Brian:
"Gel cells" are an old technology, but the name still hangs
on. These batteries are of the general category now called "starved
electrolyte", which is meant to infer that they won't spill.
Gel-cell: Early efforts to create a
spill-proof battery involved adding something to the electrolyte to "gel"
it so it couldn't spill.
Starved electrolyte: Competitors to the gel cell came up with the
idea of putting something like cloth between the plates and adding just enough
electrolyte to make the cells work, but not enough to allow it to spill.
Hence, the name.
Over time, I guess the latter technology won out, because I don't think
anyone "gelatinizes" the electrolyte. The name, however, seems to have
stuck.
What is good - - what is bad.
"gel cells" (starved electrolyte batteries) can run in any orientation
without spillage.
Gel cells set longer on the shelf without completely loosing their
charge.
Gel cells are not very tolerant of overcharge. They do not have an excess
of electrolyte to boil off.
Lynn Darnell
In a message dated 10/12/2008 12:29:31 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
ojaivalleybeefarm@dslextreme.com writes:
Hi Phil,
What are "gelled cells" ? is that something
that is added to a
standard lead acid battery?
Brian Cox,
Ventura