Frequently

Asked Questions

Automotive:

  • The best battery solution for any vehicle is to fit the most powerful battery possible. A battery being too powerful is not a concern when starting a car. However, fitting a battery with insufficient power could result in poor performance, including the vehicle not starting and the auxiliary electronics under performing.

  • AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries are fitted onto Start/Stop vehicles with a regenerative braking system. Monbat produces vast amounts of maintenance-free AGM batteries that are leakage, spill, and vibration-proof. Fitting a non-AGM battery to a Start/Stop vehicle with regenerative braking will damage the battery and is not covered by warranty.

  • Item description EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) batteries are fitted to vehicles with a basic Start/Stop system. Monbat produce vast amounts of EFB batteries which are absolutely maintenance-free, leakage, spill and vibration proof. Fitting a non-EFB battery to a basic Start/Stop vehicle will damage the battery and is not covered by warranty.

  • Yes you can always upgrade your battery but you can’t downgrade. It is always best to fit a like-for-like battery, but if your car is fitted with an AGM Start/Stop battery, you have to fit the same AGM battery technology.

A large black car battery with a blue and white label reading "MONBAT" and "AGM Series," placed on a wooden pallet.

Haze AGM/Gel:

  • An AGM battery is a lead-acid battery with an absorbent glass mat between the plates. A Gel battery is vacuum sealed with a gel silica housing the plates. They are both deep-cycle batteries, but they have slightly different properties that make them better for certain applications.

  • Apart from our 18EX battery, which is 3mm taller, Haze EX batteries are the same size as their equivalent part number but with 40% more power. This is achieved by using more thinner plates. If you require further information, please just ask for a specification sheet.

  • Gel batteries are manufactured in a different way to all other batteries. The technology both in production but also the research and development of them means they are more expensive to make per unit. The gel silica inside the battery protects the plates from sulphation and results in a greater cyclic performance as well as operation in harsher conditions. All these factors combined make the gel battery a more robust but expensive product

Display of car batteries with neon lights and a sign reading 'Haze Batteries' on a white background.

Battery usage:

  • All sealed batteries are charged before they leave the factory. It is recommended that the battery voltage be checked before its first use in case it needs a top-up charge.

  • The manufacturer's warranty covers two main factors. A Faulty cell occurs when the active material on the plates doesn't form properly; the breakdown causes one cell to lose its voltage totally. Secondly, an open circuit. This problem can be total or intermittent, it’s caused by a severed or fractured inter-cell connector).

    • You must make sure your battery is charged immediately after use. A flat battery is not a faulty battery.

    • Fitting the incorrect battery to an application will prematurely damage the battery through no fault of the manufacturer, and invalidate your warranty.

  • A battery has an optimum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. Cold temperatures put the car's starter system under strain. Cold weather affects the battery by reducing its capacity to hold a charge and therefore, can go flat. Hot weather can also have a similar effect.

  • Most vehicles have an alternator fitted to charge the battery; this takes time, so short journeys won’t give the battery time to recharge fully after starting. If you have an application which doesn’t have an alternator, such as a mobility scooter or golf buggy, please recharge your battery with the charger provided straight after use. Leaving a battery discharged will cause the plates to sulphate. This is not covered under manufacturing fault, and your warranty claim will be invalid.

  • Different types of batteries require different charging systems. Automotive batteries are normally charged at 10% of their capacity. For example, a 100Ah battery should use a 10-15Ah charger. Mobility batteries are normally charged as a 24v system (x2 12v) using a 2/5/8Ah charger.

  • If you’re using a battery on a seasonal application you should ensure it is fully charged when you’ve finished with it at the end of the season. Batteries have a natural discharge rate of roughly 3% per month (temperature dependent). We recommend charging once per month, and storing your battery in a cool dry place when not in use.

Three yellow battery chargers on a black shelf connected to red and black wires, with two black car batteries below and a white brick wall background.

Struggling to find the answer to your question?

If you are experiencing issues that haven’t been addressed in our frequently asked questions, or you have a general query, please get in touch with our sales team!

Combined, our sales team has over 100 years worth of battery expertise and knowledge, and they will be more than happy to help. Just give us a call on 01536 203030, or fill in our contact form and we will get back to you.