These type of batteries should never be referred to as “sealed” or “maintenance-free” batteries because they are neither. Definitions The Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) technology is also sometimes referred to as “Absorbed Electrolyte”, “Immobilized Electrolyte” or “Starved Electrolyte.” They derive the name from the methodology used to immobilize the liquid dilute sulfuric acid electrolyte. A […]
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The Financial Case for Battery and Power System Upgrades When you look up the definition of ROI (Return on Investment) on the Web, the definition is quite clear: “Return on investment (ROI) is a ratio between net profit (over a period) and cost of investment (resulting from an investment of some resources at a point […]
Almost all non-Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) battery related codes were written with the Vented Lead-Acid (VLA) in mind. VLA is the correct IEEE term for a battery that has free-flowing, liquid, dilute sulfuric acid electrolyte that allows gases generated during charging to be vented out of the battery. Because of this design, […]
Lead-Acid (LA) and Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) vent hydrogen and oxygen when they are being charged. In the case of Valve-Regulated designs, the hydrogen is recombined with the oxygen within the battery back into water until the gassing volume/pressure exceeds the opening setting of the pressure relief valve. Hence the name “Valve-Regulated.” Oxygen gas is harmless, […]
Clarifying Two Key Methods for Evaluating Battery Health The first point is that resistance testing and impedance testing are carried out by similar but importantly different methods; resistance is measured by using a DC current to perturb (excite) the cell, while impedance uses an oscillating (AC) current. The resistance method eliminates other parameters present in […]
Realistic Battery Life Stationary batteries of all chemistries are usually rated in watts or Ampere-hours (Ah) which indicates the amount of power (current) that can be delivered over a period of time. These ratings are dependent upon operating temperature and depth of discharge. They are also rated in terms of expected years of useful service […]
How to Monitor and Maintain Battery Systems in Hard-to-Reach Places On the evening of Thursday August 14, 2003 electrical power began to fail and soon a major power outage struck across large parts of the northeast United States and Eastern Canada including dozens of major cities. Fifty million people were affected, and the estimated cost […]