MK GEL Batteries never need to be equalized. Here is why: One reason why batteries are equalized is to combat voltage separation from cell to cell within a battery. A 12-volt battery is composed of six 2-volt cells connected in series internally. A 12-volt battery reading 12.6 volts on a voltmeter should equal 2.1 volts per cell. However, when batteries are manufactured in a one ­shot process cell, where the plates are activated within the battery, one cell may receive more or less electrolyte than the other five cells of that battery. When this happens a battery’s cells may equal:

2.13v - 2.12v - 2.13v - 2.11v -2.09v - 2.11v. (Sum=12.6 volts)

As a battery is discharged, the cells with the lower voltage will be drained further than the cells at the higher voltage. As the same battery is charged, the cells with the high voltage will be fully charged before the cells with the lower voltage. The more a battery is cycled, the more the cell separation takes place. Equalizing batteries helps to bring all the cells of a battery to the same voltage.

Our batteries are manufactured using tank formation to activate the plates. This process guarantees a fully formed and voltage matched plate. The extra handling of the plates provides an additional inspection step in the process to verify plate quality. Plates from hundreds of batteries are formed in a tank all at once providing not only balance from cell to cell of a battery, but also balance from battery to battery of a batch.

When liquid electrolyte or acid stratifies, the heavier charged ions actually sink to the bottom of the cell, leaving discharged acid at the top. This allows the top of the plates to oxidize and corrode reducing performance and shortening life. The bottoms of the plates also corrode due to the action of the higher strength acid. This can happen in Stationary applications, such as the solar industry, because the battery never moves.

Because our electrolyte is a thick-consistency gel, this acid stratification can never happen, so no, it is not necessary to equalize your MK GEL Batteries.

Overcharging shortens the life of ALL batteries!

It is true that MK GEL batteries are charged at a lower voltage than most batteries. Our batteries should be charged to no more than 2.35 volts per cell or 14.1 volts for a 12-volt battery at 68º F. The charging voltage of a battery varies with temperature so you should always use a temperature compensating charging system.

Overcharging any Sealed Valve Regulated battery, GEL or AGM will shorten battery life for reasons listed below:

SVR batteries are a “recombinant” battery. This means that the oxygen gas that is normally produced on the positive plate in all lead acid batteries recombines with the hydrogen ions on the negative plate.. The “recombination” of hydrogen and oxygen produces water, which replaces the moisture in a battery. The recombination reaction will preserve most of the water if the battery is charged at the appropriate rates.

Overcharging a SVR battery will overwhelm the recombination reaction and cause permanent water loss. In essence the battery dies of dehydration. The more the battery is overcharged, the quicker it will dry out. This is true of all Sealed Valve Regulated Batteries, GEL or AGM.

Batteries are charged at different voltages for different temperatures. Batteries are charged at lower voltages in high temperatures and higher voltages in lower temperatures. For this reason you want to make sure your temperature probe is plugged in and functioning correctly.

All of the above being said, a GEL Battery will not be immediately ruined due to overcharging. Below is a chart of expected cycle life of our GEL Battery when charging is done at the recommended voltage and at various degrees of overcharging. Keep in mind that the recommended voltage changes with temperature. See the below chart for the correct voltage/temperature setting.