1. What is a gel battery?
A gel battery is a valve-regulated, maintenance-free lead-acid battery. It is made by adding a gelling agent to sulfuric acid to make the sulfuric acid electrolyte gelatinous. Batteries in which the electrolyte is in the gel state are often called gel batteries. A gel battery releases energy by drilling holes in the gel where gaseous oxygen flows from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, acquiring hydrogen and recombining it into the water.
2. gel battery vs AGM
1.Common features of AGM battery vs gel battery
1.1 AGM batteries and gel batteries both adopt anti-overflow structure, the electrolyte is not easy to leak.
1.2 AGM batteries and gel batteries are mainly used in deep cycle applications, such as RVs and ships.
1.3 AGM batteries and gel batteries can withstand severe shaking of the battery, and the battery will not shake.
1.4 AGM batteries and gel batteries are very flexible and can be installed anywhere.
1.5 AGM batteries and gel batteries are easy to transport and do not require special treatment.
2. Differences between AGM batteries and gel batteries
2.1 In terms of resistance to vibration
AGM batteries are assembled with tightly compressed plates to resist vibration, and the glass mat soaked with electrolyte between the lead plates also has a vibration-damping effect. Gel batteries have a thick electrolyte and are less vibration resistant than AGM batteries.
2.2 In terms of performance
AGM batteries are of higher quality and are able to achieve optimum capacity at all temperatures, AGM batteries are well suited for all high amperage needs and have a very low self-discharge rate. They are able to start an engine 3 times more often than conventional lead-acid batteries for starting a car. Gel batteries are relatively less powerful and are mainly suited for lower amperage currents.
2.3 In terms of cost
The cost of AGM batteries is lower than that of colloidal batteries, mainly due to the difference in electrolyte, which is more expensive for colloidal batteries.
2.4 In terms of charging
AGM batteries are easy to charge, and the battery charge can be maintained very well, in the process of daily life use and ordinary standard battery charging voltage is the same, so there is no need to make any adjustments, and there will be no charger or charging control incompatible problems. The internal resistance of the gel battery is extremely low, and there can be no mistakes in the charging process, for example, it can’t be charged with a traditional charger, or with an incompatible charger, and if there is a problem with the charging it will completely destroy the battery.
2.5 In terms of maintenance
Gel batteries require almost no maintenance, while AGM batteries require regular inspection and maintenance.
2.6 In terms of safety
Gel batteries have large heat capacity, good heat dissipation performance, no heat buildup, not easy to cause thermal runaway, AGM batteries have poor internal thermal conductivity and small heat capacity, which is easy to cause thermal runaway.
2.1 In terms of service life
The service life of AGM battery is lower than that of gel battery.
3. Advantages of AGM battery
3.1 Low self-discharge rate of AGM battery
3.2 AGM batteries are able to run normal loads at lower depths of discharge
3.3 AGM batteries do not require a special charger and can be fully charged using an ordinary charger.
3.4 AGM batteries can release high intensity current
3.5 AGM batteries can be used in a wide range of applications.
3. Gel battery advantages
1. Maintenance-free, the design of gel battery eliminates gas emission and releases a small amount of free electrolyte, so there is no need to check the electrolyte level or replenish the electrolyte frequently.
2. Anti-spill, gel batteries are leak-proof. Even if the container for storing electrolyte is cracked or damaged, it will not leak.
3. Convenient transportation, colloidal batteries do not require special treatment during transportation, because colloidal batteries will not leak, overflow or corrosion, and the electrolyte is completely sealed.
4. Heat and shock resistance, colloidal batteries are non-corrosive, and the shell of colloidal batteries is made of plastic and durable, but also able to withstand vibration, high temperature and shock.
5. Safe and reliable, gel batteries using non-liquid electrolyte is not easy to electrolyte leakage, explosion, and overcharge, over discharge hidden danger, so that in some special occasions have a high degree of safety and reliability.
4. Gel battery lifespan
The life span of a battery depends mainly on the conditions of use and environmental factors. Generally speaking, the life span of a gel battery is 3 or 5 years under normal conditions of use, and if the battery is used properly, the battery can be used for a longer period of time. The life of the gel battery is affected by a variety of factors, including the working condition of the battery, the temperature of the environment, the number of times of charging and discharging, and so on. If the life of the battery is managed scientifically and effectively, such as paying attention to the state of charge and charging/discharging strategy, the life will be extended accordingly.
In addition, the temperature has a great impact on the performance of colloidal batteries, must ensure that the use of the ambient temperature is not too high, as well as to avoid frequent charging and discharging damage to the battery. The energy and power of colloidal batteries are more than 20% greater than conventional lead-acid batteries, and their lifespan is generally about twice as long as that of conventional lead-acid batteries, and their high and low temperature characteristics are much better than those of lead-acid. The design life of gel batteries varies under different conditions, for example, the design life of 12V series gel batteries is 6 to 8 years, while the design life of 2V series is 10 to 15 years.
1.How to extend the life of gel batteries
1.1 Avoid exposing gel batteries to extreme temperatures, especially low temperatures, as extremely low temperatures can seriously affect the life of gel batteries.
1.2 Ensure that the gel batteries work under the appropriate temperature.
1.3 Use the battery in strict accordance with the charging and discharging parameters provided in the product manual to avoid frequent charging and discharging damage to the battery.
1.4 Carry out regular battery maintenance, such as regular inspection of the gel battery.
5. What is a gel battery used for?
1. Electric and hybrid vehicles, gel batteries can be used as energy storage devices for electric and hybrid vehicles, featuring high density, long service life and high safety, which can provide reliable power output and quick recovery of battery power during charging and discharging.
2. Solar and wind energy storage systems, colloidal batteries are widely used in solar and wind energy storage systems for storing energy collected through solar energy panels or wind generators, which can be supplied to power grids, homes, etc.
3. Backup power and emergency energy, colloidal batteries are also used for emergency power and backup power, such as in hospitals, banks and emergency sites. In the event of a power outage, colloidal batteries can provide a reliable backup power source to ensure that important equipment works properly.
4. Communication systems, colloidal batteries are widely used in wireless communication stations, satellites and other fields, these systems need to provide continuous and stable power to ensure the reliability of communication, colloidal batteries can provide long time power support, and can work properly in high temperature, low temperature and harsh environments.
5. Solar streetlamps, gel batteries in the application of solar streetlamps, is through the storage of solar cell components generated by the electricity, for night lighting to provide electricity, is a kind of environmentally friendly streetlamps.
6. Gel battery charging
1. Check gel battery
1.1 Need to check the appearance of the gel battery whether there is depression or protrusion phenomenon, crack or crack phenomenon, foreign objects or pollution phenomenon, the gel battery positive and negative electrode near the absence of any corrosion phenomenon, the gel battery should be placed in the surrounding no sparks, high temperature place, to ensure that the gel battery in the charging process of safe operation.
1.2 Check the insulation of the connecting wiring harness of the gel battery, whether there is any broken phenomenon, if there is broken there will be the possibility of leakage.
1.3 Check whether the connection terminals of the gel battery harness are connected reliably to prevent the gel battery from not charging.
2. Check the gel battery charger
2.1 Before charging the gel battery, you need to check the insulation condition of the cable of the gel charger and whether there is any damage on the surface. The charger terminal connector should be clean and able to match the battery terminals to ensure a good connection and the best conductivity.
2.2 Check whether the parameters and specifications of the charger and the gel battery correspond to each other, the gel battery has higher requirements for the charger, the use of ordinary chargers will be incompatible with the gel battery, the gel battery will be scrapped.
3. Determine the charging mode
It is recommended to use constant voltage charging mode, that is, the charging voltage is lower than the voltage of the battery in the fully charged state is the safest, even if the charging time is long, it will not be dangerous. With constant current charging, the temperature of the battery will rise very quickly and the charging current needs to be adjusted down, which means that the charging time is longer and overcharging will occur.
You can also use pulse charging, this method has a higher charging current and faster charging speed, but the charging state is not stable, when the charging current is too high, the temperature of the battery will rise and the electrolyte will be damaged. All things considered we suggest you use constant voltage charging.
4. Connect the gel battery correctly
Connect the positive terminal of the gel battery charger to the positive terminal of the battery first, and then connect the negative terminal of the charger to the negative terminal of the gel battery to ensure that the positive and negative terminals are correctly aligned.
5. Connecting to the power supply
Connect the charger to the power supply, then turn on the power switch to start charging the gel battery.
6. Check the charging status
In the process of charging the gel battery, you can use a multimeter or a battery monitor to monitor the charging process, to ensure that it can be charged properly, and that the voltage, current and temperature of the battery are normal during charging.
7. End charging
When the gel battery is fully charged, we need to disconnect the charger immediately to prevent overcharging. (When disconnecting the charger, you need to disconnect the negative terminal first and then disconnect the positive terminal)
7. Are gel batteries good for solar power system?
1. Benefits of using gel batteries for solar system
1.1 Gel batteries are gel electrolyte, so there is no internal short circuit. And gel batteries have large heat capacity, strong heat dissipation ability, can avoid the general lead-acid batteries are prone to thermal runaway phenomenon.
1.2 Because the battery is a gel solid, the electrolyte concentration is uniform, and there is no phenomenon of acid splitting.
1.3 Corrosion will not occur.
1.4 The self-discharge of colloidal battery is low, and it can be stored for a certain period of time.
1.5 The service life of the battery is higher than that of the traditional lead-acid battery.
8. Gel battery vs lithium battery
When it comes to batteries, people often choose between gel batteries and lithium batteries, lithium batteries have lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries, lithium-ion batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries, manganese acid batteries, etc., and here we mainly write about the difference between lithium iron phosphate batteries and gel batteries and other related content.
1. The difference between colloidal batteries and lithium batteries (lithium iron phosphate)
1.1 The difference in the depth of discharge, lithium iron phosphate batteries can be discharged to a depth of 100%, which is equivalent to have a greater energy storage, and lithium iron phosphate batteries can be flexible to meet the high demand for electricity, allowing the use of the maximum stored energy, without significant impact on the battery. The depth of discharge of colloidal batteries reaches up to 70% and is generally below 50%, all lithium iron phosphate batteries have a superior depth of discharge, but attention should be paid to the protection of the battery, and should not be frequently discharged in depth.
1.2 The difference in service life, the service life of lithium iron phosphate batteries can reach about 10 years, the number of cycles can reach about 8000 times. The service life of the gel battery is about 2 to 5 years, and the number of cycles is 500 to 1000 times. The service life of lithium iron phosphate batteries is much higher than the colloidal batteries, if properly maintained in the process of use, the service life of lithium iron phosphate batteries is also high, so in the long run choose lithium iron phosphate batteries better.
1.3 The difference in safety, lithium iron phosphate batteries have internal BMS (battery management system), which can prevent the battery failure, such as high voltage, low voltage, abnormal temperature, charging abnormalities, when the battery has this type of failure, the battery management system is able to suspend the battery’s function to protect the battery. Gel batteries lack an integrated battery management system, and can only be used in the process of human intervention.
1.4 The difference in the cost of use, lithium iron phosphate batteries are expensive, colloidal batteries are cheaper, but the choice of batteries should be considered comprehensively, not just look at the price of the battery.
1.5 The difference in charging time, the charging speed of lithium iron phosphate battery is about 2 hours, the charging speed of the colloidal battery is about 6 hours, the use of lithium iron phosphate battery can save time.
Conclusion:
The overall performance of colloidal batteries is lower than lithium iron phosphate batteries, but colloidal batteries can also play an important role in some areas, the choice of batteries should be considered comprehensively, if you use it in daily life, we recommend that you use lithium iron phosphate batteries, which not only can be used for a long time, but also do not have to worry about the safety of the battery.
