Breath of Fresh Air Tip of the Month
November 2009: Fall/Winter Battery Care
Replacing gas powered lawn equipment with electric or rechargeable types helps the local air quality. However, to get the most life out of your battery-powered equipment it is important to follow the manufacturer’s directions.
- NiCad batteries (in cell phones) need a full discharge to prevent a partial charge “memory” from forming.
- However lead-acid batteries common to lawn equipment need to be fully charged—generally at least once a month—to prevent build-up of lead sulfate (this is called “sulfation”), which can result in a weakened or dead battery. Storing batteries in a hot location can also contribute to sulfation. Letting a lead-acid battery sit over the winter could lead to degradation of performance, so refer to the manufacturer’s recommendation to maintain good battery life with periodic maintenance charging.
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