Winter is here, and with it comes the chill that can impact your battery performance. As temperatures drop, it’s important to understand how the cold can affect your batteries and ensure they’re ready to handle the season.
How the Cold Impacts Your Batteries
Batteries, like us, perform best at room temperature, around 20°C. Cold weather can have a significant effect on battery efficiency:
- VRLA Batteries: For Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries, the chemical reactions slow down in low temperatures, which can reduce performance and capacity. In severe cold, the electrolyte in Sealed VRLA batteries might freeze, potentially causing damage. It’s crucial to consult with experts to ensure your VRLA batteries are suited for the current conditions.
Get the Right Battery Solution for Winter
At Valen, we can help you find the optimal battery solution for cold weather. We consider the lower ambient temperatures in our system designs, ensuring your battery continues to perform reliably throughout the winter.
Temperature Performance Insights
Temperature plays a crucial role in the performance of VRLA batteries, including AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) and GEL types. As temperatures drop, both AGM and GEL batteries experience reduced chemical reaction rates, leading to diminished capacity and performance.
How do GEL and AGM Batteries Compare?
- For AGM batteries, the colder it gets, the more the electrolytes conductivity decreases, which impairs the battery’s ability to deliver power efficiently.
- GEL batteries, on the other hand, are somewhat less affected by temperature changes but can still experience slower reaction rates in extreme cold. In very low temperatures, the viscosity of the gel electrolyte increases, further reducing performance and potentially causing internal resistance to rise.
Both types of VRLA batteries may also suffer from increased internal resistance and decreased charge acceptance, making it essential to consider these factors when using them in cold environments.
Is Your Battery Ready for Winter?
Do you know how the current temperatures might affect your batteries? The Valen team is here to assist with all your winter battery needs. Reach out to us today to ensure your batteries are up to the challenge of the cold!
