Looking after your lead-acid chemistry batteries doesn’t have to be complicated. There are simple routines you can follow to extend your battery's life and ensure it performs reliably. Whether you’re travelling through the hot, red and dusty roads in the Flinders Ranges or navigating the humid coastal tracks of Queensland, you’ll need reliable power from your car battery. Consistent lead-acid battery maintenance is crucial to preventing failures and ensuring you are never left stranded.
Keep Your Battery Clean
Battery cleanliness is one of the simplest but most overlooked parts of lead-acid battery maintenance and is often the cause of flat batteries. Dirt, water, salt, and dust can accumulate on your battery, especially if you’re doing regular off-road driving or towing in unpredictable Australian conditions. This can lead to your tracking between the positive and negative terminals, which means your battery will lose its charge faster than normal or even short out.
To prevent this, regularly clean the battery terminals to increase battery service life. Ensure the terminals are tight and free from corrosion to enable efficient power transfer.
If you notice a build-up of white, fluffy corrosion around your battery terminals, simply boil a kettle and pour the boiling water over the affected areas. Be sure to loosen and disconnect the terminals before doing so to ensure you remove every last bit.
Corrosion issues have reduced with the introduction of maintenance-free and semi-sealed batteries and smart vehicle alternator charging systems, such as temperature-compensating and variable-voltage alternators. However, it does pay to still routinely inspect and maintain your lead-acid battery.
Perform some preventative maintenance by covering your battery terminals with a wax-type substance to coat and seal them, preventing future corrosion. An effective product for this purpose is a Battery Terminal Protector Spray, which helps seal the terminals and connections, protecting them from the elements.
Keep Your Lead-Acid Battery Secure
An unsecured battery can cause more trouble than you would think. An unsecured battery can bounce around under the bonnet while you’re navigating corrugated roads in the outback or dodging potholes in regional areas.
An unsecured battery could potentially result in a hole in the battery casing, spilling acid, or short-circuiting against the chassis or other components, leading to fires. A simple battery hold-down clamp can securely hold your battery while you are driving, reducing the risk of damage.
Monitor The Conditions Of Your Lead-Acid Battery
Just like checking your oil or tyre pressure, monitoring your battery's health should be a part of your regular vehicle checks. Installing a dash-mounted voltmeter, whether analogue or digital, allows you to keep an eye on your lead-acid battery's voltage and avoid unexpected power loss.
Here is a quick voltage guide that helps you assess your battery health and what the voltage may be indicating:
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13.2 volts and above: Indicates a battery under charging conditions.
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12.7 volts and above: Generally indicates a fully charged battery.
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12.5 volts: Indicates a battery at approximately 75%.
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12 volts: Indicates a battery at approximately 50%. This is a cause for concern, and you should consider turning off some devices or finding a charging source quickly.
10.5 volts: Your battery is flat. Never allow it to drop this low.
Are There Other Types Of Auxiliary Batteries?
While lead-acid batteries have been the go-to option for auxiliary power, more people are upgrading to lithium batteries. Lithium batteries offer higher usable capacity, faster charging, and a longer cycle life when compared to lead-acid batteries.
A lithium auxiliary battery provides:
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More usable power: Lithium batteries can safely discharge to 20% without damaging the battery, giving you more of the total capacity to use.
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Lighter weight: Idea for 4WD off-grid setups and camper trailers where weight is important.
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Faster charging: Pairing a lithium battery with a DCDC dual battery charger means your auxiliary and starter battery are always charged to a true 100%.
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Longer lifespan: Higher quality, which means fewer replacements over time. This means that lithium batteries are better value in the long run.
Power Your Vehicle With High-Quality Auxiliary Batteries From REDARC
By following these simple battery maintenance steps, you can enjoy a stress-free adventure and avoid the dreaded “click, click, click” when you turn your truck key.
While lead-acid batteries are cheaper than lithium batteries, they do require more maintenance and attention to get efficient performance and extend their lifespan. If you plan to take longer off-grid trips, it may be worth considering a lithium auxiliary battery upgrade.
REDARC specialise in Australian-built lithium auxiliary batteries that are designed and stress-tested for reliability, safety and quality you can depend on in the harshest conditions. If you have any additional questions or need any further information, please contact our team today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What maintenance is required in a lead-acid battery?
Lead-acid battery maintenance is important to maximise the performance, charging efficiency, and extend the lifespan of your battery. Here are some of the most important maintenance tasks for a lead-acid battery:
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Keep the terminals clean and free from any corrosion - if you do get corrosion, disconnect the battery terminal, boil some hot water in a kettle, and pour it over the affected spot.
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Ensure that your battery stays clean and dry.
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Ensure your battery is securely mounted.
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Regularly check the voltage levels.
How do you keep a lead-acid battery healthy?
To keep your lead-acid battery healthy, monitor voltage levels with a voltmeter, avoid deep discharges, and ensure your battery stays clean and dry. If your battery is serviceable, check electrolyte levels periodically. Ensure that your battery is securely mounted and occasionally use a battery terminal protector spray to prevent any damage from vibration or corrosion.
How often do you add water to a lead-acid battery?
For lead-acid batteries that are not sealed, check water levels every few months. Aim to routinely monitor your water levels, especially during warmer climates where evaporation is more common. It is important to only use distilled water and top up until the plates are just covered, but do not overfill them.
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