How long does a lead-acid battery last?

As the Philadelphia Scientific website notes, poor management, lack of monitoring, and failure to perform proactive and reactive maintenance can reduce a battery’s lifespan to less than 18 months. To ensure that a lead-acid battery lasts as long as possible, it’s essential to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for maintenance.

How does temperature affect the lifespan of a lead-acid battery?

Lastly, the temperature also plays a significant role in the lifespan of a lead-acid battery. High temperatures can accelerate the aging process of the battery, while low temperatures can reduce the battery’s capacity. Therefore, it is important to store the battery in a cool and dry place.

How to maintain a lead-acid battery?

Regularly checking the battery’s water level, cleaning the terminals, and ensuring proper ventilation can help prolong the battery’s life. Lastly, the temperature also plays a significant role in the lifespan of a lead-acid battery.

What happens if a lead acid battery doesn't start a car?

Just because a lead acid battery can no longer power a specific device, does not mean that there is no energy left in the battery. A car battery that won’t start the engine, still has the potential to provide plenty of fireworks should you short the terminals.

What causes a lead acid battery to fail?

If you are not familiar with lead acid batteries, see our article What is a lead acid battery. Ironically one of the most common reasons for battery failure is not an actual failure of the battery itself, it is people thinking the battery is dead.

Do lead acid batteries degrade over time?

All rechargeable batteries degrade over time. Lead acid and sealed lead acid batteries are no exception. The question is, what exactly happens that causes lead acid batteries to die? This article assumes you have an understanding of the internal structure and make up of lead acid batteries.