BATTERY JARGON BUSTER

AMPERE (AMP) - The unit of measure of current flow through a conductor or circuit.

AMP HOUR - A unit of measurement of a batteries electrical storage capacity. Current multiplied by time in hour’s equal’s amp hours. One amp hour is equal to a current of one amp flowing for one hour.

AMP HOUR CAPPACITY - The number of Amp hours which can be delivered by a battery on a single discharge.
Starter batteries rated and tested at a 20Hr rate. An example of this is a fully charged 100amp hour battery can be discharged at 5 Amps for 20Hours (5Ah x 20hr).

CALCIUM HYBRID BATTERIES - In a drive to market batteries that require no topping up during their lifetime and an extended shelf life, battery manufacturers have moved to lead calcium batteries to meet these needs. Calcium Hybrid batteries have calcium alloy only on the negative grids where as calcium calcium batteries have calcium alloy on both positive and negative grids. The reason calcium batteries require no topping up is because calcium alloy grid batteries gas at a higher voltage than conventional lead acid batteries and reduce the need to top up by 90% and shelf life by an increase of 63%.

Calcium Calcium / Silver - Calcium calcium batteries have calcium alloy on both positive and negative grids. Silver batteries also have an amount of silver in the alloy. Added benefits above Calcium Hybrid batteries are improved CCA ratings, further reduction of electrolyte loss, higher resistance to internal corrosion and provides longer service life even in high heat conditions as well as faster high voltage starts.

COLD CRANKING RATING (CCA) - The number of amperes a battery at 0º F can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain a voltage of 1.2 volts per cell or higher.

CRANKING RATING - The number of amperes a battery at 32º F can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain a voltage of 1.2 volts per cell or higher. example of this is a battery rated at 550 SAE will deliver 550 amps for 30seconds at -18 C and the end voltage must be 1.2V per cell or above (7.2V for 12v Battery).

CURRENT - The rate of flow of electricity. The movement of electrons along a conductor. It is comparable to the flow of a stream of water.

CURRENT (ALTERNATING) - A current that varies periodically in magnitude and direction.(A/C)

CURRENT (DIRECT) - An electrical current flowing in one direction only. A battery delivers direct current (D.C.) and must be recharged with direct current.

CYCLE - In a battery, a discharge and a recharge is one cycle.

DIGITAL VOLTMETER - An instrument that measures the open circuit voltage of a battery.

DISCHARGING - When a battery is delivering power, it is said to be discharging.

ELECTROLYTE - This is a mixture of water and sulphuric acid that fills a lead-acid battery and allows the storage of electrical power.

ELEMENT - In a battery, a set of positive and negative plates assembled with separators.

ENVELOPEE SEPERATION - Each individual battery plate that contains the active materials are enclosed in a micro porous envelope that firmly separates the plates but allows efficient chemical reaction through the micro porous envelope, thereby extending the service life and improving the electrical performance of the battery.

FLAME ARRESTER- A device locatedwithin the degssing system that protects against the isk of gas combustion within the battery there for illiminating the risk of explosion.

HYBRID ALLOYS - A lead antimony and lead calcium alloy combination which meets all o.e standards for a maintainance free performance but still allows the battery to be toped up in the event of over charging.

GEL BATTERIES - Gel batteries are of a unique construction and are sealed to guarantee a leak proof battery operation in any position. The battery utilises an electrolyte suspension system consisting of high porosity glass fibre material which in conjunction with plates, totally absorbs and contains the electrolyte.

HYDROMETER - A float-type instrument used to determine the state of charge of a battery by measuring the specific gravity of the electrolyte (i.e. the amount of sulphuric acid in the electrolyte).

LABYRINTH - Under the vent cover is a sophisticated labyrinth system that prevents electrolyte loss and safely exhausts the gases normally generated through a single de gassing port. Thus eliminating the need to top the electrolyte levels this then has the followng results, reduced risk of acid spillage no need for venting tubes decreased explosion risk.

LOAD TESTER - An instrument which measures the battery voltage with an electrical load on the battery to determine its overall condition and its ability to perform under actual engine starting conditions.

MAINTENANCE FREE - These battery types are usually open vented with screw top lids and a higher concentration of antinomy this make the likely hood of a battery being charged at the normal rate of 14.2 volts to be self maintained, however if the battery where to be over charge or a loss of electrolyte acured that it would be possible to top up the electrolyte.

OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE - The voltage of a battery with no load. It is 2.1 volts per cell for a conventional battery near fully charged. The OCV directly corresponds to the state of charge in a battery. i.e 12.6v is a fully charge battery.

RESERVE CAPACITY RATING - The power available to run electrical accessories if the alternator fails. It indicates the number of minutes a fully charged battery at 80º F can be discharged at 25 AMPS and not fall below 1.75 volts per cell.

RESISTANCE - The opposition offered by a substance to the free flow of an electric current.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY - The strength or percentage of sulphuric acid in the electrolyte solution.

STATE OF CHARGE - The amount of electrical power stored in a battery at a given time. State of charge is determined by the amount of sulphuric acid remaining in the electrolyte (specific gravity).

S.O.C.I - state of charge indicator also known as a magic eye this determines that charge condition of the battery cell that the indicator is fitted.

VOLT - The unit of measure for electrical pressure.

VOLTAGE - Starter batteries are produced in 6 volt and 12 volt versions. There are 3 cells connected in series for 6volt and 6 cells connected in series 12 volt batteries.For 24 volt applications, 2 x 12 volt batteries are connected in series.