Lead Acid Battery
Classification
Lead acid batteries are
classified by what they are used for and by construction. The most common flooded
lead acid battery
application is automotive in which the battery is briefly hit with high amperage starting
then
the alternator takes care of the rest: lights etc. Deep cycle applications
where there is a long duration with lower amperage load are usually broken down into specific
applications such as RV, golf cart, renewable energy, industrial and marine.
Batteries designed for backup systems are designed for long duration standby and
have different chemicals added for this reason.
There are three popular types of storage batteries for off grid
applications: flooded batteries (wet) , AGM and Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA
) batteries. The
electrolyte all of these batteries is a solution of sulphuric acid and water.
AGM batteries have their electrolyte is suspended in
a fiberglass mat (AGM technology), and are sealed allowing these batteries to be mounted in a
variety of positions including indoors.
Gel batteries are not recommend
for off-grid because they do not release their charge as quick as may be
required and they can only be charged gently as any air bubble created by hard
charging or overcharge can create voids against the plates. Such a void remains
for the lifetime of the battery. .
VRLA and AGM are generally 2 to
3 times as expensive as flooded, and the cycle lifetime is usually similar.
So why and where would these batteries be used?
Lighted
buoys, sailboat batteries.. are two examples of areas where AGM batteries
are frequently used.
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