Page 37 - Ready for IMPACT Battery Blog
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- May 09, 2011
[caption id="attachment_324" align="alignright" width="264" caption="MP3450 Tekkeon Portable Battery"][/caption]
The Tekkeon portable battery packs have arrived at Impact Battery! These lightweight lithium polymer batteries can be used to power a multitude of gadgets including, cell phones, laptops, PDA's, portable DVD players, iPhone, iPad, hand held gaming systems--the list goes on. They are versatile rechargeable units that draw power from the included AC adapter and DC power sources such as the cigarette lighter adapter in vehicles and solar panels. The output voltage ranges from 5V (USB portal) to 19V. At 6.85" (L) x 3.32" (W) x .89" (D) and less than 1 lb these external batteries can easily fit into your carry-on bag and are approved for air travel. The MP3450, for example, can power a laptop about 4hrs and power your cell phone at the same time. When the 2nd extended battery is attached you can effectively double your output.
The most compelling argument for these
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- May 05, 2011
If you’ve popped your hood and taken a close look at your car’s sealed lead acid battery lately, chances are you’ve noticed a build-up (unless your battery is new) of corrosion caused by acid condensation. The crusty-looking whitish or greenish appearance is actually easy to clean, and most likely you already have everything you need. But while it is easy enough to accomplish, you’ll need to make sure you keep safety protocols in mind so that you don’t hurt yourself—or your car—in the process.
While some batteries may be so corroded that they require disconnection of the cable clamps or terminals, we’re not recommending that and instead talking about general maintenance and cleaning that you can do while keeping your car’s battery still in place. A severely corroded battery may require additional maintenance and cleaning beyond what we are discussing here today.
Supplies:
- Safety goggles/protective glasses
- Box of baking soda
- An old toothbrush or similar bristled brush
- Cleaning rags or sponges
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- April 28, 2011
Why is it that batteries to motorcycles, ATVs and even boats don’t seem to last? This is a very common complaint we hear, and one of the most obvious culprits seems to be sporadic use of the battery. Many pleasure boaters, for example, haven’t even taken their boat out since the last days of summer last year. Yet they get into the boat when warm weather arrives and are seemingly surprised that their battery isn’t quite as ready for boating action as the passengers.
Batteries will discharge at a rate of approximately 2-5 percent each month while not being used. While use does indeed keep a battery operating at peak capacity more consistently, a low battery can’t be fully charged by simply being cranked up on occasion—no matter the distance or length of time.
If a motorcycle or equipment is not going to be used for a period of 30 days or longer, consider placing the battery on a 2 amp or less smart maintenance charger for 24-48 hours every month (even better leave it connected indefinitely).
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- April 21, 2011
Sulfation is the buildup of lead sulfate crystals on a battery’s plates, usually in lead-acid batteries. It happens when a battery stays discharged too long, is undercharged, or is repeatedly used without proper recharging. Sulfation reduces the battery’s ability to hold and deliver power.
When sulfation builds up, the battery charges slower, loses capacity, and may struggle to start engines or power devices. Over time, the crystals harden and block the chemical reaction needed for normal battery performance.
Mild sulfation can sometimes be reduced with proper charging or a smart charger’s desulfation mode. Severe sulfation is often permanent and usually means the battery needs replacement. The best prevention is keeping the battery fully charged, avoiding deep discharge, and using a maintainer during long storage.
What is Sulfation and How Does it Affect My Battery?
Why do batteries get old and fail, and is there any way to avoid this? While it would be amazing to have a battery that
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- April 14, 2011
It’s far from being on the marketplace, but Science News is reporting that a battery is being tested with a three-dimensional nano-structure for battery cathodes that allows for dramatically faster charging and discharging without sacrificing energy storage capacity.
Batteries that can store significant energy and release it fast and then recharge quickly are desirable for the up-and-coming electric vehicles. In addition, they are sought after in the medical field for equipment, lasers and in military applications.
The performance of traditional lithium-ion (Li-ion) or nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries degrades significantly when they are rapidly charged or discharged. Making the active material in the battery a thin film allows for very fast charging and discharging, but reduces the capacity to nearly zero because the active material lacks volume to store energy.
The test design essentially wraps a thin film into three-dimensional structure, achieving both high active
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- April 08, 2011
There have been numerous reports about the battery market and how the tragic earthquake that has devastated parts of Japan could lead to a shortage. While it is true that Japan is home to numerous production sites, for not just batteries, but components for computers, cars and other technology, analysts are saying that consumers should not be adversely affected.
Most companies have a supply buffer already in place, and other plants throughout the world are stepping up production efforts to meet continued demand for Lithium-ion batteries especially, which are used to power a wide variety of consumer devices including smart phones and laptops. Battery manufacturers are also turning to alternative components sources besides those in the devastated parts of Japan to ensure supply remains constant.
The Japanese company Kureha, for one, which supplies a critical component that is used in lithium-ion batteries and in batteries used for electric vehicles, previously held over 70 percent of the
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- March 31, 2011
Researchers looking for ways to power our country more efficiently have developed a battery that takes advantage of using river water and salty. Stanford scientists have calculated that if all the world’s rivers were put to use, about 2 terawatts of electricity could be produced annually—roughly 13 percent of the world’s current energy consumption.
While the tests are a long way from actual production, the concept of using existing water from the planet is promising and environmentally exciting. A power plant could be potentially placed anywhere freshwater enters the sea, such as a river mouth. In addition, the battery would not require the water to be extremely clean—storm runoff and gray water could potentially be used as could treated sewage water. Because the water would be “borrowed” and then “returned” back to the source in the same condition, there should have little environmental impact. The discharge water would be a mixture of fresh and sweater, released into an area where the
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- March 27, 2011Let's get down to basics and learn what we can about batteries and chargers. This page will provide cross reference material for popular brands and part numbers as well as tutorials on how to locate and open certain battery systems or how to properly set up and charge your batteries in parallel. If you would like a battery guide / tutorial created please feel free to ask. back to Impact Battery homepage
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- March 24, 2011
In today’s technological society, hardly a day goes by when we’re not charging one device or replacing batteries in another. Studies show that our love of electronics and battery-powered equipment means we will only become more—and not less—dependent on items that need to be powered up.
At Impact Battery, we recognize that there is a battery and a charger for many of the necessities and extravagances that are part of more and more people’s lifestyles. Whether you’re searching for a charger for your golf cart, a replacement battery for your motorcycle, or a solar panel, we’re your source.
We are constantly evaluating our inventory of batteries and related equipment to keep up with technological trends and consumer preferences so that we can meet your needs. Whatever your gadget or gizmo is that needs a battery and/or charger, chances are we have what you’re looking for. For added convenience, we provide listings of batteries by brand and type and include a battery selector guide and a tutorial
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- March 17, 2011
In the past few weeks, we have been talking about replacement batteries for your current equipment. With temperatures starting to welcome in springtime, people are bringing out their golf carts, motorcycles, scooters and boats. With this blog, however, we want to talk about battery chargers and related equipment, rather than the batteries themselves.
At Impact Battery, we stock a wide variety of battery chargers and conveniently list them by both battery charger types as well as by brand. That way, you can find what you’re looking for in the most convenient way possible.
All of our battery chargers are “Smart Chargers," meaning they are microprocessor controlled and can be left connected to your batteries indefinitely. As with any equipment, you may want to review whether your charger is performing the task it is supposed to be doing and in accordance with the time you expect a charge to occur.
We stock 6-, 12-, 24-, 36- and 48-volt chargers, solar panel chargers, chargers for your golf