What are F1 and F2 terminals?

Both are flat blade terminals on small VRLA batteries. F2 blades are wider than F1. They are not interchangeable without adapters, and getting it wrong is a common ordering error on replacement batteries. Larger stationary and front terminal batteries use threaded inserts (commonly M6 or M8) or bolt-through terminals instead.

Where do I find a battery’s serial number and date code?

Engraved or printed on the top of the case. Record it at installation. It is what a warranty claim is assessed against, and it is the only way to establish true age on a bank that has been partially replaced over the years. Photograph the labels at commissioning; it takes five minutes and saves an […]

What is the difference between AGM and gel batteries?

Both are VRLA, valve regulated lead acid, meaning sealed valves and immobilised electrolyte with internal gas recombination, so they do not require watering and can be installed in a wider range of locations than a flooded cell. The difference is how the electrolyte is immobilised: AGM uses an absorbent glass mat separator holding the electrolyte […]

What are the different types of industrial battery?

Industrial batteries fall into two families. Lead-acid divides into flooded (wet cell), VRLA, valve regulated, sealed, with immobilised electrolyte, available as AGM or gel, and OPzV tubular gel. Lithium in industrial standby is almost entirely LiFePO₄ (lithium iron phosphate), chosen over the NMC and NCA chemistries used in vehicles for its thermal stability. Valen supplies […]

What is VRLA and what does “valve regulated” mean?

VRLA means the cell is sealed with a pressure relief valve and the electrolyte is immobilised, in a glass mat separator (AGM) or a thixotropic gel. Gas generated on charge recombines internally rather than escaping, so the battery needs no watering and can be installed in orientations and locations a flooded cell cannot. Recombination is […]

What is a deep cycle battery?

A battery designed to release its charge over a long period and to tolerate being repeatedly discharged to a significant depth. Thicker plates and different separator construction than a starting battery, which is built for a very high current draw over seconds. A deep cycle battery in a starting application underperforms; a starting battery in […]

What is the difference between cycle use and standby use?

Standby (float) use: the battery sits fully charged on a charger and discharges rarely, UPS, telecom reserve, substation tripping supply. Life is governed by calendar ageing, temperature and float voltage. Cycle use: the battery is discharged and recharged regularly, solar, off-grid, SAPS. Life is governed by cycle count and depth of discharge. The same battery […]

What does a 12V 7Ah C20 rating mean?

12 V is the nominal voltage; 7 Ah is the capacity measured over a 20-hour discharge. Discharged at 350 mA for 20 hours the battery delivers its rated capacity.It does not mean you can draw 7 A for one hour, the one-hour rate for that battery is closer to 3.6 A, because faster discharge extracts […]

Why do different C-ratings show different capacities for the same battery?

[why does battery capacity change with discharge rate] Two reasons. Discharge rate: slower discharge extracts more energy, so C₁₀₀ capacity exceeds C₂₀ exceeds C₁₀. And cut-off voltage: the same battery quoted to 1.75 V per cell and to 1.80 V per cell shows different capacities. Compare batteries only at the same rate and the same […]

How is battery power calculated?

Watts = amps × volts. Watt-hours = volts × amp-hours. A 12 V 9 Ah battery stores 108 Wh. A 24 V 500 Ah bank stores 12,000 Wh, or 12 kWh. A 48 V (51.2 V nominal) 100 Ah lithium module stores approximately 5.1 kWh. UPS loads are usually specified in watts or kVA, so […]

What is the difference between AC and DC power?

Grid supply is alternating current, the direction of flow reverses cyclically, at 50 Hz in Australia. Batteries and solar panels produce direct current, flowing in one direction. Most industrial control, communications and signalling equipment runs natively on DC (12, 24, 48, 50, 110 or 125 V), which is why those sites use DC power systems […]

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