Battery Technical Assistance

Q: You list battery Voltage. What does that mean?

A: Voltage refers to the power of the battery and different applications require different levels. For example, most car batteries are listed as 12 volt batteries.

Q: Your listed battery is a different Voltage. Can I still use it?

A: Generally not, but sometimes there are similar compatible ranges (See Below) However usually if the voltage is significantly different it will NOT be compatible

   Different manufactures sometimes use different nominal designations of voltage, so some are equivalent. For example, the following pairs are commonly interchangeable:

3.2V – 3.3V

7.2V – 7.4V

10.8V – 11.1V

14.4V – 14.8 V

21.6V – 22.2V

Any higher difference in Voltage will likely be harmful and you should not use the battery. Please contact us if you are unsure.

Q: Your batteries list an AH rating. What does this mean?

A: AH, which stand for Ampere Hours (or amp hours), refers to the capacity of the battery. Simply put, a higher AH rating on a battery will last for a longer period of time.

Q: If the Ampere Hours rating is different can I still use it?

A: Usually yes. If the Ampere hours rating is higher than the original it will usually still be compatible, and in fact may work even better as it has a higher capacity. However, if the Ampere Hours rating is lower than the original you may experience a shorter cycle life and/or run-time in the equipment.

   It is important to check the dimensions of a battery before purchase, as usually a higher capacity battery will need to be physically larger in order to accommodate the increased capacity.

Q: How long will a battery last?

A: A batteries run time (or how long it will last before needing to be recharged) depends on the requirements of the system it is powering.  Generally, when you replace a battery 2 or 3 years old the new battery will last longer as batteries tend to steadily perform worse over time.

Q: Will the new battery last longer than my old one?

A: Yes, If the Capacity is the same then the new battery will last roughly the same as your old battery when it was new. If the capacity is greater then it will be proportionately greater. E.G: If your old battery is 1000mah and the new battery is 1200mah then the new battery will last ~20% longer when new.

   Bear in mind batteries tend to degrade in performance over time.

Q: Why is there a difference in capacity?

A: There may be a difference in capacity for a number of reasons. Sometimes different manufactures create batteries with different capacity, or release new models with higher capacity. There are also differences in manufacturing priorities between the original part manufacturer and replacement parts. Remember that capacity does not need to be exactly the same to be compatible.

Q: I have seen the same battery advertised cheaper elsewhere. Why should I buy yours?

A: Batteries Direct strives to maintain quality customer service at the cheapest prices through legitimate supply chains. We can assure all products are labelled correctly with honest specifications and will happily assist you in purchasing, technical assistance and a fair returns policy.

   Many third-party seller websites have no regulations governing proper advertising and will often not assist with returns or repairs for faulty goods, nor are they restricted from mislabelling goods.

Q: I have a very specific, custom made battery. Can you replace it?

A: In most cases we can. Most batteries are not that unique and we can usually source a replacement given a few days. If the item truly is unique we can usually also custom manufacture a replacement for you, as long as we are provided detailed specifications and a sample of the item. 

Q: Can you fit a battery to my car?

A: Yes. We have a trained mechanic who can fit the battery to you vehicle for a nominal fee.

Q: Is fitting a battery hard?

A: Not usually. It can be done yourself with few tools. Just ensure you look up a proper installation guide online first. Be aware that not all vehicles are simple to change however, and your vehicle may require specialist work.

Q: My alarm battery needs replacing, can you supply those as well?

A: Yes. Alarm batteries are stand-by batteries and we can supply those and other general purpose batteries for use in everything from alarms, UPS systems, electric motors, etc.

Q: Some batteries require specific terminals, how do I know what I need?

A: Our website lists all battery terminals in the item description and there are images for visual confirmation. For clarity most car batteries use a post terminal, as do most batteries larger than ~40AH

Q: What other terminal types are there?

A: Some smaller general purpose batteries use different terminal types. Some alarm batteries use spade terminals. These come in two types, F1 and F2 type terminals. (Sometimes they are called T1 and T2)

Q: What's the difference?

A: F1 terminals are ~4.5mm wide. The F2 terminal is almost exactly the same, except is ~6.5mm wide. Double check the battery terminals before making a purchase.

Q: What about motorcycle battery terminals?

A: Motorcycle batteries use either screw terminals, or standing terminals. Usually however this is dictated by size and they are not usually interchangeable.

   Regardless we still recommend you always double the check the terminal before making a purchase.