Month: August 2017

Ever heard of C-Max™ technology? We’ll delve deeper into it in a minute, but here’s what you need to know:  it’s a great example of how Trojan Battery is pushing ahead and developing technologies that make batteries perform more consistently and with more durability. To get a quote and learn more, reach out to our team. 

Trojan’s new promotional campaign for Reliant AGM is “All You Need is Life,” to emphasize the line’s long life and reliable performance. The non-spillable, maintenance-free batteries focus on sustained performance versus high peak capacity you usually focused on by other manufactureres. Market demands are growing, and with features like C-Max technology, these batteries help hit the high watermark.

Check out these C-Max technology features, and learn more about Trojan Reliant AGM batteries:

Proprietary Paste Formula

Paste features elements designed to address the unique needs of deep-cycle applications.

Why it’s important: Helps to maximize continual performance, and increase total energy.

 

Unique Separator Composition

A thick design ensures high compression for effective contact between glass mat and plates.

Why it’s important: Helps protect against stratification for extended battery life.

 

Plastic Polymer Case Design

Distinct plastic polymer case formula with reinforced case end walls.

Why it’s important: Helps increase durability and provides higher battery cell compression to ensure reliable performance.

 

Maximum Flame Arrestors

Features one flame arrestor for each cell.

Why it’s important: Helps ensure maximum safety.

 

U.S. Manufacturing Excellence

Trojan uses advanced technology, premium components, exacting quality standards,  and superior manufacturing techniques. Even better, Reliant AGM is manufactured in the United States at the Trojan Battery facility in Sandersville, Ga.

Why it’s important: Helps to deliver consistent battery quality and reliability in deep-cycle AGM applications.

Reliant AGM Batteries from Trojan Battery: Design with a Purpose

Reliant AGM batteries are designed with a number of different applications in mind:

• Floor cleaning/janitorial services
• Golf
• Aerial platform work
• Material handling
• Renewable energy
• Recreation
• Remote telecom

Reliability is important to our team when it comes to supplying batteries, and the Reliant AGM battery line helps us provide you with the best products available on the market today.

Trojan Battery has also just released its first Solar AGM battery line, aimed at satisfying demand in residential storage, solar home systems, and remote telecoms. To get more info about these new battery lines, contact our expert team. 

 

When it comes to batteries, you have more options than a pizza topping list (keep it classic: pepperoni). It can be daunting, confusing, and overwhelming to say the least. Cars, boats, lawnmowers, golf carts, motorcycles — not all equipment is equal.

The next time you need a battery, use this break down to make sure you get the battery you need, without the headache. (Pro tip: pizza makes everything feel better.)

Car Batteries

Most car batteries are made to work with a 12-volt electrical system – they require a surge of energy to start the engine quickly.

When a car is running, it really doesn’t have a “function” other than to be recharged, so that it has the power necessary the next time you need to start the car.

Because of its primary purpose to produce a quick charge, manufacturers tend to go with a standard flooded lead acid battery. Car batteries also have a CCA rating. This rating tells you the Cold Cranking Amps the battery can deliver.

Pro tip: When getting a new car battery you will need to make sure that not only does the battery voltage meet the requirements of the car, but that the CCA rating meets the requirements as well.

Lawn and Farm Equipment Batteries

While the standard voltage of a lawnmower battery is 12 volts (like a car), it is usually smaller in size. The required CCA of a lawnmower battery is much less as well.

Despite the size difference between a lawnmower battery and car battery, their construction is much the same. Farm equipment batteries, however, are more like car batteries in the respect that they require similar CCA, but differ dramatically with regard to their ability to be recharged as the equipment is running and they need to be able to take a bit of a beating.

Most farm equipment is exposed to tough dirt, rocks, and rough terrain, which can take a toll on the battery. When looking for a new battery for your riding lawn mower or farm machinery, check the manufacturer’s recommendations on battery size and cold cranking amps.

Pro tip: It’s also a good idea to make sure whatever battery you choose is a deep cycle battery. This will help ensure you have enough power to start the machine despite the lack of recharge you get while running your equipment.

Boat and Watercraft Batteries

Marine or boat batteries may look like car batteries, but looks can be decieving. When on the water, a boat battery can get tossed up pretty good. Between the pounding of the waves and the vibration of the motor, a marine battery has to be constructed pretty solidly.

Thicker plates inside the battery do a good job of holding everything together. The CCA in a boat battery is a bit different as well. Instead of the traditional cold cranking amps like we see in car and lawnmower batteries, marine batteries use a rating called Marine Cranking Amps, or MCA.

The idea is the same with the exception that marine cranking amps are rated based off a temperature of 32 degrees. Another significant difference in marine versus car batteries: the need for a battery to provide an initial burst of power to start the motor and a deep cycle battery for running the onboard equipment such as the radio or depth-finder.

ATV and Golf Cart Batteries

In a golf cart, the battery is typically the only source of power, so reliability here is key. Golf cart batteries can differ greatly between manufacturers, so it’s really important to follow the battery requirements outlined in the manual.

ATV batteries, or power sport batteries, on the other hand, are much different from any of the other batteries discussed here. While they are usually 12-volt batteries, just like your car’s battery, ATV batteries have a lower CCA than a car battery because the engine is smaller and doesn’t need as much power to get it going.

The types of batteries used by ATV’s can vary dramatically as well. Each ATV manufacturer will specify a specific power sport battery for that make and model of ATV; so it’s best to stick within their guidelines to make sure you’re choosing the best ATV battery for your equipment.

It’s always a good idea to understand the different types of battery technologies, and how they could help or hinder your car, boat, ATV, lawnmower or other machines. The best bet is to stick within the guidelines set out by the manufacturer. Always make sure the battery you choose is the right size, has the right CCA, and is designed to withstand the environment you plan to use it in.

If you have questions, that’s what the experts are for.

 

Solar power has been at the forefront of nearly every alternative power conversation for a long time now, and Tesla wasted no time getting in on the action.

With more and more people installing solar panels on their homes and businesses Tesla saw a need and created the Powerwall.

What Is Tesla’s Powerwall?

The Powerwall is simply a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that recharges using solar power. It’s an easy concept, right?

This Powerwall can be used to store solar power or be used as backup power in the wake of an outage. The Tesla Powerpack is the same concept as the Powerball, but intended for commercial use, allowing companies a solution for backup power, voltage control, renewable power integration.

Saving money is a huge customer draw and if the reviews are any indicator, this technology is here to stay.

How Does It Work?

The Powerwall connects to a solar panel and an inverter that converts the current from the solar panel into electricity used by your home.

Any excess energy from this process needs to be stored somewhere for later use – the Powerwall is the storage receptacle for this excess energy.

Obviously, there is a bit more technology that goes into the actual execution, but you get the idea.

Tesla’s Powerwall is not the only product like this on the market, however, the differences in lithium technology make each solution a bit different.

Wait…Not All Lithium-Ion Batteries Are The Same?

Correct, not all lithium-ion batteries are created equal. (Hence the myriad of companies with their own battery chemical cocktail claiming theirs is better than the rest.)

The basic construction of a lithium-ion battery is the same: positive and negative electrodes, and an electrolyte.

In this case, the electrolyte is a lithium salt in an organic solvent. The rest of the battery chemistry construction is up to the company making the battery. This means that, while most batteries of similar chemical make up vary only slightly in quality, they do vary.

So Why Make The Investment?

With savings being the driving force behind the consumer push to renewable energy, Tesla is promoting the practice of peak shaving.

Basically, energy is most expensive during peak hours, or the time when everyone is drawing energy from the grid.

You heard that right, you get penalized for using electricity at the same as your neighbors.

This concept of demand rates is typically reserved for commercial users, however, there are a number of electric companies that offer this type of billing to home consumers as well.

By reducing your energy draw from the grid during those hours you are cutting your electric bill. Because Tesla knows there are very few of us who are willing to break out the candles and shut down the game console for a few hours every day, they suggest the Powerwall.

Okay, But Is It Really Worth It?

In all honesty, only you can be the judge if this is the answer for you. Although, there are some serious arguments to be made for solar power with a storage bank.

• The sun comes out every day. Even on cloudy stormy days, the sun is still there. This means that solar energy is in abundance because fossil fuels are not.
• Combining renewable energy technologies such as solar power and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries means that you have a sustainable and reliable power source outside of the utility companies.
• Yes, it’s a financial investment but it’s an investment that will pay off over time. Financing opportunities make this technology available right away so there is a minimal upfront investment.

Once you’ve decided to take the solar plunge, make sure you shop the options available to you. If you’re looking for something more affordable than investing in a Powerwall or solar panels on your house, try something like the Relion Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery. That type of option gives you a cleaner, safer and more reliable renewable energy solution, without a heavy-hitting financial investment. (You can find out more about this battery through our customer service team.)

Life span is a big thing to consider when making this kind of an investment.

Other things to consider are how long it takes the battery to recharge after use and how much energy can be stored in the unit. Any way you slice it, solar power is the future, and if Tesla has their way, we will all be one less step away from getting off the grid.

Demand in residential storage, solar home systems, and remote telecoms hasn’t gone unnoticed by battery manufacturers. As more people become interested in and aware of renewable energy, we’re in need of more engineered solutions.

Trojan Battery has recognized this need, and now offers the Solar AGM line of maintenance-free, true deep-cycle batteries. Here’s what you need to know. (And here’s how to get a quote.)

Trojan Battery Solar AGM Specs 

• The new line is manufactured right here in the U.S.
• Trojan Solar AGM batteries come with a three-year warranty
• Batteries feature a non-spillable design (great because installers can customize the use and position of the batteries)
• Certified non-hazardous shipping (per U.S. DOT/IATA regulations)

Best Uses

Trojan Solar AGM battery line is designed with these applications in mind:

• off-grid and grid-tiered residential storage
• microgrids
• solar home systems
• remote telecom
• residential and commercial backup

Put simply, these batteries are optimized for solar applications and anything needing frequent cycling in harsh conditions/environments. Solar street signs and lights, off-grid cabins or tiny homes, and even oil & gas applications are great matches for Trojan Solar AGM.

Battery Life

What’s great about this new Trojan deep-cycle battery is the attention to efficiency. Three key factors go into making the Solar AGM battery a high-efficiency energy solution:

1. temperature tolerance
2. shock and vibration resistance
3. low inter resistance (for higher discharge current)

This three-pronged approach is what helps make Trojan Solar AGM batteries ideal for harsh environments.

Don’t forget: this new battery line incorporates many of the same winning elements typical of Trojan batteries. Elements like advanced plate design, premium separators for overall extended lifecycle, and a robust proprietary paste.

Did you know?

Trojan’s Solar AGM line is the first release in a brand-new series of solar batteries. Trojan Battery plans on releasing more solar batteries in the coming months.

Want more detail on the product? You can find additional detail on the product here, or you can also get more information about these batteries by reaching out to our expert team. 

 

Electricity is a major factor or component in nearly everything we do on a daily basis. From the digital alarm that awakens us, to enabling us to do our jobs and even the light we use to read in bed at night, power has become vital to our way of life. So needless to say when there is a power failure our whole world goes into a tail spin.

While some power outages are necessary for maintenance, the majority of power loss is unexpected and therefore unprepared for. Despite our inability to control the events that lead to power failures, we can now prepare our business to remain unaffected by power failures.

1. Know What You’re Working With

Before you can prepare for power failures, you need to understand which parts of your business will be affected and in what ways. Once you understand the risks and have identified the critical areas it will be easier for you to evaluate your reserve power needs.

Also a good idea? Have a list of equipment that can be turned off and then reset when the power is restored.

This is a good way to ensure you are only using your backup power system for critical needs and not wasting power on non-essential functions.

2. Build It Smarter So It Works Better

Gone are the days of grabbing an old generator from the warehouse and hoping for the best. With today’s advancements in reserve power technology, it is now possible to design an entire backup power solution to meet your specific needs.

Creating system documentation, including single-line diagrams, can show at a glance which systems are connected and help eliminate redundancy.

Good documentation can prevent the unnecessary powering of nonessential equipment and make designing a reserve power system much more straightforward.

3. Don’t Install It and Forget It

The middle of a power failure is the worst possible time to learn that your reserve power system is on the fritz. Scheduling routine maintenance and repairs for the system is your best bet to ensuring your reserve system will kick in and perform as needed in an emergency.

Also a good idea? Test your system from time to time to ensure 100% reliability.

By implementing a testing schedule you will be able to identify any maintenance or repair needs, train your staff on how to engage the backup system, and ensure that everyone knows their assigned roles and tasks should a power failure occur.

4. Hope For the Best, Plan For the Worst

Most power failures only last for a few hours. Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee it. That’s why it’s important to ensure your backup power system can run for at least a few days.

Also a good idea? Fuel management.

Having a generator fuel management and safety system in place will ensure that you don’t experience power failure twice. Make sure both the generator(s) and the fuel are stored in a well-ventilated area. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a very real threat and not something you want to deal with in the middle of an outage.

No one ever wants even a minor power failure to occur. At best it can throw a kink in your day, at worst it can signal the start of a major disaster.

Preparing for a power failure should be a critical aspect of any emergency preparedness plan. Investing in a backup power system could mean the difference between inconvenience and major disaster for your company.

With a little effort and these steps to guide you through, you just might find yourself resting a little easier during your next power failure.