Hello readers, welcome to the new post. Here we will discuss WHAT ARE GEL BATTERIES? All You Need to Know. The gel battery is a valve-regulated, maintenance-free lead-acid battery. Gel batteries are versatile batteries and easily structured. These batteries generated few fumes and were used in areas without ventilation. Let’s get started with WHAT ARE GEL BATTERIES?
What is a gel battery?
- Gel batteries are types of batteries that use gel-like electrolytes. The gel-like electrolyte is obtained by mixing sulfuric acid with silica, which helps to stiffen it and make it more viscous than liquid.
- Gel batteries are made to handle issues that are faced with the use of famous wet lead-acid batteries.
- Though gel batteries are mostly like lead-acid batteries in the form of design and working operation, they differ in components.
- As a lead-acid battery uses a liquid electrolyte solution, the gel battery works on a viscous electrolyte. The electrolyte comes with sulfuric acid mixed with silica for hardener. Since silica provides a solution gel-like layout, solar gel batteries do not release fumes like traditional batteries.
- The solar gel battery is light and stable. As a result, they can be easily connected. These batteries also have a longer working life and have charges higher than normal batteries.
- These batteries also have features of longer use of gel batteries for solar panels.
- They are no longer working, and different features help to be used in medical instruments, electronic devices, and marine instruments.
How Does a Gel Battery Work?
- The gel battery, known as a cell battery, is a valve-regulated lead-acid battery. The battery parts are electrolyte and sulfuric acid with a combination of silica fumes. The existence of silica in gel batteries resulted in a chemical reaction that made static gel-like materials called gel batteries.
- Gel batteries are created with flat or tubular positive plates. These batteries use an immobile gel mass in using electrolyte and sulfuric acid like a normal lead-acid battery.
- These batteries come with a single-way system of open valves that helps gases to recombine with water. It makes them need less maintenance as there is no need to check the water level at the top.
- These batteries are versatile and generate less gas or fumes. As a result, they connected in limited ventilation.
How to select accurate charge controller for gel batteries
- There must be special parameters for choosing chargers for gel batteries since they are charged at low voltages.
- Overlvotlate can cause damage and affect operation. In some conditions, the GEL cell is used to seal, maintenance-free batteries and mentioned as a setting on the charge controller. It can cause the wrong selection of charges during charging.
- For using other charging techniques such as alternators, proper regulators are needed to connect for changing voltage.
- Normal charging voltage values of batteries is 14 volts to 14.2 volts and the float voltage value is 13.1 to 13.3 volts
Advantages of Solar Gel Batteries
- Solar gel batteries are created with gel-like materials then liquid, so they need less maintenance.
- Wet cell batteries come with high chances of leakage though they come with plastic casing. While for solar gel batteries reverse phenomena occur. Due to the gel material and pressure removing valve in these batteries no chance of leakage.
- These batteries are spill-proof, which makes it best to use them in horizontal and vertical positions. This feature is best for different uses.
- This battery is best to use for deep cycle uses since they have 500 to 5000 cycle life cycles. It means it can be discharged more and get recharged like a new battery.
- These batteries come with non-conductive plastics on the external, making them resistant to vibrations, shocks, etc. So best to use for 4 wheelers.
- It also has fewer chances of spillage. So there is not a chance of sulfuric acid burns and instruments damaging.
Disadvantages of Gel Batteries
- Its cost is high.
- High temperatures can affect acid and make gel hard and shrink from plates.
- If it gets overcharged, water will not be refilled.
- There is a need for special type regulators and chargers.
AGM or Gel Battery
These two batteries have many similarities and it is considered that the AGM battery is best. But some think that gel batteries is better than AGM. For finding the best one here are some points explained.
What Does AGM Battery Mean?
The AGM battery stands for Absorbent Glass Mat and is a VLRA battery having sealed battery technology. In this battery, there is an electrolyte configured in thin fiberglass mats with lead plates on both sides. The ultrathin glass mat, known as the AGM separator, soaks up the glass mat, offering larger surface areas for the reaction between the electrolyte and lead plates.
The valve regulates pressure in the battery protecting the structure. AGM batteries are best for many deep-cycle uses. For example off-grid power uses and aviation
AGM vs. Gel Battery Comparison
- Gel batteries are more costly than AGM batteries.
- The charging of AGM batteries is fast and has charge, while gel batteries can get overcharged and need tapered chargers.
- Gel batteries have high inner resistance, so they are not used for high-current devices and are not used as starter batteries, while AGM has less inner resistance and is used for starter batteries.
- In gel batteries, thin plates are used, and the electrolyte is suspended in a gel. The electrolyte is suspended through a fiberglass mat with thick plates to avoid leakage.
- Gel has good heat tolerance and is best for high temperatures, operating well in points where ventilation is poor. AGAM operates heat poorly since the glass mat works as an insulator, and it is best to use low temperatures.
Differences Between Dry Batteries and Gel Batteries
Structure
- The basic difference is that dry batteries come with disposable cells, and they are non-rechargeable batteries, and when discharged, they need to be replaced.
- While a gel battery is a rechargeable battery and used for a longer time.
Electrolyte
- Dry batteries use electrolyte paste that provides a chemical reaction in the cell and avoids recharging. While gel batteries use gel-type electrolytes and make spillproof electrolytes through providing immobility.
Maintenance
- Dry batteries needed low maintenance since they were destroyed after use. A gel battery requires frequent maintenance since it is a recharging battery and needs cleaning of terminals for a longer working life.
FAQs
What is a gel battery used for?
Which is better, gel or lithium battery?
How long does a gel battery last?
Is a gel battery good for an inverter?
What is the difference between a 100Ah and a 200Ah gel battery?
Can gel batteries be used in extreme temperature conditions?
Yes, the gel battery is used for high-temperature conditions since it has features for working in these conditions.
What is the principle of a gel battery?
Why are gel batteries ideal for marine applications?
Gel batteries come with sealed features and a spill-proof electrolyte that is safe and best to use in marine conditions.