For Car or Truck Batteries
-
Test your battery on a regular basis, including when you have your car serviced, before long trips or after it's been recharged.
-
Maintain all areas/parts of your vehicle as directed in your owner's manual and/or by your mechanic. This will reduce the chance of other engine components draining power from your battery. It's not always the battery's fault when a car doesn't start, but often a symptom of other problems.
For Deep Cycle/Marine Batteries
-
Charge the battery until it is completely charged
-
Store it in a cold place but not where it will consistently go below 32°F
-
Check the battery every two months and recharge if necessary
-
Remove all electrical connections from the battery including series/parallel connectors
-
A fully charged specific gravity of 1.265 corrected to 80°F is assumed.
Maintenance tips
-
Regularly clean the battery container and terminals
-
Make sure vent caps are tight to prevent water or baking soda from entering cells
-
Apply baking soda to any corrosion and rinse cover with water
-
Check your battery's electrolyte level before charging, it should be at the bottom of the vent splash band:
- Electrolyte level low? Add distilled water to bring level to the bottom of the vent walls. - Distilled water not available? Use a good drinking water. It's better than adding nothing; otherwise the battery plate will dry out and the battery could lose its capacity.
Recharging guidelines
-
Recharge immediately after each use
-
Use battery charger matched to the battery's size
-
Do not overcharge; an automatic charger that turns off or on with a timer is your best bet
-
Always slow charge a deep cycle battery; never fast charge or boost charge it
-
A 10-12 hour charge with the appropriate charger at the correct amp rate will usually bring your battery to a full state of charge from a deep discharge

























* Batteries have to be stored safely
* Batteries have to be charged correctly
* Batteries have to be protected from unexpected damage
* Batteries have to be handled safely
These are good tips to maintain your battery.