Maintaining Stationary Batteries

All stationary batteries require maintenance. Properly maintained batteries will allow a user to realize optimum life of the batteries. Currently, standards exist for lead-acid stationary batteries and similar standards for nickel-cadmium stationary batteries are under development. These standards describe minimum maintenance requirements, but do not necessarily provide details for the visual inspections and tests recommended. Maintenance of stationary batteries, providing additional information on ``how´´ and ``why,´´ are addressed. Maintenance-free batteries are also discussed. Although the emphasis of the paper is on maintenance of lead-acid stationary batteries, information for nickelcadmium stationary batteries also will be highlighted.