Gel Battery

Why are gel batteries called care-free batteries?

These types of batteries are also known as carefree batteries. This is because these energy cells require no refilling with distilled water and are virtually smoke-free. Their lifetime is significantly longer than that of conventional versions. With minimal maintenance, such as the use of a gel battery charger, their lifetime can be extended even further.

How is this possible? A gel battery charger keeps them in operation during daily use, gives them an optimal cycle life and protects them from discharging. However, you can only restore your gel battery to working condition with a special automatic charger. These smart chargers start with a relatively fast charge and then switch to trickle charging after a certain charge level to achieve greater efficiency.

Which appliances should we use gel batteries to power?

Gel batteries are available in a wide range of capacities and voltages and can therefore be used in many applications. These types of batteries are most commonly used to power a variety of electrical devices, alarms or uninterruptible power supplies. They are not really suitable for starting cars. As the electrolyte layer in this type of battery is not a liquid but a gel, when charging it is important to ensure that the battery is disconnected from the mains as soon as it reaches its maximum charge level. Otherwise, the gel layer may be seriously damaged and bubbles may form.

This can damage the cells and lead to a loss of capacity. In addition, overpressure may occur which cannot escape through the cover. In such a case, the battery casing slowly starts to bulge, and in extreme cases the battery simply drops the cover. However, this problem can be avoided by using an automatic gel battery charger, which disconnects the battery from the mains at maximum charge.

Can gel batteries be used indoors?

Gel batteries are designed to reduce the formation of gases, so they can be used safely indoors without releasing harmful gases into the environment. This is particularly useful in server rooms, where the continuous operation of uninterruptible power supplies is essential in some cases.

What to look out for when buying a gel battery?

With batteries, it is good to know that each battery has several voltage ratings that determine the operating ranges recommended by the manufacturer. Probably the most important parameter is the nominal voltage, which for gel batteries is usually 6 V, 12 V or 24 V. Manufacturers also usually specify a minimum discharge voltage, in this case the final voltage at which the charge must be switched off to avoid damage to the battery from discharge.

For gel batteries, the safety limit is usually 1.75 V per cell, which is 5.25 V for a 6 V battery. If the battery is a 12 V battery, this is 10.5 V. However, for a 24 V version, this rises to 21 V. It is also worth paying attention to the voltage that the battery can reach when charging. For gel batteries, this is typically around 2.4 V per cell. When choosing a gel battery, you should also make sure that it is compatible with the requirements of the device you want to connect it to.

As mentioned above, the most common batteries are 6V, 12V or 24V, although in some situations a suitable combination of two or more batteries is possible. For example, by connecting two 12V batteries in series, a 24V battery can be substituted. But you also need to consider the capacity of the battery, expressed in ampere-hours, for how long it can power the appliance at a certain current level, as well as its operating time.