Safety and Maintenance Guidelines
All batteries, Wet lead/acid, Gel, and AGM contain lead and sulfuric acid, which are both toxic. Sulfuric acid is highly corrosive. In addition, when batteries are charged, they produce hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable and can cause explosion.
Proper handling is always important, or else the following can be the result:
*Explosion! Improper charging and poor maintenance can cause low acid/electrolyte levels, causing high concentrations of hydrogen, which can cause an explosion. An explosion is considerably less likely to happen with a Gel/AGM type battery.
*Fire! Tools or jewelry that touch terminals together can cause sparks, smoke and even an explosion.
*Corrosion! Overfilled or overcharged wet lead/acid batteries can force out acid, which can damage clothing, property and people.
Battery Charging
To properly charge your Deep Cycle Gel/AGM battery, follow these procedures.
- Never use an automotive or wet type charger on a Gel/AGM battery.
- Never run your battery completely flat
- Do not frequently charge your battery just to “top it off”
How often do I need to charge?
Active users: Charge daily.
Occasional users: Charge your battery before any outing and always after active use.
How should batteries be stored?
- Batteries should always be stored “ fully charged “
- Wet batteries hold their charge for up to 3 months
- Gel/AGM batteries hold their charge for up to 6 months
- When left in a chair or scooter for more than 2 weeks, charge the batteries then disconnect them.
High Voltage Disclaimer
Due to the absolute electrical isolation that must be established and maintained to assure the safety of high voltage DC applications, UPG recommends that not more than eight Universal® 12V sealed lead-acid (“SLA”) batteries or 100 VDC be connected in one circuit.
Before and after installation, always exercise extreme care to identify any possible breach in the case of any SLA battery connected in series.
It is the responsibility of each user to determine that their application is adequately designed with safety features to be compatible with any and all conditions that may arise during the use of their application, and in conformance with all existing electrical code standards and requirements. Under no circumstances will UPG be liable for consequential or incidental damages arising from the use of Universal® SLA batteries.