I&M Electric

We are a supplier of Deka / East Penn / Pow-R-Surge Batteries and a distributor of Trojan Batteries. We cover all battery types from Automotive, Marine, Solar, Standby Power, Emergency Power, Recreation and more.

Battery Education

How and Why Batteries Lose Power

A battery will lose power temporarily as it is discharged. This can be reversed. Recharging restores this power. Permanent power loss results from the effects of slow degradation of the battery components over time. This can not be reversed. Eventually, the battery will need to be replaced.
Parasitic draws — Small loads that are used to power electrical devices such as digital clocks and electronic control modules when the ignition is off.
Inactivity and storage — The longer a battery sits the more it will become discharged. The ground cables should be disconnected if the battery is going to be unused for over 30 days.
Incorrect storage — The battery should always be stored upright to prevent electrolyte from escaping.
Temperature — Higher temperatures accelerate aging and self-discharge. Lower temperatures slow aging and self-discharge, but the battery delivers less starting power when cold.
Customer driving habits — Short trips may prevent the battery from being fully recharged, which can damage the battery over the long term. Vehicles such as taxis that sit idling for long periods can generate enough engine heat to damage the battery.

Causes of Battery Failure

Factors important in determining the cause of failure are application, installation, electrical service history and physical stress.

Proper Application and Installation

Is the battery being used in the application for which it was designed? A standard automotive battery used in a recreation vehicle designed for a deep cycle battery is an obvious misapplication.
Is the battery sized properly for the application? Both the cranking performance and reserve capacity rating must meet the vehicle’s requirements.
Does the vehicle have excessive electrical accessories, particularly those which have been added to the vehicle? Examples of added accessories include winches, lights, amplifiers, etc. If additional accessories have been added, a battery with greater performance and/or a larger charging system may be required.
Is the battery firmly secured in the vehicle? Have hold downs, heat shields, or battery trays been modified? Does the battery’s BCI Group Size match the vehicle’s OE requirements or equivalent?
Are the battery connections clean and properly adjusted to fit the battery terminals? Have the terminals been converted from side to top terminals or vice versa? Has the battery been relocated close to high temperature sources?

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  Optima Battery

  OPTIMA RedTop™ batteries are designed for short term high current applications such as starting engines, and short high amp uses of a winch motor. They do not like to be "deep cycled" (like ALL automotive...

  $219.00

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  Optima Battery Yellow Top

  Optima Yellow Top Battery - Deep Cycle performance   The YellowTop® high-performance AGM battery is one of the only true dual-purpose automotive batteries available. With premium cranking power and unparalleled cycling capability (rechargeability), it is...

  $259.00