What gives Trojan batteries their superior level of quality?

Our Maxguard Advanced Design Separator, Alpha Plus paste formulation, and performance engineering work together to make Trojan the best deep cycle batteries available. Our exclusive Maxguard Separator is a design that delivers superior electrolyte distribution, lower water usage and reduced positive shedding. So our deep cycle batteries last significantly longer. Our proprietary Alpha Plus formulation, the paste that powers Trojan, is second to none, and is the key ingredient to long battery life. Trojan Floor Machine and Aerial Lift batteries feature our new Polyon case - it's lighter, sturdier, and safer. Its new trestle design delivers added strength and stability. Under normal service conditions, the specially formulated polyfoam material won't split or crack like rubber. And it also comes with handles so it's easier to get a grip on.

Does Trojan offer gel or AGM battery?

Trojan offers both types. The Trojan Supergel Cycling Series product is a gel battery and the Trojan AGM Series product is an absorbed glass mat battery.

Does Trojan ship their batteries filled with electrolyte?

Within the continental United States, Trojan batteries are shipped filled with electrolyte and fully charged. International export shipments usually require the batteries to be moist-dry processed to minimize the battery weight and the potential for spillage during transit. Once a moist-dry battery is filled with electrolyte and properly activated, its performance and life will be the same as that of a regular battery. A moist-dry battery must be activated within six (6) months of delivery.

Miscellaneous

What are some common myths associated with batteries?

Half of a non-buffered aspirin in each cell and then a fast charge breaks up sulfation and extends battery life- Aspirin forms ascetic acid which attacks the positive grid and active material.

Storing a battery on concrete will discharge it quicker- Long ago, when battery cases were made out of natural rubber, this was true. Now, however, battery cases are made of polypropylene or other modern materials that allow a battery to be stored anywhere. A battery's rate of discharge is affected by its construction, its age, and the ambient temperature. The main issue with storing on concrete is that if the battery leaks, the concrete will be damaged.

Why do manufacturers use different alloys in their batteries (lead-calcium, lead-antimony, lead-selenium, etc.)?
The composition of the plate grid alloy can have a major effect on operating characteristics, such as behavior on float charging and cycle life. Older lead-antimony designs have good cycling capability but require frequent water additions, particularly towards the end of life, due to antimony migration between the plates. Cells with lead-calcium alloys require far less watering, but tend to have a poor cycle life. Lead-selenium alloys are actually low-antimony types with the addition of selenium as a hardening agent. Such alloys promote good cycling capability, while maintaining a constant and fairly low level of water consumption. Many variants on these alloy types are commercially available.

How do you read the date codes on the batteries?
Positive Terminal- Manufacturing Date. This code indicates the actual date when mechanical assembly of the battery was completed. At this point, electrolyte has not been added to the battery and formation charging has not taken place. LETTER stands for the month and could be anything from A to L (A=January, B=February, C=March, and so on),; NUMBER stands for the date.
Negative Terminal- Shipping Date. This code indicates the month and year when the battery was shipped out of our factory. LETTER stands for the month (see below); NUMBER is the last digit of the year.

Example: A battery with "I26" stamped on the positive terminal and "J2" on the negative. "I26" means that the battery was assembled, without electrolyte, on September 26th. "J2" means that it was shipped from our factory around October of 2002.