Should I charge sealed battery before use?

[dontlikeoc]

Should I charge a sealed battery before using it? The instructions says that you should start using it without charging. I have a 12V 1A rate charger I am thinking of using.

[cywelchjr]

You should follow the instructions with the battery. I'm guessing that the sealed battery in question is shipped fully charged, and unless you have an auto floating charger made for that type of battery you might damage it trying to charge it before first use.

[Geezer]

You should always do a trickle charge on a new battery to top it up. There's no good reason to install a battery that isn't fully charged...

Tony

[cycleguy]

When all else fails--read instructions!

[clcorbin]

I just installed a new SLA battery in my 79F. The battery came dry, so I had to add the acid (Interstate Batteries has a really nice 6 compartment acid tank that makes filling each cell to the proper level absolutely trivial), wait 30 minutes then charge it. In my case, I have a fairly decent electronic charger, so I was able to get it fully charged with no worries on overheating it.

[Schming]

Jat...

A digital multimeter is almost necessary and answers alot of questions when maintaining any machine...of course one has to foller 'structions

[dontlikeoc]

The sealed battery was delivered today. Absolutely no instructions. but the body of the battery clearly says that "the initial current less than 6.6 Amp" = one third of the spec capacity. This would make me want to trickle charge it overnight anyway. (I will cover it up with a cardboard box in case the Chinese battery explodes.)

How long should I leave the charger on without overcharging? The battery capacity if 22 Amp and the claimed initial current is less than 6.6 Amp. My charger does it at 1 AMP/h. Would 16-18 hours be OK?