FAQs- BMS

What is the correct way to wire my batteries?
If you are wiring two or more batteries together, please see the correct way of wiring the batteries. This way you will create a balanced battery bank and it will increase the life span of your batteries.

Can you take my old battery?
If you are local to us, please feel free to drop in your old battery and we can dispose of it for you free of charge.

If you are not local to us, unfortunately we are unable to dispose of the battery for you however you can take these to your local recycling center.

Charging with alternators or solar alone are at risk of sulphating. (Vehicle batteries used daily are exempt)
We recommend that Alternators and Solar are only used as a secondary form of charging as they can’t give a sufficient equalisation. If batteries are not being fully recharged after every discharge (even partial) they will sulphate if not give an equalisation charge. Modern battery chargers will do this automatically. Solar is often not enough to overcome resistance and this alone can lead to batteries sulphating. Alternators need to run long enough to recharge the battery, allow at least 30% more than battery Ah divided by alternator rating. Example: 100ah battery/ 25amp alternator x 30%= 5.2HOURS of running the engine at alternators peak rpms.

Can I charge batteries with a solar panel?
Yes but they are very unreliable and should not be the sole means of charging, if the battery is not being charged at 14-14.4 volts and at least 1% of the batteries ah rating the battery will not charge.

How long do I charge a battery for?
Lead Acid batteries should be charged with an automatic charger between 5% and 20 % of the batteries AH rating. For example, you would charge 100ah battery with 10amp charger, this would be 10%. Calculating charge time is difficult but for an automatic charger work on battery Ah divided by charger amps. Then times by 25% for resistance and another 25% for margin of error, this will give you the amount of hours the charger must be on for from a fully discharged state. Also different battery technologies require different charge settings to allow for the best charge results. Check that you charger offers these settings when charging AGM, GEL and other batteries.

My battery is below 10.6 volts, is it scrap?
Damage occurs below 10.6 volts which is why we are unable to warrant batteries that have been over discharged, however you maybe able to recover the battery on a boost charge for 30 mins then a full charge for 24 hours. The success rate is 50% and all depends on how low the battery was taken and for how long. Batteries are not designed to go below 12 volts, they can only go below 12 volts if they have been over discharged even if the battery is faulty they can’t do this by themselves.

Is my Leisure or Marine battery faulty, it has less capacity now than it used to?
No, the only way that capacity can be reduced, and the voltage remain correct is if the battery has either been cycled out or (charged and discharge more than its designed for) or it has been over or under charged (see State of Charge table) this can happen because of either poor wiring or system is not left to charge often enough or for long enough.

How do I monitor the State of charge of my battery?
You can monitor the state of charge by the voltage.

On my battery there is a label stating ‘Please remove the bungs’. What does this mean?
These are the small red bungs on the side of the battery. They are inserted into the battery for dispatch / transport purposes only and need to be permanently removed before the battery is to be charged or used. Please remove these bungs immediately on receipt of the battery, do not leave them in the battery even if battery is not being used for a period of time.

What does CCA mean?
CCA is the Cold Cranking performance, which measures the starting performance of the battery. I.e. the higher the CCA, the easier it will be to start the vehicle. CCA can be measured in EN (the European standard) or SAE (the American standard).

Where is my invoice/guarantee?
Your invoice is automatically emailed to you at the time the payment goes through. This is your proof of purchase and your warranty so it must be put in safe keeping. (always check your spam/junk folders if you cannot see it in your inbox).

Can I specify a time for delivery?
Unfortunately we can not specify a delivery time, however if you are happy for the couriers to leave your item somewhere secure or with a neighbour, the parcel does not have to be signed for. Please add any requests to the special instructions box when ordering or contact us on 01684 298 800 with your order number.

What do I do if my item has been damaged during transport?
If the transport company is still there please notify them when signing for the product. Damaged goods can only be claimed in the first 24 hours after this period we will be unable to help you. It is very important upon reception of the item that you check that the product has arrived in good conditions. You can call 01684 298800 or email us at [email protected]. Once the claim has been accepted we aim to send out a replacement product in the 48 hours after informing us.

What do I do If I want to cancel my order?
If you wish to cancel you order you must contact us as soon as possible to avoid additional costs. You can contact us on 01684 298800 or email us at [email protected]. If the product has already been shipped you must return the battery at your own cost. We will refund you less any shipping costs paid. If the item has not been dispatched we will refund the total amount of the order.

Are the batteries delivered charged?
Yes all the batteries arrive charged. For batteries that require activation packs to be added to the battery, these are dry charged and just need to be left to stand for 30 minutes once the pack is added.

Why would I pick a sealed calcium battery over other batteries?
Calcium is added in small quantities to the lead used in the plates inside the battery. The advantage of this is it makes the plates less soft so makes the battery more mechanically rugged. This is an advantage when used in motor vehicles.

Calcium in the plates reduces self-discharge, so if you don’t start and run your car for a long time you are less likely to find it with a flat battery.

How do I know if I need a new battery?
The only fool-proof way to make sure your vehicle is in need of a replacement battery is to have your battery tested. However the usual symptoms are a sluggish turn over, vehicle not starting at all and/or a clicking noise coming from the car when you try to turn the ignition.

Should I keep my battery on charge?
Keeping your battery on charge is always beneficial as batteries work using chemical reactions. As the battery discharges, it begins to sulphate and so may lead to the chemical reaction inside the battery being affected, therefore this will affect the performance of the battery. The battery charger would need to be fully automatic with maintenance program.

We recommend to charge batteries every 6 weeks if they are in not in use as batteries naturally self discharge even when not in use.

How do I fit a battery to my vehicle?
Preparation of the battery:

1. Clear away any items on the tray which might damage the battery. (Placing a heavy battery on a piece of sharp grit can puncture the bottom of the battery).
2. Check that the connectors, the hold-down clamps and the tray are clean and corrosion free. (if there is any corrosion, hot water will instantly remove this).
3. Check that the alternator drive-belt tension is correct (see vehicle hand book).
4. It is recommended that electrical system, and particularly the charging system, of the vehicle be checked to make sure it is operating correctly (see vehicle hand book).

Installing the battery:

1. Fit and tighten the hold-down clamps. These should be tight enough to secure the battery and not allow it to move. Do not over tighten
2. Connect the live-connector first to the correct battery-terminal (normally the positive) after removing the terminal cap. Do not over tighten.
3. Connect the earth –connector to the other terminal after removing the cap. Do not over tighten.
4. Place the 2 terminal caps on the old battery that has been removed from the vehicle to avoid the possibility of short-circuits.
5. Replace onto the new battery any components that have been taken from the old battery such as exhaust tubes, vent elbows, terminal covers, removable hold-down strips (widgets) etc.
6. The use of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is not necessary on modern polypropylene batteries, but there is no disadvantage in using it. Smear lightly on the terminals. It is recommended for hard-rubber batteries. Do not use grease.
7. Start the engine.

How do I fill my motorcycle battery?
For lead acid batteries the process is as follows:

1. Preparing the battery – Remove all plugs on top of the battery. Depending on the plug and battery type this can be achieved by turning or pulling.
2. Exposing the vent – The vent plug on the side of the battery needs to be removed prior to fill-up.
3. Opening the acid pack – The acid pack is opened by cutting off the acid pack nipple. Please note: the acid pack nipples should not be removed too close to the container, as the filling hose will not be able to be attached. We recommend a minimum height of 10mm.
4. Attaching the hose – Attach the provided hose firmly onto the opening of the acid pack.
5. Filling in the acid – Fill the acid slowly into the battery. It is important to ensure that all chambers are filled individually and evenly up to the marking “max“. The amount of acid provided in the acid pack is exactly the amount required for the battery to be filled.
6. Disposal of the acid pack – The completely empty acid pack is recyclable and can be disposed of accordingly.
7. Closing of the plug – Close the battery completely after the fill-up with the battery plugs you removed. The vent plugs on the side are not to be replaced.

For sealed lead acid batteries the process is as follows:

1. Prepare the battery – Place the battery on an even surface. Remove the sealing strip.
2. Prepare the battery acid holder – Take the battery acid holder out of the plastic bag. Remove the sealing cap strips (later to be used for sealing the battery) from the holder.
3. Filling with battery acid – Turn the battery acid holder around and place on the battery in such a way that the six sealed openings are aligned on the six feed openings of the battery. Press the holder firmly downwards to pierce the seals. The battery acid then starts to flow into the battery.
4. Checking the battery acid flow – Ensure that air bubbles rise from each of the six feed openings. Leave the holder for at least 20 minutes.
5. Removing the holder – Ensure that all of the battery acid has flowed out of the holder. If any battery acid remains in the holder, tap lightly on the holder as described above. Then carefully pull the holder out of the battery.
6. Sealing the battery – Firmly press the sealing cap strip into the feed opening. Ensure that the strip is at the same level as the top of the battery.
7. This completes the feed process. The sealing cap strip may not be removed; no additional water or battery acid is required.