FAQ'S

You may purchase an Okaya Power battery from any authorized dealer or distributor near you. You may also avail our new service which allows you to place an order online and have your battery delivered at your doorstep at no extra cost.

Okaya has served the battery industry for over a decade and now provides a full range of batteries to meet the different needs of every consumer. OPL uses the most superior technology and offers unique features to provide maximum choice to the consumer. We provide long warranty, customer friendly and prompt after sale services in tune with our commitment to quality.

The capacity of a battery to store charge is often expressed in Ampere hour (1 Ah = 3600 coulombs). If a battery can provide one ampere (1 A) of current (flow) for one hour it has a real world capacity of 1 Ah. If it can provide 1 A for 100 hours, its capacity is 100 Ah. Battery manufacturers use a standard method to determine how to rate their batteries.

The battery is discharged at a constant rate of current over a fixed period of time, such as 10 hours or 20 hours, down to a set terminal voltage per cell. So a 100 ampere-hour battery is rated to provide 5 A for 20 hours at room temperature. The efficiency of a battery is different at different discharge rates.

Warranty duration varies with brand and type of battery. Find a list of warranty durations on all OPL batteries here. Irrespective of warranty period, OPL batteries are made to serve for many years with our guiding promise “Okaya ka vaada, de backup zyaada!”

Pro-rata warranty is a kind of partial warranty that is used for non-repairable products like tires and batteries. Under Pro-rata warranty, if a product fails before the end of the warranty cycle, the manufacturer replaces it at a cost that depends on the age of the item at the time of complaint. In this type of warranty only a part of the initial cost is covered. However, the replaced product is then covered by an equal new warranty.

If your battery fails in the pro-rata warranty cycle then depending on the value of the battery, you will get discount on the current price of the newly replaced battery. The pro-rata warranty is counted from the date of purchase to the date of complain.

For example, if a battery has 12+12 (free of cost + pro-rata) months of warranty and it fails in the 18th month, then 75% (as 75% of its duty cycle is over) value of the battery will be deducted from its current price at that point of time and you will get 25% discount on the MRP of the newly replaced battery.

OPL inverter batteries come with a water level indicator installed by the service engineer at the time of installation of your battery. When the indicator moves down towards the red marking we have to add DM water (Demineralized water) until the indicator moves up to the green marking on the indicator. Be careful and don't add any excess water.

Lead acid batteries are 100% recyclable. Lead is the most recycled metal in the world today. The plastic containers and covers of old batteries are neutralized, reground and used in the manufacture of new battery cases. The electrolyte can be processed for recycled waste water uses. In some cases, the electrolyte is cleaned and reprocessed and sold as battery grade electrolyte. In other instances, the sulfate content is removed as Ammonia Sulfate and used in fertilizers. The separators are often used as a fuel source for the recycling process.

Yes, you may use a substitute as long as the voltage and dimensions are same. The capacity rating (shown in "Ah") may be slightly higher or lower than the original. This is fine and should not affect the unit. There are hundreds of battery manufacturers and many batteries are interchangeable. If you are in doubt, contact your nearby service station.

It may have been under charged or over charged. Check your charging device periodically to ensure it is working properly. Also, follow the do's and don'ts mentioned in the maintenance booklet supplied with your battery. If you are in doubt contact your nearby service station.

A float application requires the battery to be on constant charge with an occasional discharge. Cycle applications charge and discharge the battery on a regular bas

A deep cycle battery is designed with the ability of being discharged and charged hundreds of times. Many of these batteries may be totally discharged before they are ever recharged.

An OPL battery can remain in storage for a period of 3 months after which it requires a freshening charge which will bring up the battery to its optimum performance level. During storage batteries gradually lose charge due to unavoidable internal chemical reaction, this is called self-discharge. If the capacity loss due to self-discharge is not compensated by recharging the battery, the capacity may become irrecoverable. Temperature also plays an important role in determining the shelf life of a battery. Batteries are best stored at 25°C. When batteries are stored in areas where the ambient temperature varies, self-discharge can be greatly increased. Check the batteries every month and charge if necessary, as instructed in the maintenance manual.

Connecting your batteries in series will generate a higher voltage. The total voltage is the sum of all individual voltages. Connecting the batteries in parallel will increase the capacity or amp hours. When you connect your batteries in a "string" (either in parallel or series) and find a battery that is not charging properly, we suggest that the entire string to be replaced.

"A 12-volt lead acid battery is made up of six cells, each cell producing approximately above 2.1 volts that are connected in series from POSITIVE (+) terminal of the first cell to the NEGATIVE (-) terminal of the second cell and so on. Each cell is made up of an element containing positive plates that are all connected together and negative plates which are also connected together. They are individually separated with thin sheets of electrically insulating, porous material "envelopes" or "separators" that are used as spacers between the positive (usually dark chocolate) and negative (usually slate gray) plates to keep them from electrically shorting to each other. The plates within a cell, alternate with a positive plate, a negative plate and so on.

A battery is created by alternating two different metals such as Lead Dioxide (PbO2), the positive plates, and Sponge lead (Pb), the negative plates. Then the plates are immersed in diluted sulfuric acid (H2SO4), the electrolyte. The types of metals and the electrolyte used will determine the output of a cell. A typical fully charged lead acid battery produces approximately above 2.1 volts per cell. The action of the lead acid storage battery is determined by chemicals used, state-of-charge, temperature, porosity, diffusion, and load

When the active material in the plates can no longer sustain a discharge current, a battery "dies / ages". Normally a battery dies as the active positive plate material sheds (or flakes off) due to the normal expansion and contraction that occurs during the discharge and charge cycles. This causes a loss of plate capacity and brown sediment called sludge or "mud," that builds up in the bottom of the case can short the plates of a cell out. This will kill the battery as soon as the short occurs. In hot climates additional causes of failure are positive grid growth, positive grid metal corrosion, negative grid shrinkage, buckling of plates or loss of water. Deep discharge, heat, vibration, fast charging and over charging all accelerate the "aging" process. Approximately 50% of premature battery failures are caused by the loss of water due to the lack of maintenance, evaporation from high under hood heat or over charging. Positive grid growth and undercharging causing sulfation also cause premature failures."

Performing preventive maintenance on batteries is easy and should occur at least once a month during hot weather and every three months in cold weather.

Here are some simple steps to maintain your battery:

• Check the electrolyte level for non-sealed flooded batteries (with filler caps). The electrolyte level should be kept always above the minimum electrolyte level indicated by the level indicator. This can be done by adding only battery grade (de-mineralized) water, conforms to IS 1069.
• If the battery is not fully charged (100% State-of-Charge), recharge it with an external battery charger in a well ventilated area. This is because state-of-charge is based on the frequency of power cut in certain areas. Some terrains have been known to consistently undercharge the battery causing an accumulation of lead sulfate, known as sulfation. A gradual build up of sulfation will reduce the capacity as well as the life of the battery.
• Do not use tap water or water from residential Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems to refill batteries because it could contain chlorine, calcium or magnesium and produce chlorine gas or calcium or magnesium sulfate crystals. These crystals can gradually fill the pores or coat the plates which will reduce the battery's capacity and cause premature failure.
• Remove any corrosion, lead oxidation, paint or rust with a brass wire battery brush or with a "Scotch Brite" pad from the terminal's mating surfaces on both ends of each battery cables, battery posts, lugs or terminals. A stiff steel wire brush or sandpaper may damage protective lead plating on copper connectors or terminals. Corrosion is normally a white powdery substance, but could have other colors mixed in with it like gray, yellow or green. Heavy corrosion can be neutralized with a mixture of 120 gm of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) to 1.0 Liter of warm water. Bare metal to metal mating surfaces are required for very low electrical resistance and good current conductivity.

Corrosion is caused by one or more the following:

• Dirty or wet battery tops normally caused from expansion of electrolyte from overfilled cells or weeping from faulty battery terminal seals.
• Acid fumes leaking through the vent caps which could be a sign of over charging.
• Not enough battery box or room ventilation.
• Electrolysis due to the mismatch of metal alloys used in the battery posts, lugs, terminal clamps or terminals.
• Tighten loose hold down clamps to prevent excessive vibration, battery lugs, terminals and connectors.
• Clean the battery top to eliminate conductive paths created by dried or wet electrolyte and to prevent corrosion.
• Replace any battery cables (or cable terminals) that are corroding, swelling or damaged with equal or larger diameter cable. Larger cable and lugs, connectors or terminals are better because there is more surface area and less voltage drop."

Install a well-ventilated area, fully charge and test the new battery. If the battery is dry charged (shipped without electrolyte), add the electrolyte but do not overfill, let it stand for approximately one hour and then slowly charge the battery at the specified level mentioned in the maintenance manual.

• If a non-sealed wet battery, check the electrolyte levels before installation and "top up" to the proper level with demineralized water as required but do not over fill. The plates need to be covered with electrolyte at all times to prevent an internal battery explosion or sulfation.
• Carefully lift the old battery out and dispose of it by exchanging it when you buy your new replacement battery or by taking it to a recycling center. Please remember that batteries contain large amounts of harmful lead, acid and other chemicals so take great care with safety and please dispose of your old battery properly to protect our fragile environment.
• After removing the old battery, insure that the battery tray or box and cable lugs are clean. Battery stores sell an inexpensive brass wire brush that will clean the inside of post lug clamps and the post terminals. If the terminals, cables or hold-down brackets are corroded, replace them. Replace any battery cables that are corroding, swelling or other damage with equal or larger diameter cable. Larger cable is better because there is less voltage drop.
• Check the positive and negative terminal markings on the replacement battery and position it so that the NEGATIVE (-) cable will connect to the NEGATIVE (-) terminal. Reversing the polarity of the electrical system can severely damage or DESTROY it. It can even cause the battery to explode.
• Connect the cables in reverse order, i.e. attach the POSITIVE (+) cable first and the NEGATIVE (-) cable last. For terminals check the length of the bolt and do not tighten more than 8.5 N-m, or you could crack the battery case. Connections need to be periodically checked for corrosion (or oxidation) and re-tightened.
• To prevent corrosion, coat the terminals and exposed metal parts with high temperature grease or white petroleum jelly."

• An equalizing charge is a special charge given to a battery when non-uniformity in voltage has developed between cells. It is given to restore all cells to a fully charged condition. Use a charging voltage higher than the normal float voltage i.e., 2.45 VPC for a maximum period of 24 hours.
• Non-uniformity of battery voltages may result from low/high float voltage due to improper adjustment of the charger or error in panel voltmeter reading. Ensure accurate setting and monitoring of float voltage.

It is required to equalize batteries when one or more of the following occur:

• Where the temperature compensated specific gravity reading difference between cells is 0.030 (or 30 "points") or greater.
• When one cell requires more water than all the other cells.
• When one cell does not require as much water as all of the other cells.

Additional words of caution and charging tips:

• Help prevent blindness and always wear safety glasses when working around deep cycle battery in the unlikely event that it might explode.
• Use the battery manufacturer's charging recommendations and temperature compensated voltages whenever possible for optimum capacity, maintenance and service life.
• Match the charger (or charger's setting) for the battery type you are recharging (or maintaining) and insure the charging voltages are compatible.
• Lead-acid batteries should always be recharged within 24 hours after they have been used and sooner the better. Before recharging, check the electrolyte and insure that it is not frozen (cold climate) and that it covers the plates at all times to prevent sulfation and to reduce the possibility of an internal explosion. Do not recharge frozen batteries because you will damage them. Allow them to thaw out first.
• After recharging, recheck the electrolyte levels after the battery has cooled, top up with de-mineralized water as required, but do not overfill.
• Reinstall the vent caps on wet (flooded) batteries before recharging and recharge ONLY in well-ventilated areas because explosive and toxic gasses can be produced during the absorption stage. Insure the vent caps are not clogged. Do not expose lead-acid batteries to a lit cigarette, sparks or flames because they produce flammable gasses and could explode.
• Follow the charger manufacturers' procedures for connecting and disconnecting cables. Connect the positive (+) lead of the charger to the positive (+) terminal post of the battery to be charged and the negative (-) lead of the charger to the negative (-) terminal post. Operate in a manner to minimize the possibility of an explosion or incorrectly charging the battery. You should always turn the charger OFF or unplug it before connecting or disconnecting cables to a battery. Do not wiggle the cable clamps while the battery is recharging, because a spark might cause an explosion. Good ventilation or a fan is recommended to disperse the gas created by the recharging process for wet batteries. As a safety feature, some chargers are designed not operate unless the battery has a partial charge or if the leads are reversed.
• If a wet battery becomes hot, over 125° F (51.5° C), or if it violently gasses or spews electrolyte, turn the charger off temporarily or reduce the charging rate. This will also prevent "thermal runaway" that can occur with AGM (Ca/Ca) VRLA batteries if the battery temperature is over 100°F (37.8° C).
• Insure that charging the battery with an external charger will not damage the electrical system or appliances with high voltages. If this is even a remote possibility, then disconnect the grounded battery cable from the battery before connecting the charger to the battery.
• If a battery is charged with a manual or defective charger and all the electrolyte is "boiled" out, some batteries can cause a FIRE or produce DEADLY CO (Carbon Monoxide) or other gasses.
• Routinely tighten cables connections.
• Do not recharge batteries with cracked or leaking battery cases.
• Continuous float charging or periodic recharging will prevent batteries from freezing. An electrolyte freeze points at various states-of-charge for a wet lead acid battery table indicates the temperature when the electrolyte will freeze.

The most important consideration in increasing the overall service life of a lead-acid battery is preventive maintenance. Protecting your battery from high temperatures with a heat shield or case, keeping it full charged at all times, and maintaining it are the easiest ways to extend it's life. In hot climates and during summer, the electrolyte levels need to be checked more frequently. For every increase of 18° F (10° C) above 77° F (25° C), positive grid corrosion or self-discharge rate is doubled. Periodically check the State-of-Charge of batteries. Based on charging systems sometimes it will undercharge the battery causing an accumulation of lead sulfate known as sulfation. This sulfation reduces the capacity of the battery. If the battery is not fully charged, recharge it periodically with an external battery charger matched to the battery type. Reducing the average DoD (Depth-of-Discharge) and the number of discharge/charge cycles, by proper deep cycle battery or battery bank sizing will significantly increase a deep cycle battery service life. If required, give periodic equalizing charge. Equalizing can also prevent electrolyte stratification, which can cause sulfation. In cold climates, increasing the diameter of the battery cables will reduce the voltage loss. Never discharge any 12-volt lead-acid battery below 10.5 volts because it can damage the battery. Provide adequate ventilation. High ambient temperatures above 80° F (or 26.7° C) will shorten battery life because it increases positive grid corrosion, growth and VRLA "thermal runaway"."

VRLA stands for Valve Regulated Lead Acid. This type of technology covers both Gel batteries and AGM batteries. VRLA batteries are also called "recombinant" batteries.

During charge, oxygen is normally produced by the positive plate of a lead acid battery where it is carried up through the liquid electrolyte and out gassed. In a similar fashion hydrogen is released from the negative plate, and along with the oxygen loss results in an overall water loss from the battery. In a VRLA battery, the oxygen migrates to the negative plate and is "recombined". This prevents hydrogen generation at the negative plate under normal charge conditions and water (H20) is produced instead. The recombining is accomplished by using pressure vents (valves) in the cover of the battery.

This is why a VRLA battery does not vent gases under normal operating conditions and never needs water. This is also why a VRLA battery should never be opened. Opening would add additional oxygen and cause an imbalance in the system. The pressure relief valve could also be damaged and result in future malfunctions. Opening a VRLA battery will void the warranty

Yes. OKAYA VRLA batteries can be installed in any orientation except inverted position.

For VRLA batteries water top-up is not required. In case of flooded batteries, periodic top-up is to be done with battery grade (de-mineralized) water conforming to IS 1069.

A GEL battery is a VRLA battery that has an internal construction very similar to a traditional flooded lead acid battery. The difference is that a gelling agent is added to the electrolyte and pressure vents are added to the cover of the battery. GEL batteries can bring out gas early in life until the gel dries out and cracks form in the Gel to allow recombination. The gelled electrolyte can also flow which mean there are limitations in mounting orientations.

AGM stands for Absorbed Glass Mat. An AGM battery is a VRLA battery that has its entire amount of electrolyte "absorbed" in the separator material. The separator acts like a sponge and is saturated to approximately 98% (over 100% would mean free acid in the battery). This is why an AGM battery is spill-proof and can be mounted in virtually any position.

Both batteries are sealed and are part of the VRLA family. Gel batteries typically excel in extreme deep cycling applications. Gel batteries do not do particularly well in temperatures less than 32°F due to increased impedance from the Gel and are not appropriate for high power applications. Gel batteries also have a low recharge voltage that prohibits their use unless special charging regimes are followed (typical alternator voltage is too high).

AGM batteries have a lower internal resistance than Gel batteries allowing them to excel in high power and current applications. This lower resistance also gives the AGM battery a significant advantage in delivering its power in very cold temperatures.

A gel cell or gelled electrolyte is a sealed battery containing semi-solid electrolyte and may also be identified as a sealed lead acid, AGM (absorbed glass mat) or VRLA type battery. AGM batteries are sometimes referred to as starved electrolyte because the fiberglass mat contained within the cell is saturated only 95% with acid and there is no excess liquid. Nearly all AGM batteries are VRLA or valve regulated. VRLA batteries are designed with a valve that allows the battery to keep a slight positive pressure

An AGM battery should have ventilation due to the chance of overcharging thus opening the pressure valves where gases can be expelled. This is a safety precaution that must be adhered to with all lead acid batteries. Moreover, vented areas are required for dissipation of heat which may be generated due to overcharging.

Over years of AGM products and experience in the market place in a wide variety of demanding applications. Some of the applications that use our AGM batteries are automotive, marine, motive power, telecommunications and network backup power to name a few.

The AGM is an acid starved battery that cannot be accessed. Because of the limited electrolyte in the battery special charging guidelines must be followed. If the battery is overcharged, off gassing will occur and the battery can prematurely fail from drying out.

The answer is also similar to why an AGM battery cycles better. The matting material along with compression technology provides a rock solid cell that dramatically improves vibration performance.

One reason is due to the matting material and how the battery is manufactured. The main failure mode from cycling is the paste wear out and shedding away from the grid. The matting material acts like re-bar in concrete and adds support to the paste. This support is enhanced by compressing the cell in manufacturing. Each cell in an AGM battery is compressed 25 - 30% before being inserted into the container. This combination allows the paste to last longer than in a flooded lead acid battery.

An AGM battery has no free electrolyte in the battery. All available acid is absorbed in the matting material.

If the battery was always operated under ideal conditions then the battery could be mounted in any position. But the possibility for overcharging the battery exists. When the battery is overcharged the pressure vents will open. Gases will escape the battery and can condense in certain ambient conditions to form acid. This acid would puddle up if the battery was mounted upside down.

Instead of exporting your surplus solar energy to the grid for a low feed in tariff, your solar battery will store any excess electricity allowing you to use it at night time when your solar PV system is not generating any energy.

By using your own “free” stored solar generation rather than buying electricity from the grid for full price, you’ll save a substantial amount on electricity bills.

In the case of grid failure, on-grid solar system automatically shuts off. A working grid connected solar system in such situation can be lethally dangerous to the workers attempting to fix power outages. If you have a diesel generator as backup, the solar system can work in synchronization with it.

Solar systems typically require very little maintenance. In highly dusty environments present in majority of India, regular cleaning of solar panels will ensure maximum production. Inverters need to be replaced every 10 years.

No. Though maintenance of solar systems is indeed negligible compared to any other energy generator, it doesn’t mean that these are maintenance free. In fact, the lack of proper monitoring and maintenance is one of the key issues of their failure in delivering adequate results in many cases.

Your solar power system can be detached from your current system and reinstalled on the new roof as and when required. In case you want to sell your property, you can either sell the solar PV system to the new buyer or get it detached and reinstalled on your new roof.

Yes, before installing a solar battery (and PV system) you’ll need to gain approval from your energy provider.