How Batteries Fail

Most batteries fail slowly as a result of chronic decay from natural aging and use. While eventually a battery will fail from normal decay, often the decay process is dramatically accelerated due to improper use. Occasionally, but rarely, batteries fail suddenly as a result of mechanical damage or a defect.

The normal decay process starts as soon as a battery is manufactured, and slowly takes a toll, eventually reducing the capability of the battery to the point where it fails to do its job. 

Two common decay processes include:

Sulfation:

Hard lead sulfate crystals slowly build up on the plates and reduce the effective surface area of the plates for energy storage.  Leaving a battery in a discharged condition for any period of time increases the rate of sulfation. Sulfation is the most common cause of failure for seldom used batteries. 

Dehydration:

While charging, some water in the electrolyte is lost as water vapor, eventually increasing the concentration of battery acid above ideal levels and causing plate corrosion. Plate corrosion reduces the surface area of the plates for energy storage. Accelerated dehydration is caused by overcharging, a common condition in warm environments.  Some batteries can be watered to return the electrolyte to normal levels, but plate corrosion is irreversible.

Argus smart battery monitors provide a window into the health of your battery.  By tracking battery internal resistance, the effects of sulfation, dehydration and numerous other factors can be measured, providing a direct indication of battery health.

Argus battery monitors provide:

• Critical charge management tools help to minimize the effects of sulfation and dehydration, extending battery life.
• Crankcheck and LPR technologies track charge level and capacity decay over time, providing a clear indication of overall battery health, and state of charge.