Knowledge
Battery Industry Glossary
Plain-language explanations of VRLA, AGM, float life, C-rate, and other terms you'll encounter in battery specifications.
Chemistry
3 terms- VRLA
- Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid — a sealed lead-acid battery that vents gas only when pressure exceeds a threshold. Maintenance-free and spill-proof.
- AGM
- Absorbent Glass Mat — a VRLA construction using fine glass fiber mats to immobilize the electrolyte. Handles high-rate discharge well.
- GEL
Components
3 terms- UPS
- Uninterruptible Power Supply — a device that provides emergency power from batteries when the main AC supply fails, keeping critical equipment running during outages.
- BMS
- BESS
Metrics
5 terms- Float Life
- How long a battery can stay on continuous charge (the "float" state) before capacity falls below an acceptable threshold — typically 10-20 years for premium VRLA.
- CYCLE-LIFE
- C-Rate
- The rate of charge or discharge relative to battery capacity. A 100Ah battery at 1C discharges at 100A for 1 hour. Higher C-rates stress the battery more.
- AH
- DOD
Standards
2 terms- IEEE 450
- Recommended practice from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers covering maintenance, testing, and replacement of vented lead-acid batteries in stationary applications.
- IEEE-1188
Technology
3 terms- PURE-LEAD
- NANO-CARBON
- PARTIAL-SOC