Entries Tagged as 'laptop battery'

Tips To Prolong Sony VAIO Laptop Battery Life And Get Productive Life With Your Laptop

New battery packs for laptop computers and cell phones are pricey, so it will pay off to figure out how to extend the battery life.

Most people will find their Sony VAIO laptop battery dies little by little everyday and after 18 months, they usually need to buy a new laptop battery replacement. Sometimes, instead of costing hundreds to buy a new replacement battery when it's dead, some people might consider buying a new laptop directly. Of course, there are still some ways you can do to prolong the battery life and save money. You can also get more productivity while you get a longer battery life.

One of the most detrimental conditions for a battery is high temperature. If batteries are too hot or too cold, then yes batteries will exhibit behaviors that would be in-congruent with their normal and designed operating specifications. While using a laptop, it's normal to feel the Sony VAIO battery heats up but, if you are not using it properly, it' will be overheating. Laptop fans is a key component for doing air exchanging and cool down the temperature of the laptop. The fans are for air circulation, and it's essential to keep your laptop computer working. The internal fans in laptops are designed to provide sufficient airflow to keep the computer from getting hot. The Sony VAIO laptop will suffer from overheating issue since the fans stop working and unable to pull cooling air through the body of the notebook. Sometimes, choosing a cooling stand for your laptops is therefore so important.

Let's talk about storage. Think about it, if it's 95 on the outside during the summer days, in the trunk it will be way over 100.(probably around 130). I'm sure the computer can handle that much heat, but not the LCD & the Sony VAIO battery. The battery and capacitors will lose there life, lasting shorter and shorter and after periods of time.

Charging a battery is a must for continued performance of laptop mobility. You don't need to totally discharge, then recharge the Sony VAIO laptop battery occasionally to make it last longer. Discharging and charging does not increase the life of a Lithium Ion technology battery. Also, the Sony VAIO battery is designed to stop using the charger when it reaches full charge therefore there is no worry about the "overcharging" problem.

The laptop ac adapter/battery charger itself requires little care. However, without it, you won't be able to power up the Sony VAIO laptop once the battery is drained. The main reasons that AC adapters fail are damage to the power brick from dropping or jarring it, cord damage from pets or pests and damaging the cord by winding it or bending it repeatedly.

For many business users, they use the same laptop in office and on travel. If you are leaving the battery connected while on AC power in office, it's in the loss of charge cycles. Battery's temperature is higher on AC power resulting in accelerated aging. That's not good for battery's life. Therefore, just use the battery when you need it. When on traveling, try to rely only fitfully on your batteries. The optimal charge level is 40% for prolonged storage. For Lithium-Ion Sony VAIO laptop battery cells, full discharge/recharge cycles result in an increased loss of capacity, so, partial charge is better for keeping the battery life. If you run your laptop remotely all the time causing deep battery drains, you won't get as much life out of your batteries.

Eventually, Sony VAIO laptop batteries will run down. To preserve the environment, the best way to dispose of them is to recycle them. Recycling your old rechargeable batteries is easy and free with Call2Recycle on www.call2recycle.org or call 1-877-723-1297.

Want to buy notebook adapters? Find the best deals for sony laptop battery on LaptopTraveller.com and enjoy the fantastic shopping experience.

Buy A Backup Battery For Your Laptop

You may be already acquainted with laptop accessories if you own a laptop or a notebook. One of these things that you have to buy often is a battery, which you will need if you're always leaving the house with your laptop; one battery is not enough. For instance, you need an extra HP Pavilion dv2000 battery if you bring your laptop with you for work or play. How do you select the best extra batteries for your laptop?

Here are some suggestions for you if you're thinking of buying an HP Pavilion dv2000 battery.

Manufacturer track record matters if you want to make sure the battery you're buying is top notch. A company with a good reputation is a great choice. This means whatever you're buying from them will be subjected to the same quality control as their other products.

Make sure you research the company by looking at reviews. Whether it's the speed of delivery or the handling of the merchandise, there may be something that other users have experienced from the company. Maybe the packaging was not well done, or they haphazardly shipped a massive amount of orders without ensuring the safe handling of each merchandise.

Battery life matters. Also, check if the battery charges up to 100% of its full capacity. This is one of the main problems when buying second hand battery.

During the time of usage, your battery might show signs of not charging well, but the important thing is it's still working. If there's a warranty, make sure you read it before anything else. Browse the warranty carefully so that you can complain or request for a replacement if your extra battery stops working after just a few months. Some companies promise one year warranty coverage, while others promise only six months.

Various rechargeables like for example hd pavilion dv2000 have varying capacities. But the longevity usually depends on usage. Light usage means you only turn on your laptop for a few hours max. Heavy usage usually means you leave it on for a long time to download something or for work.

Check if a hotline number is available for you. The worst thing is for your machine to just simply reject the battery. This could be due to the presence of a glitch in the compatibility department that you missed.

Visit this website for more reviews and information: HP Pavilion DV2000 battery Universal laptop car charger

Which Mobile Computer Battery Power Is Right For You?

The short answer is: "Whichever form fits your notebook computer."

Laptop computer electric batteries vary according to the model and form of notebook computer for which they've been created. All laptop battery power do, on the other hand, share some common characteristics that differentiate them from regular household power packs:

* Laptop batteries are rechargeable * They are composed of multiple internal cells * Within every notebook battery pack can be a smaller printed circuit board * Shape and location of terminals differ from design to design.

As may be the case with all electric batteries, laptop computer battery power produce an electrochemical response, forcing a stream of electrons from a single position to another. Also like other electric batteries, mobile computer power packs have optimistic and negative terminals that receive and send electrons.

Rechargeable power packs are far more complex, on the other hand, than standard electric batteries. This really is because the electrochemical reaction that gives power need to be reversible. Care has to be taken when recharging them to make sure they perform at their ideal.

Frank McLarnon, Lawrence Berkley lab's staff scientist explains it this way to Scientific American.com:

"When a battery is discharged, an electrochemical oxidation response proceeds on the damaging electrode, and an electrochemical reduction response occurs in the positive electrode. When a single attempts to recharge a battery pack by reversing the direction of electric current flow, the opposite requires location: a reduction reaction proceeds in the unfavorable electrode, and an oxidation response takes place on the optimistic electrode.

From the case on the rechargeable battery power, the electrochemical oxidation-reduction reactions are reversible at both electrodes. Inside the case from the non-rechargeable battery power, when one attempts to recharge the battery power by reversing the direction of electron current flow, at least one in the electrochemical oxidation-reduction reactions isn't reversible. When the battery power is charged, the overall reduction reaction that proceeds with the adverse electrode may well not be the true reverse from the oxidation reaction that proceeded when the battery power was discharged.

If the laptop computer battery pack process isn't exact, then unwanted build up can take spot on either terminal over time, which can cause a dangerous short-circuit."

It truly is so crucial to make sure that your laptop computer battery pack or notebook battery could be the one particular made for your specific product and form. Only buy Dell notebook computer power packs for a Dell laptop computer system, Gateway aren't compatible with Compaq laptop computer electric batteries and Toshiba laptop battery power won't sit well in a Sony.

It can be also wise to remember that old adage: "You get what you pay for." Some corporations provide utilized "cheap laptop computer batteries" for sale, saying that they have refurbished every battery power and restored most of its useful life. The fallacy of this really is that, although feasible to refurbish a second-hand notebook battery pack, the cost to do so would be much more than the price of a new battery pack. So, "Buyer beware," and if you must purchase discount laptop power packs, invest in new discounted battery power.

Mobile computer computers are a boon to business, big and smaller. As a wise person is just about to say: "Look after your laptop and it will look right after you.

If you want to know more about his hard work, here are his blogs about hard drive review and Acer Laptop Review .

Dell Laptop Battery Maintenance Guide

"Why does my Dell laptop battery only last for half an hour? Previously it last much longer" or "why does my battery drop to 20 percent capacity on the fuel gauge and then just turn off?"

Your Dell laptop expects a top-notch Dell laptop battery replacement that provides you access to the optimum quality transportable power accessible to boost the run-time. Run-time is simply how much time your power endures. Every laptop battery supplier is using the varied quality and standards. Generally speaking a battery pack is a storage plastic box for power that you can utilize in the mobile environment and enjoy being free! When you take care of it and adhere to the helpful tips given down below, you will no find yourself being disappointed like many other people are.

A major point in keeping your Dell Battery is temperature. Heat is very damaging to the life of your battery. Never ever use or keep the Dell battery in excessive conditions. Like, you should avoid leaving it in hot places like your car. On pretty much all laptops the vents where air can move across to keep it from heating up. If you are working on your computer on a soft surface such as carpet or a bed, air is unable to pass through and you may hear the vents turn on and your fans will be running all day drawing valuable power from the battery. If you want to squeeze the most juice out of your Dell battery, find a hard, flat surface to use your computer to keep the fans running at a minimum.

Also, the other tip for prolonging the life of your Dell battery is to defrag the laptop computer frequently. The easier it is for your harddisk to perform its operate - less demand you are going to put on the harddrive and the less battery power it will use. Make your hard drive as efficient as possible by doing a de-fragmentation constantly. Set a schedule and do it one time per month (but not while it's on battery of course!)

While purchasing a Dell notebook computer that you anticipated just the best.

Find Dell Battery in a reputable store like Laptoptraveller.com. In many cases you may find that the good battery will out last the original that was included with your laptop because of the highest capacity cells, surely, at a much easily affordable price.

Learn more about laptop batteries. Stop by LaptopTraveller.com where you can find out all about Dell Laptop Batteries and what it can do for you.

Is Laptop The Best Option For You

Did you finally decide to buy new laptop instead of desk computer? It means that you probably travel a lot and you need your computer all the time. Before you made conclusion that you really need a laptop, have in mind that laptop is more expensive than computer.

Still, laptops are used very often in business world. The reason for that is their biggest benefit, you can use laptop while you are travelling. You can use your Internet whenever you want. If you can afford it, you will be able to send e-mails, take a care of your bank bills, read newspapers and so on.

If you are businessman and new laptop is your only solution, have in mind laptop disadvantages. First disadvantage is that laptop can't work without battery. If your battery is empty, your laptop is simply useless. It's really frustrating when you give that much money for your laptop but you can't use it when you need it. So, to avoid that kind of problems check out quality of your battery. It's great if you have friend who already has laptop so ask him for advice. Sure, Internet is always base of information and it can help as well.

Even if you've chosen the best laptop battery, you still must charge it once in a while. To get best from your laptop battery, make sure that you have high-quality laptop charger. Laptop charger is available in numerous types and models. If you can't charge laptop battery, your laptop is useless. So don't buy cheap, low quality charger because if you break it, you won't be able to use a laptop for a while.

Solar laptop charger is great and cheap solution for battery charging. It is using Sun energy and converting it into energy for battery charging. Energy from the sun is natural and free. The only disadvantage of this kind of laptop charger is that if you don't get enough Sun energy, it doesn't work.

Universal laptop charger is made for plenty of different laptops. You might buy a great laptop charger but still it can be broken. If you bought your laptop a few years ago, you probably won't find the original replacement charger. The best option is to buy universal laptop charger.

Laptop car chargers are made for people who spend a lot of time in their cars. How may times did your laptop shut down while you were in a car? This is solution for that problem. The thing is that you can use this kid of battery charger only in your car.

If you want to know more about this topic, then I highly encourage you to read following articles about Car Laptop Charger and Universal Battery Charger.

Solar Garden Lights

Solar lights are very popular for lighting yards and gardens. They are virtually maintenance free, easy to install, and cost almost nothing to run. Once you have bought solar lights, the only future maintenance costs are for replacement batteries.

The only drawback for solar lighting is that they must be placed in an area which receives a lot of sunlight during the day. If your garden or a pathway is shaded, solar lighting is not going to work very well.

If you are intent on having solar lighting for a shaded area, you can install a solar panel on your roof or other spot which receives a lot of sunlight. This is a bit more expensive than regular solar path lights or solar spotlights and you need to run a wire from the solar panel to the lights.

Depending on the amount of sunlight received during the day, solar garden lights can provide six to 12 hours of lighting in the evening. They have a built in photosensor which turns the lights on when it becomes dark. They remain lit until the battery is depleted or the sun rises -- whichever comes first.

Regular solar garden lights are easy to install. Simply pushed him into the ground, adjust the photocell so that it is aiming towards the sun most of the day, and that's it! Instant lighting! Unfortunately, this same ease of installation also makes solar garden lights and easy target for thieves and vandals. They simply pull them out of the ground and it's goodbye to your solar path lights.

Solar lights which are permanently installed on a deck or patio are more difficult to swipe. These kinds of lights require a screwdriver to install and also to remove. They are still vulnerable to theft but a little more difficult to steal.

Solar garden lights are available in a variety of styles. You can buy hanging solar lights, solar spotlights, and even specialty solar lights such as colored lights and swimming pool lights. They are available at quite a reasonable cost but it's worthwhile shelling out a few extra bucks to get a good set of lights. Cheaper lights have been known to break during the storm conditions and high winds.

Hans is editor of Patio Heaters and one of the authors of http://www.patio-furniture-ideas.com. replacement battery - Where To Buy?

Laptop Batteries Explained

The most common chemistries used in laptop batteries are:

NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) - This is the oldest technology and is the least commonly used nowadays. NiCad batteries are prone to the "Memory effect" and are heavier than the newer technologies. NiCad is not environmentally friendly chemistry as it contains heavy metals, which cannot be disposed of in landfill sites. Most manufacturers have stopped producing batteries of this type chemistry. As an end user it will be increasingly difficult to source these batteries. The best alternative is external battery packs. This is an external battery, with run times of up-to 10hours and is compatible with most manufacturers.

NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) - These batteries are less likely to be prone to the memory effect and have a much better power to weight ratio than NiCad. This is a commonly used chemistry. These batteries are also being phased out by most manufacturers. However, many have lithium-ion versions that are compatible. Always consult the manufacturer or a reputable laptop battery supplier.

Li-Ion (Lithium Ion) - This is becoming the dominant technology due to its excellent power to weight ratio. Such considerations are becoming more important as mobile devices become smaller and lighter and battery weight becomes significant. Another plus point for Li-Ion is that it doesn't suffer the memory effect at all. These batteries do have a tendency to lose charge quickly towards the end of their effective life span. If this starts to happen the battery must be replaced.

These three technologies are quite different in the way they charge and therefore should not be substituted unless the device has been designed to take different chemistries. The owner's manual will describe which batteries are suitable. Lithium Ion laptop batteries are available at ComputerBatteries.co.uk

Laptop Battery Capacity

Laptop batteries are rated by, Voltage (V) and Milliamp-hours (mAh). Voltage is the rate at which energy is drawn from the battery and Milliamp-hours represents the capacity of the battery. The Milliamp-hour rating corresponds to the run time of the battery. A battery with a high Milliamp-hour rating, has a relatively longer run time than a battery with a low Milliamp-hour rating.

Batteries with different Milliamp-hours can be used on the same laptop provided the voltage rating is the same. The voltage rating has to match that of the original battery or as recommended by the computer manual. Using a battery with a different voltage setting can seriously damage the laptop. The power ratings of most compatible/replacement batteries are higher than the original manufacturers' batteries. This will not damage your laptop, in fact, it simply means that these batteries in many cases last longer than original manufacturers' batteries. Ask the experts like PowerUp on compatible replacement laptop batteries.

The run time of a laptop battery will vary on individual notebook computers, based on the applications being used (i.e. high graphics, games), the number of times something is saved or retrieved from the hard drive and/or CD Rom drive, the memory of notebook, and chemistry and capacity of the battery. A 'realistic' average run-time for a battery is 1.5 to 3 hours. Using devices like a wireless adapter on the laptop also drains the battery considerably.

The life of a battery under normal use is around 500 to 900 charge-discharge cycles. This is about one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. As the rechargeable battery begins to fail, the running time of the battery begins to decline. See the Laptop Battery & AC Adapter Information page for advice from PowerUP.

Laptop Battery Care

Most laptop batteries when purchased are sent out in a discharged state. The laptop batteries require to be "run them in" to achieve maximum performance and the best service life. Simply insert the battery into your laptop and allow it to charge fully and then, fully discharge your battery (i.e. run your laptop using battery power until it switches off) then fully charge your battery once again.

It is possible that when you first put the new battery into your laptop it will show it is fully charged almost straight away, but it doesn't power the laptop for very long. This does not mean the battery is faulty, simply take out and reinsert the battery, fully charge it once again and this should solve the problem.

It may take some time for certain laptops to recognize new batteries and you may have to run a calibration program that you can access through the control panel on your laptop. If in any doubt please consult your user's manual for your laptop.

Make sure that you fully discharge your battery from time to time, as this will prolong the useful service life of the battery. If you are not going to use the battery for some time (perhaps a month or more), remove it from your laptop in a fully charged state and store it in a cool dry place away from sources of heat and light.

Listed below are tips to ensure optimal battery life:

* Use the AC adapter whenever possible. * Set the Windows Power Management settings to maximum savings. * Lower the brightness setting on the screen backlight. * Disconnect any unused devices (e.g., modems) when not needed. * Use power management freeware like Power Center 2.12. * Disable Auto Insert Notification on the CD-ROM. * Turn off Autosave features. * Disable automatic formatters, spell checkers, and autorecalculate features. * Use disk caching programs such as Norton Utilities to lower disk access time. * Add RAM to lower disk access time. * If you have a backup battery, use it in rotation with the current battery. * Use the Suspend or Hibernate feature when taking a break. * Fully drain and recharge the battery every couple of months. * Minimize the number of programs running at the same time. * Use smaller programs when possible (e.g., WordPad versus Word). * Minimize game play and DVD viewing.

Find more at http://www.computerbatteries.co.uk. You can't get a replacement laptop battery for a bad one - they either change the design so it won't work with the old model

Are You Backing Up Your BIGGEST Asset?

Have you ever accidentally lost an important file on your computer? Perhaps your computer crashed (again) or your cat sauntered over a dooming sequence of keys. Remember that little pang in your stomach you felt when you realized that file was gone for good?

OK, now imagine losing your entire e-zine subscriber list. Did that pang just get a bit more intense? (Ouch!)

Several Internet marketing gurus were recently asked the question, "If your office was burning down and you could save one thing, what would it be?"

The unanimous answer among all of them was, "my list"!

Your list is your goldmine. It's your pool of warm prospects and clients with whom you've taken months to build a level of credibility and trust. They're your ticket to a steady stream of income.

It can take years to build a large collection of opt-in subscribers. But they can disappear in a flash if they're not protected.

So, are YOU backing up your list on a regular basis? (Be honest!) If not, let's get you started today.

If Your List Resides on Your Computer...

If you send out your e-zine or e-mail promotions from your own computer, you MUST make backing-up your list a daily habit. And by "backing-up," I mean saving your list to a disk or location other than your hard drive. For example, you can save your list to:

1. a Zip disk (you'll need a Zip drive) 2. a CD (you'll need a CD burner) 3. a floppy disk (these don't hold much data though) 4. an external hard drive (these are less expensive now than they used to be) 5. a secure, Web-based file storage service.

I currently use option 5 for my computer files. The service I use is called I-Backup, and there are many others out there, starting at as little as $3 per month. I prefer this option because I have so many large files on my computer that I'd have to backup my files to several separate disks or CDs. And because this method is so EASY, I'm more likely to follow through and back-up my files on a regular basis!

I also like I-Backup for traveling, as I can upload files that I'll need to access on the road. This way I don't have to bring a disk with me.

If you use a type of list management software that resides on your computer or your own Web server, such as Broadc@st or MailLoop, it can probably schedule automatic backups for you. See the program's help files or contact their support center for assistance.

If You Use an Online List Service...

Even if you host your list online with a listserve (such as Topica) or an autoresponder service (such as AWeber) that should make their own secure backups, you should still make your own backup copy on a regular basis! Just download or "export" a copy of your list each week for safekeeping. It should be pretty easy to do. This procedure varies depending on what program you use, so see its help files or contact their support center for assistance.

Consider Purchasing a Battery Backup System

Southern California is known for its frequent power outages, and they were wreaking havoc on my computer. So I purchased a battery backup unit. (I chose APC's 650 model.) It's about the size of a breadbox and keeps my computer going for another hour or so in the event of a power outage. This gives me ample time to back up any files I'm working on and shut down my computer properly. It also functions as a surge-protector to keep my computer safe from electric surges. You can buy units like these at any large office supply store, and they range in price from $100 to $500.

Don't Put It Off Any Longer!

I know that backing-up your files seems like another irritating addition to your busy schedule. But remember that you've worked hard to build your list ... and your business. So take just a few minutes each week to protect that investment.

TIP: Pick a certain day each week to back up your list. For example, my electronic calendar automatically reminds me to do this every Friday.

(c) 2003 Alexandria K. Brown

Self-made multimillionaire and Inc. 500 CEO Ali Brown is devoted to creating financial freedom for women globally through the power of entrepreneurship. To learn how to create wealth and live an extraordinary life now, register for her free weekly articles at http://www.AliBrown.com

Self-made multimillionaire and Inc. 500 CEO Ali Brown is devoted to creating financial freedom for women globally through the power of entrepreneurship. To learn how to create wealth and live an extraordinary life now, register for her free weekly articles at http://www.AliBrown.com. backup battery backup batteries are standard for security alarm control panels.

Batteries – From Laptops to Motorcycles

What would you do without them? Seriously, if every single battery of every single type were suddenly zapped out of every single thing that it operated, what would any of us do?

Laptop computers, without a doubt, are the lifeblood of many a businessperson today. Portable, convenient, they allow us to work on the run and do more business. Laptop batteries are essential to keep this resource working, as it should.

The precursor to the laptop as we know it today was introduced by IBM back in 1986 and was called "The PC Convertible". It weighed five and a half kilograms and cost around $3500.00.

As laptop computers have evolved, so too have laptop batteries.

The first type of battery used in laptops was Nickel- Cadmium (NiCad). These can still be found in some older laptops. Their lifespan between recharges is about two hours, however, this decreases with each recharge. Also, if a NiCad laptop battery is charged for too long it may explode.

The next type of laptop battery used was Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH). These laptop batteries last longer than NiCad batteries but their total lifespan is shorter.

The current standard laptop battery is the Li-ion battery. As well as being light and having a long life span they can also be randomly charged and won't overheat if charged for too long. Being thinner, the Li-ion battery is ideal as a notebook battery and can last for between 950 and 1200 recharges.

Perhaps even more crucial to our business life as well as our personal life is the cell phone. There are also three different types of cell phone batteries:

Lithium-ion Batteries: these are the newest type of cell phone battery and, while having certain advantages over the older NIMH and NICD batteries, care must still be taken to ensure they perform at their best. For example, a new lithium-ion battery should be "conditioned". What this basically means is that for the battery's first three charge cycles, fully charge the battery overnight and allow it to fully discharge before charging it again. This will increase the life and effectiveness of the cell phone battery.

NIMH Batteries: These batteries also should be conditioned in the same way as a Lithium-ion battery. It is important to remember that extensive overcharging (i.e.: on a battery charger for more than twenty-four hours) can damage these cell phone batteries.

NICD Batteries: These are the oldest type of cell phone battery and, as is the case with the laptop computer, are less reliable than the newer types.

Okay, so we know we'd be sunk without our laptops and cell phones. But what about the car? Cars have batteries too. Perhaps you ride a Harley Davidson - not without a motorcycle battery! It's interesting to think where we'd be if the afore-mentioned "zapping episode" took place. We know that our forefathers coped without batteries but could we?

Here's a challenge: For one whole day leave everything containing a battery alone. No driving or riding, no cell phone or computer, completely "battery-bereft". At the end of the day you'll either feel tranquil and centred, at total peace with your surroundings or a nervous wreck, climbing the walls.

Which will you be?

Eric Comforth is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics. Learn more about batteries at Battery Right. battery cell are balanced when all the cells in the battery pack meet

Solar Batteries – Deep Cycle

Batteries are separated into two categories, by application (what the battery is used for) and construction (how the battery is built. Automotive, deep-cycle and marine are the major applications. There are others, but those three categories make up the bulk of battery applications. Deep-Cycle batteries are the battery of choice for most installations because of the way they are made. Deep-cycle batteries are made to be run completely down relatively fast, and recharged just as fast, constantly. The major applications for deep-cycle batteries are solar electric (PV), backup power source, and boat/RV batteries.

There are 3 main construction types at this time:

* Flood (wet) * Gelled * AGM

Flooded batteries are what most people think of when thinking of batteries of this size. They are the standard battery with removable caps, or they might even be the 'maintenance free'.

Gelled Batteries or Gel Cells are sealed, and some are valve regulated. They contain gelled acid that was gelled by adding silica gel, making like a battery acid jelly. If you have the space and especially the ventilation, the valves actually do help out on battery life. But ventilation is extremely important. However they have to be charged at a slower rate to prevent excess gas from destroying the cells. Usually, solar systems charge relatively slow, so this isn't really an issue, but if you have a aux. generator on your system, you have to limit the current. Most of the better made inverters handle this without a problem. If they are overcharges they will die quick.

AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries are similar to the gelled batteries but they also have fiberglass mat between the plates of the batter, which is then filled with gel. These batteries are the premier choice if you have any concerns about spilling of battery acid. While spills can still happen with AGM batteries, because of the viscosity of the gell, it takes a little more than just a hole in the battery to come in contact with you or the floor.

The main difference in deep-cycle batteries is thicker plates. The thicker plates allow the deep-cycle battery to be discharged down as much as 80% over and over again. The main difference between a TRUE deep-cycle and other wannabes is the presence of solid lead plates, not sponge. Thicker plates mean longer life. The battery with the thickest plates will last the longest

A battery cycle is one complete discharge and recharge cycle. Usually its considered to be discharging from 100% (fully charged) to 20% and then back to 100%. How deep a battery is discharged directly affects its life span. A battery that is discharged to only 50% capacity every day will last twice as long as a battery that is drained to 10 or 20% every day.

Battery Life

There are many variables to deep-cycle battery life. Overcharging, extreme heat, extreme cold, lack of use can all lead to a premature death for even the heartiest of batteries. All things being equal, if the battery is maintained, not overcharged, in a relatively cool area, a good gelled deep cycle will probably last around 3-5 years. An AGM deep cycle will probably go around 6-8 years. The standard flooded battery 1-6 years. Again there are MANY variables so its pretty hard to give a precise time

In the deep-cycle family of batteries, the AGM has one advantage over the other two types in it's class. Of all 3 of the deep cycle types, AGM is the only one that can actually withstand freezing. However when frozen, the output is 0, but it will be undamaged and use able when thawed out.

Your needs for batteries may be a little different than someone else's. Buy according to your needs and do the proper homework on the manufacturer before making this investment.

There is a myth that you shouldn't store batteries on concrete floors. It is just that, a myth. The reasoning for this story originates back when battery cases were made of wood and asphalt. The acid would leak from them and if they were sitting on a concrete floor, there would be a slow discharging circuit forming in the now moist floor.

Battery Quick Facts

* Almost all batteries have to be cycled 10-20 times before being able to reach full capacity. A brand new battery will actually have a capacity thats about 10-15% less than rated capacity.

* Always keep vent caps on your flooded batteries when charging. This prevents water loss and splashing when they bubble during the charge cycle

* Lead-Acid batteries do not have a memory. They do not need to be fully discharged to avoid having a memory. This will only lead to early end of battery life.

Use only clean water to clean the outside of batteries. Solvents or cleaners are not advised.

http://www.solarpower-home.com

M. Motley is an avid alternative energy fan and runs a website called Solar Power Home FREE Information This important information is guaranteed to help you understand the alternative energy choices that are available to you for your home. You can get this information quickly sent to you at Solar Power Home. solar power, solar powers, solar cell, solar cells, solar battery solar batteries