Frequently Asked Questions

It’s flat plate 12V Lead Acid battery used in cars, trucks and tractors for Engine starting, Lighting and Ignition purposes. Hence it is also known as SLI battery.

Generally Automotive batteries are rated with reference to it’s voltage and the Ah capacity. In some countries, batteries are rated with respect to it’s Reserve capacity (in minutes) and Cold Cranking Amps (CCA).

Reserve capacity of a battery is the time in minutes that a fully charged battery can continuously supply 25A until its terminal voltage falls to 10.5V @ 25°C.

Cold Cranking Amps is the rating used to define the battery’s ability to start an engine in cold temperatures. This rating is the number of Amps a new fully charged battery can deliver @ 0°F (-18°C) for 30 seconds while maintaining a voltage of atleast 7.2V. The higher the CCA value, the greater the starting power of the battery.

CCA value is more relevant for colder countries like Europe, Russia, USA etc.. Higher the CCA is better for these countries.

For India, C20 is more relevant along with moderate CCA.

No. Because, Automotive batteries are made with flat plates meant for shallow cycling. Under inverter applications, it undergoes deep-cycling resulting in shedding of plates and eventually leading to a very poor life.

This process is called ‘Jump-starting’. Bring another donor car near to the failed battery car. Connect the Positive (+) terminal of the failed battery to the positive terminal (+) of the donor battery using the red jumper cable. Connect the negative terminal (-) of the donor battery to a suitable unpainted metal grounding point on the failed vehicle using the black cable. Start the donor vehicle followed by the failed vehicle. Once started, disconnect the cables in the reverse order.

No. This is a common misconception.

Overfilling an automotive battery does not extend its maintenance-free life or increase the interval between top-ups. During vehicle operation, excessive electrolyte may spill through the vent openings due to movement and vibration. This can cause acid corrosion of nearby vehicle components and electrical wiring, potentially resulting in electrical short circuits and damage to components such as the alternator.

Therefore, electrolyte should be topped up only up to the specified upper-level marking or the “O” level of the vent hole, as recommended by the manufacturer. Avoid overfilling the battery beyond the recommended level.

If the clamps attached to the battery terminals are loose, there is a possibility of sparking between the clamps and battery terminals while the engine is running and the vehicle is in motion. Continuous sparking can lead to pitting, melting, and removal of metal from the terminals.

Always ensure that the clamps are properly and securely fitted around both the positive and negative terminals.

Not recommended. Wiping dust from the top surface of a charged battery with a dry cloth may sometimes generate static electricity, which could lead to sparking between the terminals and, in some cases, an explosion.

Always use a wet (not fully soaked) cloth to clean the dirt from the surface of a charged battery installed in the vehicle.

The white, powdery material around the battery terminals is Lead sulphate, which is an insulating material formed due to the presence of acidic fumes and moisture in the air.

• Remove the ignition key from the vehicle.
• Disconnect the battery clamps in the sequence: negative (-) first, followed by positive (+).
• Clean the inner and outer surfaces of the clamps and the areas around the terminals using fine emery sheet.
• After cleaning, reconnect the battery clamps in the reverse sequence: positive (+)first, followed by negative (-). Ensure that the clamps are tightly secured around the terminals.
• Apply petroleum jellyaround the clamps and on the top of the terminals to help prevent the future formation of white powder.

Take the vehicle to the nearest auto-electrician. The auto-electrician will replace the cables and clamps, if required, and ensure that the clamps are correctly connected to the battery terminals.

No. This is not normal. If the battery is not securely fixed inside the battery box, the vibrations generated during vehicle operation can cause damage to the plates inside the battery. The movement or jumping of the battery can also cause the battery clamps to become loose and generate sparking and melting of terminals.

Even when a battery is not being used, it gradually loses charge due to an internal process called self-discharge. The rate of self-discharge increases as the electrolyte temperature rises. This can be more significant when the vehicle is parked directly under the sun or exposed to high ambient temperatures.

Modern cars are equipped with numerous electronic systems, sensors and accessories that continue to draw a small amount of electrical power even after the ignition key is removed and the engine is switched off. This parasitic electrical load, together with the battery’s natural self-discharge, gradually reduces the battery’s available capacity during prolonged periods of non-use.

After two or three months of non-use, the battery may become sufficiently discharged that it does not have enough power to crank the engine.

If the car is not going to be used for three months or more, it is advisable to disconnect and remove the battery from the vehicle and store it in a cool, dry place away from direct heat and sources of sparks.

Refer to the vehicle owner’s manual supplied along with the car, for the recommended Battery Size and Capacity.

Check with the authorised car dealer for the correct Battery Size and Capacity, or refer to the fitment chart available with the battery dealer to identify the appropriate battery for your vehicle.

It is called a Magic-eye Indicator or Charge Status Indicator. Please refer to the following indications of the magic-eye indicator:

• Green: Battery is in charged condition and ready for use.
• White: Battery needs Charging.
• Red: Battery requires topping-up with demineralised (DM) water.

Please consult your auto electrician for Charging as well as Topping-up with DM water.

An Inverter is an electronic device that converts DC (Direct Current) from a battery into AC (Alternating Current) on demand. The inverter is connected to the battery and AC mains supply. During a power outage, the inverter automatically switches to battery and supplies AC power to the connected electrical loads.

During a prolonged power outage at a residence, depending on the Inverter settings and battery type, the inverter continues to supply power to the connected loads until the battery reaches its cut-off voltage of 10.5 V for a 12 V battery (i.e., until the battery is deeply discharged). When the mains power is restored, the inverter recharges the battery to its full state of charge. Everytime when the battery undergoes this type of discharge & charge during power outage, it is said to be undergoing deep-cycling.

Yes. Inverter batteries are specially designed for deep-cycling applications. Conventional flat-plate construction will not withstand repeated deep discharge and will result in shedding of the positive active material.

To minimise active material shedding, the positive electrode material is contained within strong tubular bags, which provide mechanical support and help retain the active material. This construction enhances the battery’s durability and service life under deep-cycling applications.

First, determine the typical duration of power outages in your area. Select the required backup time of the Inverter system accordingly. If the power outages are very long, installing a very large inverter-battery system may become uneconomical.

List all the electrical loads that you intend to operate during a power outage and determine their total power requirement. This will help determine the required VA/kVA rating of the Inverter.

Generally, it is advisable to avoid high-power loads such as TVs, grinders, mixers, etc., wherever possible, to prevent excessive battery discharge and reduced backup time.

The load × backup time determines the approximate energy requirement. Based on the battery voltage, Inverter efficiency and other relevant parameters, the required battery capacity (Ah) can then be determined for the Inverter system. Please find below our estimated back-up chart for the load requirements

The longer life of tubular batteries is primarily attributed to the tubular construction of the positive plates, combined with a specially formulated negative-plate expander composition. These features help the battery withstand repeated deep-cycling and minimise the shedding of active material, thereby contributing to longer battery life.

Positive Plates:

1. High-pressure die-cast spines – provide strong mechanical support and structural integrity.
2. Tubular bags – made from high-quality woven polyester, these bags securely retain the positive active material and minimise its shedding during repeated charge–discharge cycles.

Among the available brands and various inverter battery models, JC offers a thicker Spine diameter manufactured using a fine-grain, low-antimony alloy at very high pressure with an imported pressure die-casting machine. A higher quantity of active material is contained within stronger, optimized-diameter polyester tubes. These critical design parameters help minimise corrosion and improve deep-cycle performance.

The water level should be maintained such that it does not fall below the red ring mark on the float indicator. Always ensure that the water level remains above the red indication ring and does not exceed the green indication ring.

A Lead-Acid Battery is a rechargeable DC energy storage device that uses Lead-based active chemicals in the positive and negative electrodes and sulphuric acid as the electrolyte. It stores electrical energy in chemical form and converts it into electrical energy when an external load is connected across its terminals. A lead-acid battery is also commonly referred to as a secondary battery or a DC accumulator.

A cell is the simplest electrochemical fundamental unit of a battery. It consists of minimum one positive and one negative electrode separated by porous insulating material called ‘separator’ kept inside the electrolyte, which is capable of producing electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction. A single lead-acid cell has a nominal voltage of approximately 2 volts (V). Multiple cells connected either in series or parallel or both series-parallel is called a battery

OCV is the voltage difference measured across the battery terminals when the battery is in an idle state with no external electrical connection.

The nominal voltage of a lead-acid battery depends on the number of cells connected in series.

Since one lead-acid cell has a nominal voltage of approximately 2 V, a battery consisting of six cells connected in series will have:

6 cells × 2 V = 12 V nominal voltage

A typical automotive, UPS, inverter, or similar lead-acid battery is commonly a 12 V battery.
Single-cell or multi-cell configurations are selected according to the voltage requirements of the application, such as telecommunication, traction, industrial, UPS, and standby power systems.

No. A lead-acid battery cannot supply energy continuously without being recharged.

Lead-acid battery can store energy based on the amount of Lead chemicals and sulphuric acid electrolyte.

The process of drawing electrical energy from the battery is called discharge. During discharge, the active materials undergo chemical changes and are gradually converted into a less active state. After certain amount of transformation, its ability to deliver electrical energy decreases. Then it needs to be recharged to convert the less active chemicals to fully active chemicals.

Never top up Lead acid batteries with Acid.Topping up with acid will increase the specific gravity of the electrolyte,which can lead to plate corrosion and premature battery failure. Always use battery grade distilled water

No. Tap water contains impurities such as chloride, iron (Fe), and other metallic contaminants, which are harmful to the battery’s performance and service life, potentially leading to premature battery failure.

Battery-grade distilled water is purified water that is free from such harmful impurities and is the only recommended water for battery topping-up.

Free Replacement Warranty: During the free replacement warranty period, if the battery is found to have a manufacturing defect covered under the warranty terms, the battery will be replaced free of cost, as specified in the warranty card.

Pro-Rata Replacement Warranty:If the battery fails beyond the free replacement period, the customer is eligible for a proportionate discount on the prevailing MRP. The customer is required to pay the applicable amount as per the manufacturer’s pro-rata warranty terms and will receive a new battery in replacement, as specified in the warranty card.

A Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) battery is a sealed battery in which a restricted quantity of electrolyte is immobilised within an Absorptive Glass Mat (AGM) separator. During charging, the gases produced at the electrodes recombine to form water. Hence, there is no need for water topping-up in this battery.

For this recombination reaction to occur, a slightly higher internal pressure is maintained using a non-return safety valve. If the internal pressure exceeds the permissible limit, the excess pressure is released through the safety valve.

VRLA batteries are primarily used in applications that require reliable standby power, low maintenance, compact installation, and no water topping-up.

Examples: UPS systems, Telecommunications, Data centres, Security systems, Emergency lighting, Fire alarm systems, Medical equipment, Control systems, etc.

No, VRLA batteries are not recommended for inverter applications. These batteries are designed for UPS applications, where the usage is typically limited to 15 minutes. Using them in deep-cycle applications will drastically reduce their service life.

Yes. VRLA batteries must be charged using suitable constant-voltage chargers, with a maximum charging voltage of 14.8 V, to achieve 95–100% gas recombination and prevent cell heating and excessive gassing that could escape through the safety valve.

Constant Current charging is not recommended for VRLA batteries

Since VRLA batteries are generally used for standby applications, the recommended float charging voltage setting is 13.6–13.8 V for a 12 V battery.

Yes. VRLA batteries can be placed in either vertical or horizontal orientations. However, placing them upside down is not recommended, as it may damage the terminals.