell phone or any other portable electronic device, only to find myself in the unenviable position of having no juice left on the battery. Simply put, I overuse, poorly maintain, and all in all just wear down all of the batteries I need like it’s going out of style.
These bad habits usually leave me powerless when I most need power, so I asked around and came out with these 10 simple things you can do to make any battery last longer. |
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| 1. Use the lowest brightness settings on screen displays.
This will not work in bright areas like out doors, but sure works well indoors. Cell phones, lap-tops, and even watches have brightness controls that will help stretch the life of any battery. |
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| 2. Fully charge and discharge all of your batteries.
Try to avoid “topping off” the battery if there’s enough of a charge in there to get by, then remove the battery or unplug from the charger only after it has had a chance to trickle charge at 100%, and your battery will last 2 or 3 years easily. |
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| 3. Use programs that take less RAM and keep useless programs closed.
A lot of laptops come with cluttered programs since the day you take them home from the store. Stuff like Yahoo messenger or Firefox with 20 tabs open takes a lot of RAM and eats up batteries super fast. |
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| 4. Keeping the volume level on all of your music playing devices is key to a longer battery life.
You’ll be amazed at how much life loud music sucks out of your battery. This will also do wonders in preserving your ear-drums as well. |
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| 5. To go with #4, also turn down the volume on your cell-phone ringer.
Long ring-tones may sound cool, but hearing your favorite song play every time your phone rings will drain your battery in a hurry. |
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| 6. Turn off your Bluetooth whenever you’re not using it.
This can be an easy one to forget about if you’re often switching between using a Bluetooth, and the phone’s ear piece. Most people use their Bluetooth way too much anyhow, so cutting back on it’s use will lengthen the life of your battery. |
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| 7. I’ve always heard that when you get a new laptop, or anything with a rechargeable battery for that matter, you should charge it over night.
Pull that bad boy out of the box and give it a nice, long, healthy charge. Even if it says full, leave it in and charging for a while. |
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| 8. When I was little I would always find batteries in my grandmother’s fridge.
I always wondered why, turns out she was onto something. If you have extra batteries for your phone, laptop, or anything else, go ahead and store those in the refrigerator. Just make sure not to freeze them. |
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| 9. Programs that are run from a CD or DVD can be copied to and run from the hard drive, which typically consumes less power than an optical drive.
If you have music and movies you know know you’ll be playing numerous times, just rip them onto your hard drive and you’ll be styled! |
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| 10. Lastly, just using basic common sense will help extend the life of all of your batteries.
If you’re not using it, turn it off! If you don’t need it, get rid of it! This is probably the most practical and applicable way to get the most out of all of your batteries. |
Posted July 17th, 2009 by admin | No Comments
– The ultracapacitor and fuel cell battery growth forecast may also be low, given potential technology/performance breakthroughs in the next few years. I believe that ultracapacitors will prove to be one of the essential engines of the new energy 
economy. Dependent on the performance of their materials, they store and release more energy faster than conventional batteries, and they have an almost limitless cycle life.
– Growth in renewable energy, like solar and wind power , will drive additional demand for storage capacity, especially with increased smart grid electricity deployment all over the world.
– Very few storage technologies have actually reached the scalable commercial deployment phase, so we’re not fully aware of the portfolio of possibilities — and the market isn’t feeling the true impact of these innovations yet. Several companies produce lithium-ion batteries, for example, but utilities have only begun to experiment with them for balancing loads or storing power. And General Electric (GE) just jumped into the market for sodium batteries, computer-sized batteries that can store large amounts of power at wind farms.
Written By:
Andrew
Posted July 17th, 2009 by admin | No Comments
The Battery Market Will Charge Ahead
By Michael Butler
July 7, 2009 7:05AM
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Very few storage technologies have actually reached the scalable deployment phase, so we’re not fully aware of the portfolio of possibilities — and the market isn’t feeling the true impact of these innovations yet. Several companies produce lithium-ion batteries, but utilities have only begun to experiment with them for load balancing.
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 The battery market, also known as the storage battery market, is big — and it’s only going to get bigger between now and 2015.Batteries represent about $36 billion in revenues today and are expected to grow to more than $50 billion over the next five or so years, with rechargeable batteries leading the way. The growth will take place worldwide, and my corporate proxy for this is Hitachi, which says its battery business will show positive top-line growth over each of the next seven years.These growth projections are impressive, particularly in an uncertain global economy. But, from my perspective, the numbers may well be understated because:
– The hybrid vehicle battery, which accounts for 1.7 percent of the world’s rechargeable market, is expected to grow to 4.2 percent of the market by 2013. This surge is based on conservative assumptions about hybrid car growth.
– The ultracapacitor and fuel cell battery growth forecast may |
The Battery World Will Not Die!!!!
Written By:
Andrew
Posted July 13th, 2009 by admin | No Comments
Here are some basic facts that you should put into consideration when asking yourself what battery is better for me?
Battery Types and Comparisons - VRLA vs GEL vs AGM
Flooded Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries (VRLA)
Gelled Electrolyte Lead Acid Battery (GEL)
Advanced Glass Mat Battery Construction (AGM)
Today, there are three distinct types of lead acid batteries manufactured and any one type can be designed and built for either starting or deep cycle applications. These types are flooded acid, gelled acid, and Advanced AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat). There are various quality levels available in each type. Price is dependent the product design, processing, and manufacturing costs. This includes the amount of lead, purity of that lead, methods of pasting and curing the plates, degree and type of inter-plate insulation, quality of the case, and the sealing method used. Generally, high quality means higher cost.
Flooded Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries (VRLAB)
The oldest types of lead acid batteries are flooded cell types. These have been around for decades and evolved from wooden box models into the plastic valve regulated models on the market today. The electrolyte in these batteries is liquid sulfuric acid solution. This stuff is pretty corrosive and has destroyed more than a few sets of clothes and pieces of RV gear. VRLA flooded batteries generate and vent dangerous explosive gases through their valve regulation and must be vented to the outside world. These batteries also acid “mist” during charging and discharging. This leads to the corrosion of their terminals, and often-acid damage to surrounding surfaces. (look at your car battery for an example) VRLA Flooded batteries must be installed upright, can leak that acid, and require regular watering. Should they fail to be watered, they will not perform to spec. That all being said, they are also the least expensive type and therefore are the choice of many renewable and RV owners.
Gelled Electrolyte Lead Acid Battery (GEL)
The next types of batteries are gelled acid (Electrolyte) designs. They were introduced to American RVs and Marine enthusiasts by Sonnenschein of Germany over 30 years ago. Their introduction and widespread adoption was due to their increased efficiency and designed safety features. Their acid is immobilized by adding “fumed” silica to the sulfuric acid solution and then sealing the battery. They internally recombine most of the gases (hydrogen and oxygen) generated during charging and are maintenance free due to this. 
Gelled electrolyte battery designs are generally quite old and few engineering options are left to improve them. Gel electrolyte is highly viscous and during charge and discharge the gel can develop voids (pockets) or cracks when the amperage is increased. These pockets impede acid flow and result in the loss of battery capacity. Also the gelled mixture can liquefy upon charge due to the shearing action of gassing (this property is called “thixotropic”). After termination of charge, it can take an hour for the acid to gel again. During this time liquid is moving and the battery can leak if any opening has developed. Last, gel batteries may store hydrogen gas that has not recombined. When overcharging causes a gel battery’s vent caps to open, explosive gasses may be vented into the battery compartment. This vented hydrogen has caused a number of “fast failures” or battery explosions.
Advanced Glass Mat Valve Regulated Sealed Lead Acid Battery Construction (AGM or VRSLAB )
The latest and most advanced battery technology is Advanced AGM VRSLAB batteries (Advanced Glass Mat, Valve Regulated Sealed Lead Acid Batteries), which were developed to provide increased safety, efficiency, and durability over all existing battery types. In Advanced AGM batteries the acid is absorbed into a very fine glass mat and held in place by capillary action. This construction technique, in coordination with double wall design, and sealing has many advantages. 
There is never a way to make the acid free to slosh around. This allows for installation at any angle, and has lead to DOT exemption for USPS, UPS, and Fedex.(department of transportation)
By keeping the “moist” with electrolyte, gas recombination is more efficient (99% AGM). This leads to fewer incidents of exploding batteries than either of the 2 types above.
Since the AGM material has an extremely low electrical resistance, the battery delivers much higher power and efficiency than other battery types.
Since the AGM material has an extremely low electrical resistance it can crank more amps in and out without cost to life. AGM batteries are rated at 100% their capacity for charging and discharging amperage. (compared with roughly 35% for gel and flooded models)
Less acid means a lighter battery
Advanced AGM batteries offer exceptional life cycles by far better than either gel or flooded batteries. This leads to longer battery life and increases your ROI
A few more things to take into consideration - purity of the lead, and the construction of the battery.
Pure Lead: (99.999% pure or “triple 9″) The manufacturers we choose to list only use this quality of materials in their products. Quite simply, recylced lead in batteries is not as chemically able to absorb charge. The pure lead can be as much as 20% more likely to chemically sustain a charge. *Please recycle your battereis. Recycled lead is great for many other applications and is best for the environment.
Hand Soldered Cells: Lead is an extremely porous metal, and this leads to inconsistencies in the soldering of 2 lead parts. Hand soldering is by far the most effective, and time honored practice to join this metal. In the last few years, several companies have pioneered machines for soldering designed to vary each and every weld to meet spec. These systems are becoming increasingly more accurate and are becoming acceptable for low vibration and stationary installations. Both Sun Xtender and Lifeline batteries are Hand Soldered here in the United States and quality inspected prior to charging, and delivery.
Rolls - Surrette Batteries are soldered by machine, but are rigorously tested out as the highest quality flooded batteries available.
Dual Wall Construction:
Oil Tankers are required to have two hulls to keep oil out of the ocean. Batteries should have 2 walls to keep the acid out of living room. In addition, the space between the hulls should be used to recombine the gasses produced during electrolysis to reduce the explosive nature of the installation. Sun Xtender and Lifeline Batteries both employ this double wall design leading to a further margin of safety and durability.
Written By:
Andrew
Posted July 13th, 2009 by admin | No Comments
These are some of the most frequently asked questions,
| Answers: |
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How do I charge my battery? All lead-acid batteries contain highly corrosive sulfuric acid, generate explosive gases and have warning labels which should be observed closely. For best results, charge the battery as soon as you know it is discharged. To charge your battery, follow these steps and important safety tips: |
| Before Charging: |
| 1) |
Read the charger manufacturer’s instructions. |
| 2) |
Put on protective eyewear, rubber gloves, work clothes and remove all jewelry. |
| 3) |
Place the battery in a well ventilated area. |
| 4) |
Don’t charge a frozen battery. Allow the battery to warm to about 60ºF before charging. |
| 5) |
If applicable, remove the vent caps and check the battery’s water level and, if low, add distilled water to cover the tops of the plates. Do not overfill. |
| 6) |
To determine if the battery needs to be charged, test it with a hydrometer to determine its specific gravity and/or with a voltmeter to determine its state of charge. |
| 7) |
If applicable, reinstall vent caps before charging. |
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While the charger is unplugged, connect the leads to the proper battery terminals. Note: For side-post and studded batteries, we recommend that you use adapters to insure adequate contact. For additional information regarding adapters, contact Interstate Batteries. |
| 9) |
Set the charger to the proper settings for your battery, e.g. 6 volts vs. 12 volts, low-maintenance vs. sealed, standard automotive vs. deep cycle. |
| 10) |
Plug in and turn on the charger. |
| 11) |
Don’t wiggle the connections to check contact while the charger is turned on or plugged in. |
| 12) |
Choose the lowest amperage setting initially. Once the charger is on and the battery is charging, you may want to choose a higher amp setting to reduce charge time. |
| During Charging: |
| 1) |
Keep the vent caps on. |
| 2) |
Don’t allow smoking, open flames or sparks near the battery. |
| 3) |
Don’t allow the battery to become hot to the touch. |
| After Charging: |
| 1) |
Immediately after the battery is fully charged, turn off and unplug the charger. Continuing to charge a fully charged battery will severely damage the internal plates and shorten battery life. |
| 2) |
Disconnect the leads from the battery. |
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What’s the best way to charge deep cycle batteries? The maximum charger rate in amps should be 20% of the amp hour rating of the battery.
Normally, deep cycle batteries do not require special charging procedures. However, we recommended that you use a charger designed specifically for deep cycle batteries. It is best to slow charge all batteries, especially deep cycle. The 20% rule should be used when charging a deep cycle battery. That means to choose a charger where the maximum current (in amps) is less than 20% of the Ah rating. For example, an Interstate SRM-27 is rated at approximately 100 Ah, so a 20-amp charger should be the maximum. Also, it is best to use a charger that is adequate to recharge the battery within 10-12 hours (see next question). |
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How long should I charge my battery and at what current? Generally, we recommend that you use a low amp charge, i.e. as low as the battery will accept, over a longer period of time. A 10-20 amp charger can charge most automotive batteries. Fully charging a completely discharged automotive battery, for example, with a 10-amp charger may take approximately 6-10 hours at a temperature of 80°F. Lower ambient temperatures require a longer charge time.
Some chargers automatically adjust the current and length of charge according to the battery’s state of charge and then shut off when the battery is fully charged. If the charger requires manual adjustment for current or shut-off, check the charger’s instructions to determine the proper current and length of charge based on your battery’s rating. |
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What will happen if I don’t charge my battery properly? The two extremes of improper battery charging are under charging and over charging.
Under charging results from a failure to allow the charger to charge long enough to restore the battery to full state of charge. Continually operating the battery in a partial state of charge or storing the battery in a discharged state will result in a condition known as sulfation. Sulfation reduces the battery’s performance and may cause premature battery failure.
Over charging causes accelerated corrosion of the positive plates, excessive water consumption, and in some cases, damaging temperatures within a lead acid battery. Deep cycle batteries should be charged after each discharge and/or after storage of 30 days or more. We recommend that a deep cycle battery not be discharged below a 50% state of charge. Recharging a severely discharged battery (below 50% state of charge) can result in the battery becoming overheated or overcharged. |
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Where can I find a charger for my battery? Interstate chargers are available through our 320 distributors in the U.S., Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Guam. |
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What type and size of charger should I buy?
Type: The advantage of an automatic charger is its convenience. Once you connect the charger to the battery, the charger does the rest. Manual chargers are less expensive and equally effective at charging batteries, but they require a greater level of supervision.
Size: In selecting the proper size of charger, you must consider the battery’s capacity and the amount of time that will pass between charges. In applications where cycling is infrequent, such as seasonal RV or boat usage, a charge with an output current rating equal to 20% of the battery’s rated capacity will suffice. In applications where battery recharge should be accomplished within 12 hours, a three stage, automatic charger may be required. |
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Why won’t my battery take or hold a charge? A battery may not accept a charge for several reasons. Your battery may have a bad cell or an internal short and therefore be irreparable. Or it could be so severely discharged that it will require a professional calliber charger to charge it. Many home chargers have minimum voltages that must be present in the battery before the charger will switch on. Normally these low voltages are well below those exhibited by a battery that appears to be “dead.”
Often however, the battery is not given the adequate amount of time to accept a charge. One of the best tips regarding battery charging is to observe the charger’s ammeter swing needle (available on some chargers) during the charging procedure. After the charger is connected to the battery and is on, the needle should deflect to a high amperage level if the battery is partially discharged. If the battery is severely discharged, the needle only deflects slightly away from zero. Continue to observe the needle in either situation. On a normally discharged battery only, the needle will start to taper in amperage back toward zero, usually in less than five minutes. This reduction in amperage typically indicates the battery is accepting a charge. On a severely discharged battery, the needle will start off very low then rise. This rise of the needle is a preliminary indication that the battery is accepting a charge.
Always determine the battery’s state of charge before and after recharge. The most accurate method (on a removable vent cap battery) is to perform a specific gravity test with a hydrometer. If the battery will not hold a charge adequately, contact the nearest Interstate dealer. |
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How can I test my charger to see if it is bad? Check the ammeter gauge (where applicable) or the indicator lamp on the charger. If the charger is working properly, the ammeter gauge should deflect to an amperage level above zero once the charger is connected to the battery and is turned on. If the battery does not respond to charging within a few hours, your charger may not be working correctly. |
Posted July 13th, 2009 by admin | 5 Comments
A very good customer of ours called me today to discuss buying a new battery for his 1100cc BMW motorcycle. Five years ago he bought a Panasonic battery from us for this same BMW motorcycle and it was still working but he was occasionally experiencing some difficulty starting the bike.
He wanted a battery with higher quick starting capacity so I offered the Odyssey PC680 motorcycle battery which fits his BMW and many other brands of motorcycles. I explained that because of the pure lead construction, less internal resistance and higher specific gravity acid the Odyssey would produce much higher Cold Cranking Amperege, CCA, for better starting capibility.
He lives in Canada and wanted to know if we could ship his battery north of the border. I told him that it would present no problem.
Cheers, Dave Mead AKA “battman”
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