Complete List of Battery Terms, Definitions, and Glossary by FG Battery

May 17, 2023

BATTERY GLOSSARY LEAD ACID BATTERY TERMINOLOGY

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Lead Acid Battery Terminology Glossary

Absorbed Electrolyte

The electrolyte in a battery is absorbed in an Absorbent Glass Mat between the plates to ensure that there is no free liquid electrolyte to spill or leak from the cell. The battery using this technology is typically referred to as an AGM battery.

Absorbent Glass AGM Mat

A blotter-type separator used between the plates in an AGM battery. The absorbent glass mat separator absorbs all the free liquid electrolyte, thus immobilizing the electrolyte.

Acceptance Test

A capacity test of a new battery at either a constant current (expressed in amperes) or constant power (expressed in watts) rate to determine if it meets the user's specification or manufacturer's ratings.

Accumulator

See Battery

Active Material

The material in a lead acid battery involved in the electrochemical reaction to produce a current. Materials include the lead dioxide (PbO2) of the positive plate, sulfuric acid (H2SO4) in the electrolyte and sponge lead (Pb) of the negative plate.

Ampere A

A unit of measure of electron current flow through a conductor. The flow of 6.25 x 1018 electrons per second. Amperes are measured by an ammeter.

Ampere-Hour Ah

The product of multiplying the ampere flow by the time over which it flows. For example, five amperes flowing for eight hours produce 40 ampere-hours.

Antimony Sb

A metal alloyed with lead to improve the strength and cast ability of the grids. Antimony is normally used only in lead acid batteries in cycle service, and where make-up water may be added. It is not normally used in VRLA batteries due to its relatively high gassing rate.

Autonomy

The length of time during which a fully charged battery can supply power to the load with no contribution from primary or auxiliary power source (also known as reserve time)

Average Voltage

The average of the battery terminal voltage during a discharge.

Battery

Two or more cells connected in series. The nominal lead acid voltage is two volts per cell. For example, a 12 volt battery would have six two volt cells connected in series. See Cell.