Visual Inspection
If an SLA battery shows any sign of white residue leakage around the cells or battery terminals it is defective and must be replaced. If a battery in service rattles when shaken it is faulty and must be replaced and recycled.

Self Discharge
SLA batteries are not supplied fully recharged when they leave the factory. They also normally self discharge at 3% per month during shipping and storage. It is therefore very important to test the battery voltage and Ah capacity before installation.

Battery Capacity
When testing brand new, ‘out of the box’ batteries, the stated Ah capacity is normally reached when the battery temperature is between 20 and 25C (68 - 77F). The available Ah capacity in ‘batteries in service’ is determined by battery temperature, age and state of charge. As a result, the Ah capacity can be significantly higher or lower than stated.

Battery Life
For maximum life and performance, a standby SLA battery should be maintained at a constant 20 to 25C (68 - 77F) temperature and charged at a constant 13.8VDC (2.3 volts per cell). Under these conditions, an SLA battery should have 90% of its stated Ah capacity after 3 years, 65% after 4 years and 40% after five years.

Battery Charging
In order for 12 volt SLA batteries to charge fully, they must be charged at between 13.5VDC minimum and 14.0VDC maximum. The time taken to fully charge will vary substantially depending on the Ah size of the battery. A flat battery after fully recharging should be allowed to rest for 24 hours before testing with the GOLD-IBT. Batteries that are on permanent charge can be tested immediately.