Car Batteries in Cairns

Charging times vary substantially depending on many variables, including depth of discharge, charging temperature, size/efficiency of the charging equipment and the age and condition of the battery.

We in the battery industry are proud of the fact that lead-acid batteries are the environmental success story of our time. More than 97% of all battery lead is recycled. Compared to 55% of aluminium soft drink and beer cans, 45% of newspapers, 26% of glass bottles and 26% of tyres, lead acid batteries top the list of the most highly recycled consumer products.

The lead-acid battery gains its environmental edge from its closed loop cycle. The typical new lead-acid battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic. The recycling cycle goes on indefinitely, that means the lead and plastic in the lead-acid batteries that you use have been – and will continue to be – recycled many, many times. This makes lead acid battery disposal extremely successful from both environmental and cost perspectives.

Almost all scrap metal merchants will accept used lead-acid batteries for recycling. A collection service is available at most landfills, transfer stations, service stations and automotive workshops. Many councils have regular collections or drop-off locations for hazardous waste. Visit your council pages on RecyclingNearYou.com.au to find out about hazardous waste services in your area.

When a battery is being used as a power source on a regular basis and is being discharged and subsequently recharged, the battery is said to be in cyclic use. The determining factor in the life of this battery is the number of charge/discharge cycles that can be completed. In cyclical applications up to 1,000 charge/discharge cycles can be expected depending on the average depth of discharge. Standby batteries are meant to act as an emergency power source where the main power source has failed for some reason. Consequently, standby batteries are kept fully charged so they can “kick in” immediately. The batteries remain connected to a trickle charger that keeps the battery fully charged and ready for use. In standby use, the batteries have a design life of up to five years. Please consult our Technical Manual and product specifications to become aware of the many factors that affect product life.

Both kinds of batteries are sealed, valve regulated types allowing them to be used in any position. The difference lies in the way the electrolyte is immobilised. In case of an absorbed electrolyte type (AGM), the newer of the two technologies, the electrolyte is absorbed by the glass fibre separator which acts like a sponge. In a gel-type battery the liquid electrolyte turns into a gel right after the battery is filled. Gel batteries use different types of separators which are not absorbent. The internal design is otherwise similar. 

Advantages of AGM batteries when compared to gel type batteries: 

- AGM batteries have a higher AH capacity in the same size case: PS-121000 is a 100AH battery whereas, for example, a gel type battery in the same size case would only be rated 84 AH

- AGM batteries are generally about 20% less expensive than comparable gel batteries

- AGM batteries have better high-rate discharge characteristics desirable in UPS – telecom applications

- AGM batteries are much more readily available; 85 – 90% of all VRLA batteries sold are of the AGM type.

You should never seek to add acid to our sealed batteries. Our VRLA batteries are a closed system that works on a recombination principle. To produce a truly maintenance free battery it is necessary that the gasses generated during overcharge are recombined in a so called “oxygen cycle”.