Request for feedback on maintenance free battery

[Dipstick]

I was at a petrol station this morning and notice some calcium maintenance free sealed battery displayed at the tyre shop. Any bros here have experience with this type of battery? Is it as durable and long-lasting as a normal battery? How long can it be expected to last?

[Jusnel]

i'm using MF Amaron battery.... i feel its as durable as normal ones. been using it for 1 and half years liao. no problem so far. the good part is no need to buy batt water and top up each time.....

 

depending on what brand, the prices can be same as normal batteries.

[Watwheels]

Lasting or not depends on how frequently and how long(per trip) u drive your car too.

 

Making a lot of short trips, swithing on and off too often of course will drain the batt.

 

Batt on the market more or less the same to me cos all using same technology.

 

If u are afraid of oxidation build-up just apply grease onto the polarities.

 

A small tub of grease won't cost much and can be found @ shops selling oil-base lubricants.

[Dipstick]

Thanks for the response, Jusnel & Watwheels. Has anyone used the GS maintenance free battery? Any idea where it's made?

[Yeobh]

Info taken from Gunson - a leading UK equipment maker

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New cars are increasingly being delivered with batteries using the latest calcium/calcium technology that demands a completely different form of battery charger.

 

Proven in America from the late 1970s, the new batteries are needed to match the ever-increasing electronic and electrical demands of modern vehicles. They new batteries also have the added benefit of longer shelf life while awaiting delivery.

 

However due to the construction of a calcium/calcium battery being different from lead acid ones, replacements must be of the same type since vehicles using them have a smart charging system. A smart system is also required when charging calcium/calcium batteries out of the vehicle.

 

Ordinary battery chargers can

[Newcar]

Hi Yeo,

 

Could you kindly elaborate "smart charging system"...? Please enlighten us lor...

 

Does those after market's gadget like Voltage Stablizer, Impedance Stablizer ..etc can be treated as "Smart charging" device which the manufacturer always claim....

[Yeobh]

Alternator are basically regulated by load and engine speed. The max output is limited by a built in diode. Alternators output that are regulated via the on-board CPU is considered a smart system.If I recall correctly, GM was the first among the car makers to introduce this smart system.

 

Below info on calcium battery is taken from AKOM website.

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For AKOM starter battery production the most innovative technology "Calcioum-Calcium" is employed (to produce positively and negatively charged electrodes lead-calcium alloy is used).

 

Production is based on advanced design and technological achievements of EXIDE Corp - the world leader in battery production.

 

The advantages of the battery made on Calcium-Calcium Technology and its differences from the battery made out of lead-antimony alloys.

 

The major difference of Calcium-Calcium technology is replacement of antimony traditionally used in plates that are dangerous chemical element by harmless calcium. This replacement makes battery manufacturing environmentally clean and inoffensive. Moreover, using this technology determines completely new operational characteristics.

 

1. When using Calcium-Calcium technology the grids are not cast but rolled.

 

In manufacturing the alloy is rolled into cold strip which is perforated and stretched. As a result of this, sells are punched and cell connectors are unrolled that determines better connection with the battery active material.

 

It ensures high current accumulation of electrodes. Moreover, rolled strip demonstrates tight structure owing to which plates are resistant to hard oxidation conditions and are not corroded even in conditions of high temperature in engine compartment. The service life of this battery comparing to the battery produced on traditional technology is increased by 1.5 times.

 

2. Calcium-Calcium technology helps automate coating of high-porous active material application on electrodes and secure stability of thickness (especially important for negatively charged plates). It makes possible to increase starting power in temperatures below 00C and starting at 400C.

 

3. The alloy composition in battery manufacturing allows "self-switching off" i.e. the battery is not exposed to recharging. Calcium battery shifts into smooth milking when 95-97% of capacitance is reached.

 

4. Calcium battery's self-discharge time is 3 times longer comparing to the antimony battery (see chart 1).

 

5. Since the electrodes for calcium batteries are made by rolling they are thinner than traditional. It helps reduce battery weight by 1 kg and more while electric characteristics are being secured depending on the battery capacitance.

 

6. One of most principle advantage of calcium batteries - minimizing water hydrolysis. Electrolyte in calcium-calcium battery does not evaporate at the voltage up to 16V (unlike lead-antimony alloys where the evaporation happens at the voltage of 12V). Taking into account that car generator produce the voltage of over than 14V, evaporation process in antimony battery is a continuous process. Resistance to water hydrolysis helps to make calcium batteries unattended, i.e. not requiring more water to be poured in.

 

In fact, if the charging system is functional and the battery is correctly used the electrolyte operational level remains unchanged for 3 years (see chart 2).

 

7. AKOM battery plates are enveloped into polyethylene made out of separator tape of "Daramic, Inc.". Using envelops instead of simple separation of positively, negatively charged plates makes possible to put plates on the bottom of the battery to ensure their resistance vibration as well as prevents short-cuts between plates, makes self-discharge impossible when active material begins chalking due to ageing. This also increase the

battery period of service.

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Edited November 30, 2006 by Yeobh

[Dipstick]

Thank you Yeobh. In the case of a Nissan Sunny, is the charging system controlled by the on-board CPU (making it a smart charging system, as described in your post)?

[Yeobh]

Frankly the Jap are still far behind the yakee in car technologies , they are geting alot of ideas from aero techologies. Many aero engineers that are over the hills downgrade themselves as auto system designers. E.g of some auro techologies used in cars: ABS, & Steering by wire.

[Ghostami]

Anyone used Hitachi MF battery before? How much is a normal 55AH MF battery? Thinking of getting Hitachi one but I wanna know how trustworthy is the battery.