Some General Guidelines of GEL Battery

Gel battery is filled with a gel substance, referred to as a gel electrolyte that replaces that some of us know as battery acid. The gel electrolyte is sulfuric acid combined with silica. Gel batteries contain a valve regulating system. This system allows gas to be released or expelled when needed. Along with the gas being expelled, the gel substance contains calcium, instead of the antimony that is found in traditional batteries. The calcium keeps the gel from gassing in the same way a traditional battery might.

There are several methods for charging gel cell batteries; however, constant voltage charging is the best way. For this type of charging, a fixed, regulated voltage source is used to charge the battery. Special attention must be paid to the exact charging voltage and the initial charging current.

There are two modes for constant voltage charging: fast charging and float charging. Smart chargers, which are available commercially, automatically switch between these two modes. In addition, the most sophisticated chargers will monitor the ambient temperature and adjust the charging parameters accordingly.

For fast charging (aka cyclic charging), the battery is charged with a fixed charging voltage until the terminal voltage reaches 2.40 to 2.45 volts per cell (14.4 to 14.7 volts for a 12-volt battery) at 20° C. The battery is then held at this voltage until the charging current drops to a value of 0.01 x C amps (where C is the battery's amp-hour rating). At this point, the battery is fully charged and you must either stop the charging or switch to the float-charging mode. Continual charging in the fast charge mode will overheat the battery and damage it. Do not let the battery voltage exceed 2.45 volts per cell or allow the charge current to exceed 0.20 x C amps.

For float charging (aka standby service), the battery is connected to a constant voltage source of 2.25 to 2.30 volts per cell (13.5 to 13.8 volts for a 12-volt battery) at 20° C. Provided that the charging source is regulated at the proper float voltage, the gel battery will establish its own current level and will be maintained in a fully charged condition. Gel cell batteries can be left in the float charge mode for extended periods of time without damage. This mode is often used to maintain gel cell batteries used in backup power applications.

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