My Experience Living Off the Grid. Battery Maintenance: A properly maintained battery is important for the ultimate in service life. Electrolyte being used in Gel batteries has a look of jelly whereas the AGM batteries have electrolyte absorbed in glass mat like separators. Comparing the Two Battery Types. The VRLA battery can now be produced using two differing technologies. Gel cell batteries are deep cycle batteries that contain an electrolyte which is suspended in a gel solution between lead plates. AGM batteries are safer and more durable when being moved from place to place, but can easily be ruined during the charging process Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Tubular gel battery There are distinct advantages of lead-acid battery technology compared to lithium-ion battery & other electrochemical systems. These batteries must be charged at a lower voltage to prevent overcharging. Carefully select the right charge controller for your gel batteries. When I first started living off the grid in 1996, I had never … Gel Battery vs. Lithium-ion: A Comparison of energy storage There is a wide range of energy storage options when it comes to the stationary power market. Both types of battery are VRLA batteries and are equipped with a vent valve. Absorbed glass mat technology (AGM) has lower internal resistance, while GEL technology has better thermal stability and cycle life. The main difference between AGM and GEL batteries is that a GEL deep cycle battery is constructed by using a gel paste in which the electrolyte is suspended inside the battery case. We have a 50 KVA solar panel and we were using Exide tubular batteries with 5 yrs guarantee. • When storing a chair or scooter for more than two weeks, charge the batteries then disconnect them. Gel batteries are a type of lead acid batteries, but built with with a gel electrolyte, which is designed to mix with the sulfuric acid and fumed silica. They are maintenance-free. This liquid does make it spill-proof, like our AGM batteries, but the gel is fragile, and can be easily burned if used in high amperage situations. This Thixotropic gelled electrolyte contains sulfuric acid, fumed silica, pure demineralized and deionized water, and a phosphoric acid. • Avoid hot and cold extremes when storing. AGM and gel cell batteries cannot tolerate quick speed charging like the standard battery chargers create. This jelly is then used as the electrolyte. Home; Blog; What is a Gel Battery? Compared to ordinary batteries, gel batteries are much lighter. Gel batteries are leak-proof, offer low self-discharge (1-3% per month), long life in cycle and excellent resistance to shocks. Gel batteries contain a gelled electrolyte which is “Thixotropic”. Affordability, reliability, recyclability and safety are key issues in choosing the right battery for a particular application and lead-acid batteries will score highly in these categories. What is a gel battery? High amperage situations can literally 'SCAR' the jelly inside of a GEL battery, creating a pocket. The so-called Gel-technology ensures maximum battery tightness, as well as non-serviceability of the power source, the principle of which is not much different from ordinary batteries. The Benefit of an advanced Sealed Gel Battery Battery technology has changed tremendously in just the past few years. Hot temperatures can affect adversely acid can turn the gel hard and may shrink away from plates. Batteries in this condition suffer early failure from sulphation, capacity loss and grid corrosion. Overcharging gel batteries may cause it to be permanently porous and this will affect the battery’s life span. Finally, gel batteries are best suited for deep discharge as they are more acid starved, protecting plates better compared to AGM batteries. When Gel batteries were introduced into the industry, they were roughly 4 times the cost of a lead acid battery. A gel battery is a type of lead-acid battery that contains an electrolyte that is in the form of a gel. A gel car battery has less acid than common deep-cycle car batteries. A gelling agent is added to the electrolyte to reduce movement inside the battery case. There are certain restrictions when charging a gel battery. Many gel batteries also use one way valves in place of open vents, this helps the normal internal gasses to recombine back into water in the battery, reducing gassing. Gel batteries tend to lose power faster than AGM batteries, especially at lower temperatures. Special chargers and regulators are required. With a long service life and durable design, gel batteries are at the top end of battery design. Advantages. 5 Tai Mong Tsai Road, Sai Kung, New Territories, Minimal corrosion therefore compatible with sensitive electronic equipment, Very safe as less risk of sulphuric acid burns, Lowest cost-per-month (cost / months of life), Lowest cost-per-cycle (cost / life cycles). A Gel battery or Gel cell battery is a type of maintenance-free sealed battery containing gelled electrolyte. Excise who had given 5 yrs warrantee did not stand by their commitment though only 3 1/2 yes have gone. Earlier "wet" cells in glass jars used special valves to allow tilt from vertical to one horizontal direction in 1927 to 1931 or 1932. … Gel batteries are sealed batteries. Many gel batteries also use one-way valves in place of open vents, which help the normal internal gasses to recombine back into water in the battery, reducing gassing. In case of overcharging water cannot be refilled. What is a Gel Battery? Common Use. The technology used in making gel cells is similar to AGM batteries. GEL batteries are mostly used for slow-discharge applications in warmer climates like solar-power, for example. However, instead of utilizing the Absorbent Glass Material that AGM batteries use, gel batteries make use of gelled electrolytes. We had 2 blasts in 2 months and totall 15/16 batteries got blow. The gel-like substance contains silica which makes it a thick electrolyte that allows the flow of electrons within the battery plates and in case of breakage this liquid does not spill. With the electrolyte solution transformed into gel, it is almost impossible to spill the content, preventing any of the acids seeping out. A GEL battery uses a silica (sand) to turn the sulfuric acid into a jelly like substance. When charging a gel battery, it’s … Instead of simply shortening the battery’s life, improper charging can cause immediate and irreversible damage inside, even for a new battery. The AGMs are more compatible where high current is required. Since gel batteries never spill, they are sometimes referred to as non-spillable batteries, dry cell batteries or maintenance-free gel batteries. Disadvantages. As higher volumes were produced for the Gel batteries, they rapidly reduced in price and increased in quality. The solidified electrolytes reduce the risk of spillage and evaporation that results in corrosion problems. A gelling agent is added to the electrolyte to reduce movement inside the battery case. Gel batteries typically use a chemical agent such as silica to create a gel … This causes a chemical reaction that causes the gel electrolytes to immobile. Because they're delicate, and cost more, gel batteries are not a first choice for most applications. If we have a physical injury it makes sense to rebuild our muscular strength. A gel battery design is typically a modification of the standard lead acid automotive or marine battery. UPS Battery Center is the leading manufacturer and supplier of sealed lead acid batteries in Canada. Gel cells are commonly used in cell phones, camcorders, motorcycles and marine equipments. It classifies them as non-hazardous for transportation, by rail or air. With this closed battery type the […] Gel batteries, referred to as "gel cell," are sealed batteries filled with an electrolyte gel that reacts with lead plates. Gel batteries versus AGM batteries Gel batteries are often confused with AGM batteries. Disadvantages Gel batteries. • Sealed Gel batteries can hold a charge for up to six months. In order to prevent excess gas from forming inside the cells, the user will have to charge them at a slower rate. The electrolyte in Gel batteries does not flow like a normal liquid; it has the consistency and look of petroleum jelly. By this time the glass case was being replaced by celluloid and later in 1930s other plastics. The gel cells were less likely to leak when the portable set was handled roughly. Gel batteries are very delicate things; one mistake in charging them will ruin the battery completely, even if it is new. Gel and AGM batteries are part of the valve-regulated lead acid family to make the traditional flooded lead acid maintenance free. Tubular gel batteries - Long life There is no risk of leakages in a tubular gel battery since the electrolyte is in gel form. Advantages of Gel batteries. In case of overcharging water cannot be refilled. Gel cells are commonly used in cell phones, camcorders, motorcycles and marine equipments. Terminals do not have any corrosion. A gel battery is intolerant of heat, much like a flooded battery. Gel batteries are called gel because they use silica (or sand) to turn the acid inside the battery into a thick liquid. These different Originally a kind of gel battery (also known as a gel cell) was produced in the early 1930s for portable valve (tube) radio LT supply (2, 4 or 6V) by adding silica to the sulfuric acid. Everything you want to know about batteries, and more! Gel batteries, like AGM and maintenance free flooded lead acid, are referred to as sealed lead acid. These types of batteries need to be given a slow and steady charge over several hours rather than a fast paced charge in the span of a few hours. Gel batteries, on the other hand, utilize a special type of silica gel that holds electrolytes together. The GEL battery contains a mix of sulfuric acid and fumed silica which creates a gel-like substance that is immobile. Can you guide me a solution? Because of its low maintenance feature, users do not have to regularly add water to the battery in making sure that the electrolyte levels are normal. Gel batteries use a different method to keep the electrolyte in place. Gel batteries are called gel because they use silica (or sand) to turn the acid inside the battery into a thick liquid. We specialize in batteries for medical devices, alarm systems, fire panels, mobility devices, solar technologies, UPS systems, recreational vehicles, and almost any industrial battery application. What Is A Gel Battery? What is a gel battery A gel battery is a lead-acid power source, where the electrolyte is in a gel, adsorbed state between the plates. AGM batteries have a history of being better in icy conditions than other Deep Cycle battery types. A new hybrid technology that combines gelled electrolyte with AGM separators to provide the benefits of both technologies is described below, and our product range can be Not everyone needed (or was prepared to pay a premium for) the vibration resistant design.