DOUBLE THE LIFE OF YOUR BATTERY !!  70% of all new batteries purchased will fail in less than four years and 80% of that failure is due to sulphation. The major cause of battery sulphation is batteries that sit too long between charges or a battery that is stored without some type of managed energy input.   Sulphation can begin in as little as 24 hours in hot weather and several days in cooler weather. BatteryManager is designed to significantly extend the life of batteries that are stored for prolonged periods to maximise their lifespan and performance. Modern lead-acid batteries should perform for up to 6 years or more if properly managed and maintained starting from when the battery is new. Many cars, boats, jetskis, motorcycles and campervans that have 12 volt starter/house batteries tend to be stored for extended periods, especially over winter. Most cheap battery chargers can do more harm than good. Battery chargers are designed to bring a battery back up to full charge as quickly as possible but if left permanently connected can cause plate depletion and loss of electrolyte - battery plates exposed to air will immediately sulphate. Do I have a 12V lead acid battery that is stored for extended periods? Do I want my batteries to last as long as possible (6+ years)? Questions or support : support@batterymanager.co.nz Where to buy?      http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/SearchResults.aspx?searchString=batterymanager&type=Search&searchType=alll       Charging Zones Overview A lead acid battery has a number of zones based on its current state of charge (SOC).   Overcharge Zone If a battery is left connected to a standard battery charger indefinitely the battery will continue being overcharged. Over time if the battery is maintained in this zone it will cause plate depletion of the lead plates, causing ultimate failure of the battery. In addition, as the battery is receiving more energy than it requires to offset its natural self discharge rate, it will transform this extra energy into heat and the battery temperature will continually rise. As the temperature of the electrolyte (sulphuric acid) rises it will give off hydrogen and oxygen gasses, both of which are extremely explosive, which in turn causes depletion of the electrolyte level. As the electrolyte level falls it will start to expose the lead plates to the air, causing immediate and irreversible sulphation of the plates. Before long you will be taking your battery to the recycling yard and buying yet another one.   Goldilocks Zone     As the name suggests, this is the ideal place for a lead acid battery to exist. Plate sulphation generally begins to occur when the battery reaches about 95% state of charge (SOC). BatteryManager perpetually holds the battery in this goldilocks zone, while being careful to avoid exceeding 100% state of charge. The battery will never reach a point where sulphation will start to occur and will never cause the damage that occurs in the Overcharge Zone. A fully charged battery will naturally pass through this goldilocks zone within a matter of a couple of weeks, due to its inherent self discharge and head into the Sulphation Zone – unless it has a managed energy source to prevent it.   Sulphation Zone    In this zone the lead plates will start to sulphate. This is a natural part of the discharge cycle of a lead acid battery and only a managed charge source can reverse this process by combining the sulphates back into the sulphuric acid electrolyte. If this process is not reversed then in time the sulphation on the plates crystallises and hardens creating an impenetrable, insulating barrier which is all but impossible to fix. A battery that enters the Extreme Sulphation Zone will neither accept a charge nor will it produce any useful output.   Extreme Sulphation Zone If a battery enters this zone through self discharge from being left idle, it is probably a lost cause and will be incapable of providing any useful output. It will also be incapable of accepting a charge. The sulphuric acid electrolyte will be turned virtually into water with all the sulphates deposited on the plates and crystallised. You can charge it all you like but it will never respond and again it will be off to the recyclers for that one.   Remember, 70% of all new batteries purchased will fail in less than four years and 80% of that failure is due to sulphation.   Questions or support : support@batterymanager.co.nz Where to buy?      http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/SearchResults.aspx?searchString=batterymanager&type=Search&searchType=all