Get Your Batteries Ready for Warm Weather Adventures
- by Joe Weber - updated on 2/20/2024
The days are getting longer and spring will be here before you know it. Get your jet skis, golf carts, motorcycles and more spring adventure equipment ready for fun by following these helpful tips. A little time and prep work pays off in the end, you'll see it is time well spent to ensure your batteries are in good condition for the season.
Safety First
Whenever working with batteries you should think of your safety before touching the battery.
- Wear eye protection
- Wear acid-resistant gloves and clothing
- Remove any jewelry
- Don't work near sparks or open flames
- Don't smoke!
Inspection
Once you've donned your safety gear, it's time to look at the battery. All batteries should be visually inspected periodically, even maintenance-free batteries.
- Inspect the battery case. Is it cracked or damaged?
- Check for corrosion on and around the terminals.
- Is it missing filler caps? (only on flooded batteries that need to be filled)
- Avoid shaking or tilting flooded batteries to prevent electrolyte spillage.
Check Fluids (If Necessary)
If you have flooded lead-acid batteries that require occasional watering you should check to see if the electrolyte level is at the appropriate level and add distilled water if needed. Do not ever open AGM batteries, AGM batteries are completely sealed and cannot be watered.
- Remove the filler caps
- Look inside the space to see if the electrolyte solution is covering the lead plates but still leaving about ⅛" to ¼" space beneath the filler hole.
- Only use distilled water to fill batteries, do not use tap water or filtered bottled water.
- Make sure the filler caps are securely in place when you are complete.
Important!
Filling should be completed after a full charge. Filling before charging can result in an overflow of the battery's electrolyte.
- If you check the electrolyte levels before charging and find you have exposed plates, do not charge the battery. Instead, fill the battery with a little distilled water to cover the plates, charge it, and top off after charging.
If your electrolyte levels were significantly low, monitor your battery's performance carefully as the plates may have been irreversibly damaged from low fluid levels.
Clean The Battery
Next, it's time to remove any corrosion and clean the battery for its spring introduction.
- Use a terminal cleaning spray and a wire brush to remove any corrosive buildup present on the terminals and/or the terminal connectors.
- After the terminals have been thoroughly cleaned, spray them with an anti-corrosion spray to prevent any new corrosion from forming.
- You can use this spray even if you don't have any corrosion on your terminals.
- A mixture of baking soda and water can also be used to clean and neutralize the corrosive material.
- Wipe the battery clean with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue, dirt, or grime and dry thoroughly with paper towels or a dry rag.
Test The Battery
Before using your battery in your equipment for the first time this spring, make sure to test the battery to make sure it is functioning properly.
- Turn on the multimeter and set the multimeter to the "voltage" setting.
- Connect the multimeter leads to the batteries' terminals, with the red going to the positive terminal and the black lead going to the negative terminal.
- Read the voltage displayed on the multimeter
Reference the chart below for the normal voltage ranges depending on the battery you test.
| Battery Voltage | Healthy Voltage Range |
|---|---|
| 6V | 6.3V - 6.6V |
| 8V | 8.4V - 8.8V |
| 12V | 12.4V - 12.7V |
If you are uneasy about testing, don't have the tools or are unsure what to make of the test results, bring it (or them) to your nearest Batteries Plus location and our in-store battery experts will test your battery free of charge!
Get Help with Your Spring Batteries at Batteries Plus
Don't let your spring battery prep stress you out. Make preparing your batteries for the upcoming warm weather a breeze with help from your friendly local battery experts at Batteries Plus.
What Batteries Does Batteries Plus Carry?
Batteries Plus carries a large selection of batteries for all of your warm-weather equipment. From golf cart batteries and motorcycle batteries to personal watercraft batteries and sump pump batteries and everything in between, we've got all the batteries you need to get the spring started off right.
Whether you need help testing your batteries, picking out the best new batteries or picking up some terminal protection and cleaning supplies, we've got you covered at your local Batteries Plus.