A – Back to the Top
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) Resin
An impact-resistant engineering thermoplastic material largely used for the case and cover of batteries.
Acid
In the lead-acid storage battery industry, “acid” implies “sulfuric acid”, and is used to describe the electrolyte or liquid in the cell.
Active Material
The chemical paste that adheres to the positive (+) and negative (-) electrodes in a battery and reacts with sulfuric acid.
AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)
Separator technology used in some sealed lead-acid batteries in which the glass-mat separator absorbs 100% of the electrolyte. Because of the immobilized electrolyte, an AGM battery will not leak or spill and does not require water addition. This battery is used in deep-cycle and specialty applications such as telecommunications, wheelchairs, and security alarm systems, as well as in automotive starting applications.
Alloy
A combination of two or more metals, as a mixture, solution, or compound.
Ambient Temperature
The temperature of the surrounding cooling medium, such as gas or liquid, which comes into contact with the heated parts of the apparatus, usually refers to room or air temp.
Amp-Hour (AH)
The unit of measure for a battery’s electrical storage capacity, obtained by multiplying the current in amps by the time in hours of discharge. Example: A battery delivering 10 amps for 20 hours = 10 amps x 20 hours = 200 AH.
Antimonial Lead Alloy
Lead antimony alloy is the most common alloy used in battery castings. The percentage of antimony varies from ½ percent to 12 percent. Other substances are also included in small quantities, either by way of a certain amount of inescapable impurity, or by design, to improve castings or to improve the properties of the cast part.
B – Back to the Top
Battery
A device that produces and stores electrical energy as a result of a chemical reaction. A 12-volt battery has six individual 2-volt cells that contain positive (+) plates and negative (-) plates that create electrical current. A fully charged 12-volt battery produces at least 12.66 volts.
Battery Council International (BCI)
An association of battery industry companies whose members establish policy and standards for the industry.
Boost Charge
A partial charge given to a storage battery usually at a high rate for a short period. It is employed in motive power service when the capacity of a battery is not sufficient for a full day’s work.
Burning
The welding together of two or more lead or lead alloy parts, such as plates, straps, or connectors, by means of heat and in some cases additional metal, which is supplied by a stick called a burning strip.
C – Back to the Top
Casting
A metallic item, such as one or more grids, straps, or connectors, is produced by pouring or forcing molten metal into a mold and allowing it to solidify.
Capacity
Capacity represents the specific energy in ampere-hours (Ah). Manufacturers often overrate a battery by giving a higher Ah rating than it can provide. You can use a battery with different Ah (but correct voltage), provided the rating is high enough. Chargers have some tolerance to batteries with different Ah ratings. A larger battery will take longer to charge than a small one.
Cell
The minimum battery unit which composes a storage battery. The nominal voltage of the cell of the lead-acid battery is 2V.
Charging
The process of supplying electrical energy to a discharged battery for conversion to stored chemical energy.
Charging Plug
The male half of a quick connector which contains both the positive and negative leads.
Charging Rate
The current expressed in amperes at which the battery is charged.
Circuit
A system of electrical components through which an electrical current is intended to flow. The continuous path of an electric current.
Corrosion
A destructive chemical reaction with a reactive metal that forms a new compound. Saltwater or dilute sulfuric acid on steel, for example, forms the corrosion compound, rust. Battery terminals can be subject to corrosion if they are not properly maintained.
Cover
The lid or cover of an enclosed cell is generally made of the same material as the jar or container and through which extend the posts and the vent plug.
Cycle
One sequence of battery activity, which is battery discharge followed by a complete recharge.
Cycle Life
The total number of cycles a battery can undergo before it no longer performs at a predetermined minimum rated capacity.
D – Back to the Top
Diesel Starting Battery
Batteries that are used to crank diesel engines. This function is similar to a gasoline engine’s application, except that greater demands are made for cranking power, and ignition is accomplished by the engine’s heat, without any further need for electric current.
Direct Current (DC)
A unidirectional current in which the changes in value are either zero or so small that they may be neglected.
Discharge
To draw off the electric energy stored in a cell/battery.
Discharge Rate
The term to express the magnitude of discharge current. When assuming discharge current and time to discharge cut-off voltage t hours, this discharge is called t hour rate (tHR) discharge, and the current is called t-hour rate discharge current. When time t is minutes instead of hours, tMR is used.
Dry Battery
A battery in which the electrolyte is immobilized, being either in the form of a paste or absorbed into the separator material.
Duty Cycle
The time duration and use frequency during which a battery is drained. It is affected by such factors as charge and discharge rates, depth of discharge, length of cycle, and length of time in standby mode.
E – Back to the Top
Electrolyte
The medium which serves to conduct ions in the electrochemical reactions in batteries. The lead-acid battery adopts diluted sulfuric acid as electrolyte.
EMF
Electromotive force, which is another term for voltage.
Equalizing Charge
A charging method that equalizes the specific gravity or voltage levels of individual cells in a battery or a group of batteries connected in series.
F – Back to the Top
Fast Charge
A high-rate charge — typically above 20 amps — for one to five hours that provides a quick blast of energy. It is often used to get the battery to a recharge level that can restart a vehicle. Repeated fast charges overcharge the battery and reduce service life.
Flooded Battery
A type of liquid, lead-acid battery.
Formation
A process of charging the battery or battery plates for the first time. This changes the lead oxide paste of the positive grid into lead dioxide. For the negative plate it changes from Lead oxide paste to metallic sponge lead.
G – Back to the Top
Gassing
The production of gas in a battery due to the chemical reaction during recharging.
Grid
A lead-alloy framework that supports the active material of a battery plate and conducts current. In SLI batteries, it may contain antimony or calcium to make it more rigid.
H – Back to the Top
Hydrometer
An instrument used to measure that specific gravity of the electrolyte.
I – Back to the Top
Indicator
Devices employed to show a battery’s state of charge or its water level.
Intercell Connector
A conductor, made of lead, lead alloy, or lead plated copper, is used to connect to battery cells.
Internal Resistance
The internal resistance of a cell or battery to the flow of an electric current is measured by the ratio of the change in voltage at the terminals of the cell or battery corresponding to a specified change in current for short time intervals.
J – Back to the Top
Jar Cell
Container, made by injection molding, rota-molding, or thermo-forming.
Jar Formation
The forming of plates in the cell jar or container, after they have been assembled.
K – Back to the Top
L – Back to the Top
Lead (Pb)
Chemical elements used in lead-acid batteries with sulfuric acid and other materials.
Lead-acid Battery
A storage battery with an active material of lead and lead peroxide and with an electrolyte solution of water and sulfuric acid. Maintenance-free, low-maintenance and gel-cell batteries are types of lead-acid batteries.
Li-Ion
Lithium-ion Battery
Lithium Battery
Lithium primary batteries are non-rechargeable batteries used in devices requiring long life and low, steady power, such as digital watches, computers, and smoke detectors. Some types of lithium batteries are specifically designed for applications with high power requirements, such as wireless microphones and flash units.
Lithium-Ion Battery (Li-Ion)
A rechargeable battery with a very high capacity for its size and weight compared to other rechargeable batteries. It is used in portable devices such as laptops, cellular phones, and camcorders.
Low-Maintenance Battery
Normally a lead-acid battery may require periodic water addition under normal service conditions. A dual-alloy battery typically uses a low antimony lead alloy in the positive (+) grid and a calcium-lead alloy in the negative (-) grid.
M – Back to the Top
Moss Shield
A plastic or hard rubber perforated sheet which insulates the gaps between the negative plates and the positive strap, and between the positive plates and the negative strap.
Motive Power Battery
A cycle service battery designed to supply the energy necessary to propel and operate electrically powered industrial trucks, street vehicles, and mine locomotives.
N – Back to the Top
Negative Plate
The battery electrode into which a current from the external circuit flows during discharge. The negative plate has lower electric potential than the positive plate to the electrolyte. The negative plate is incorporated with connection parts such as the electrode pole.
O – Back to the Top
Overcharging
As a result of a too high a charge voltage, excessive current will flow into the battery, after reaching full charge, causing decomposition of water in the electrolyte and premature aging.
P – Back to the Top
Partition
An interior dividing wall in a tray or container.
Paste
A mixture of lead oxide with water, sulfuric acid, and sometimes other ingredients.
Paste Consistency
A term used to include all of the physical characteristics of the paste density, plasticity, and texture.
Pasting
The battery assemble operation wherein paste is applied to grids by hand or by a machine.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Refers to specialized clothing or equipment worn by individuals to protect themselves from hazards that can cause injury or illness in the workplace or during specific activities. PPE is designed to protect various parts of the body and can include items such as: head, eye and face, hearing, respiratory, hand, body foot and skin protection.
Pig
A cast bar of lead or lead alloy.
Plate
A pasted grid, either formed or unformed.
Plate Centers
The distance between center lines of adjoining plates of opposite polarity in a cell. The plate center is, therefore, one-half of the size of a strap center upon which the plates of a like polarity are burned.
Positive Plate
The battery electrode from which a current flows to the external circuit during discharge. The positive plate has higher electric potential than the negative plate to the electrolyte. The positive plate is incorporated with connection parts such as the electrode pole.
R – Back to the Top
Rated Capacity
The ampere‐hours of discharge that can be removed from a fully charged secondary cell or battery, at a specific constant discharge rate, at a specified discharge temperature and at a specified cut off voltage.
Resistance
The opposition that a conductor offers to the passage of an electrical current usually expressed in ohms.
S – Back to the Top
Sealing
A manufacturing operation for attaching covers to jars by cement, sealing compound or thermal fusion.
Secondary Lead
Reclaimed or recycled lead as opposed to virgin lead.
Separator
A divider made of porous material, placed between the Positive (+) and Negative (-) plates, to allow current flow without direct contact between plates as this would cause a short circuit.
Service Life
The length of time a battery can be used in a given application.
Short Circuit
An unwanted electrical connection between Negative (-) and Positive (+) plates. A short circuit can damage the battery and any connected equipment as well as causing sparks and/or fire.
Shroud
In the context of a battery, a shroud typically refers to a protective covering or enclosure that surrounds the battery’s intercell connectors. Bulldog Battery can provide custom shrouds in different sizes and colors. The shroud provides safety, protection, thermal management, and structural support.
SLI (Starting, Lighting, and Ignition)
A battery primarily used to start a vehicle and to provide power for lights and accessories. SLI batteries include automotive, deep-cycle and heavy-duty commercial starting batteries.
Smelting
The process by which the major portion of lead and antimony are recovered from scrap batteries and battery manufacturing scrap.
Stacking
The cell assembly operation wherein plates and separators are alternately piled in a burning box prior to cast‐ on or burning‐on of straps and posts.
Standing Loss
The loss of charge by an idle cell or battery, resulting from local action.
Strap
A precast or cast‐on piece of lead or lead alloy is used to connect plates into groups and to connect the groups to the posts.
Sulfation
A term used to refer to the lead sulphate crystals that can grow on battery plates due to consistent low state of charge. Sulfation inhibits current flow and damages the battery.
T – Back to the Top
Terminal
The structures on the battery allow the external circuit to be connected.
Terminal Cable
A length of insulated cable, one end is connected to the terminal post of a battery and the other end is fitted with a suitable device (plug, receptacle, lug, etc.) for connection to an external circuit.
Tray
A steel enclosure for motive power cells.
U – Back to the Top
UL
Abbreviation of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. in USA. The UL establishes various safety standards, and performs official recognition of materials, parts, and products.
Undercharging
If too low a charge voltage is applied, the current flow will essentially stop before the battery is fully charged. This allows some of the lead sulfate to remain on the electrodes, which will eventually reduce battery capacity.
UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
Equipment or system which is automatically connected to the load to supply power if the main power fails.
V – Back to the Top
Valve-Regulated Lead-acid Battery (VRLA)
A lead-acid battery that is sealed with the exception of a one-way valve that opens to the atmosphere when the internal gas pressure in the battery exceeds the atmospheric pressure by a pre-selected amount. VRLA batteries are sometimes called recombinant batteries.
Vents
Mechanisms to allow the gasses produced in a battery to escape while keeping the electrolyte in the battery. Vents come in both permanently fixed (i.e., in the SMF/MF batteries) as well as removable (dry charged battery) designs.
Vent Plug
The piece or assembly of pieces used to seal the vent and filling well of a cell cover, except for a small hole in the plug itself, which permits gas to escape. Vent plugs are usually held in place either by threads or by a quarter turn catch (bayonet vent caps) or by a snap‐in fit.
Verticals
The vertical bars of members or members in a pasted plate grid.
Volt
A unit of measurement of electrical energy within an electrical circuit. Most batteries come as 6 / 12 or 24 volts with each cell as 2 volts. Forklifts, however, use a 36- or 48-volt forklift battery.
Voltmeter
An instrument for measuring voltage.
VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead-Acid) Battery
VRLA batteries are batteries produced utilizing either the Gel or AGM technology in which the electrolyte of the battery is been suspended as a Gel (Gel Batteries) or absorbed (AGM batteries) so that the electrolyte is no longer free moving.
W – Back to the Top
Watering
Adding water to a battery’s electrolyte to replace losses caused by electrolysis and evaporation.
Watering Kits
A system whereby all battery cells are consistently watered to the correct level which increases the battery life and reduces battery maintenance time.
