Gel and AGM Batteries

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1. VRLA technology
VRLA stands for Valve Regulated Lead Acid, which means that the batteries are sealed. Gas will escape through the safety valves
only in case of overcharging or cell failure.
VRLA batteries are maintenance free for life.

2. Sealed (VRLA) AGM Batteries

AGM stands for Absorbent Glass Mat. In these batteries the electrolyte is absorbed into a glass-fibre mat between the plates by
capillary action. As explained in our book ‘Energy Unlimited’, AGM batteries are more suitable for short-time delivery of very
high currents (engine starting) than gel batteries.

3. Sealed (VRLA) Gel Batteries

Here the electrolyte is immobilized as gel. Gel batteries in general have a longer service life and better cycle capacity than AGM
AGM Battery batteries.
12V 90Ah
4. Low Self-Discharge
Because of the use of lead calcium grids and high purity materials, Victron VRLA batteries can be stored during long periods of
time without recharge. The rate of self-discharge is less than 2% per month at 20°C. The self-discharge doubles for every
increase in temperature by 10°C.
Victron VRLA batteries can therefore be stored for up to a year without recharging, if kept under cool conditions.

5. Exceptional Deep Discharge Recovery

Victron VRLA batteries have exceptional discharge recovery, even after deep or prolonged discharge.
Nevertheless repeatedly deep and prolonged discharge has a very negative effect on the service life of all lead acid batteries,
Victron batteries are no exception.

6. Battery Discharging Characteristics

The rated capacity of Victron AGM and Gel Deep Cycle batteries refers to 20 hour discharge, in other words: a discharge current
of 0,05 C.
The rated capacity of Victron Tubular Plate Long Life batteries refers to 10 hours discharge.
The effective capacity decreases with increasing discharge current (see table 1). Please note that the capacity reduction will be
even faster in case of a constant power load, such as an inverter.

End AGM Gel Gel

Discharg time
Voltage ‘Deep ‘Deep ‘Long
(constant
Cycle’ Cycle’ Life’
current)
V % % %
20 hours 10,8 100 100 112
10 hours 10,8 92 87 100
GEL OPzV 2V cell 5 hours 10,8 85 80 94
3 hours 10,8 78 73 79
1 hour 9,6 65 61 63
30 min. 9,6 55 51 45
15 min. 9,6 42 38 29
10 min. 9,6 38 34 21
5 min. 9,6 27 24
5 seconds 8C 7C

Table 1: Effective capacity as a function of discharge time

(the lowest row gives the maximum allowable 5 seconds discharge current)

Our AGM deep cycle batteries have excellent high current performance and are therefore recommended for high current
applications such as engine starting. Due to their construction, Gel batteries have a lower effective capacity at high discharge
currents. On the other hand, Gel batteries have a longer service life, both under float and cycling conditions.

7. Effect of temperature on service life

High temperature has a very negative effect on service life. The service life of Victron batteries as a function of temperature is
shown in table 2.

AGM Gel Gel

Average ‘Deep ‘Deep ‘Long
Temperature Cycle’ Cycle’ Life’

years years years

20°C / 68°F 7 - 10 12 20
30°C / 86°F 4 6 10
40°C / 104°F 2 3 5

Table 2: Design service life of Victron batteries under float service

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8. Effect of temperature on capacity

As is shown by the graph below, capacity reduces sharply at low temperatures.
Capacity (%)

Temperature (°C)
Fig. 1: Effect of temperature on capacity
9. Cycle life of Victron batteries
Batteries age due to discharging and recharging. The number of cycles depends on the depth of discharge, as is shown in figure
2.

AGM Deep Cycle Gel Deep Cycle Gel Long Life

Cycles

Depth of discharge
Fig. 2: Cycle life

10. Battery charging in case of cycle use: the 3-step charge curve
The most common charge curve used to charge VRLA batteries in case of cyclic use is the 3-step charge curve, whereby a
constant current phase (the bulk phase) is followed by two constant voltage phases (absorption and float), see fig. 3.
Charge voltage

Charge current

Fig. 3: Three step charge curve

During the absorption phase the charge voltage is kept at a relatively high level in order to fully recharge the battery within
reasonable time. The third and last phase is the float phase: the voltage is lowered to standby level, sufficient to compensate for
self-discharge.
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Disadvantages of the traditional 3-step charge curve:

• During the bulk phase the current is kept at a constant and often high level, even after the gassing voltage (14,34V
for a 12V battery) has been exceeded. This can lead to excessive gas pressure in the battery. Some gas will escape
through the safety valves, reducing service life.

• Thereafter the absorption voltage is applied during a fixed period of time, irrespective of how deep the battery has
been discharged previously. A full absorption period after a shallow discharge will overcharge the battery, again
reducing service life (a.o. due to accelerated corrosion of the positive plates).

• Research has shown that battery life can be increased by decreasing float voltage to an even lower level when the
battery is not in use.

11. Battery charging: longer battery life with Victron 4-step adaptive charging
Victron developed the adaptive charge curve. The 4-step adaptive chare curve is the result of years of research and testing.

The Victron four-step adaptive charge curve solves the 3 main problems of the 3-step curve:
• Battery Safe Mode
In order to prevent excessive gassing, Victron has invented the ‘Battery Safe Mode’. The Battery Safe Mode will limit
the rate of voltage increase once the gassing voltage has been reached. Research has shown that this will reduce
internal gassing to a safe level.

• Variable absorption time

Based on the duration of the bulk stage, the charger calculates how long the absorption time should be in order to
fully charge the battery. If the bulk time is short, this means the battery was already charged and the resulting
absorption time will also be short, whereas a longer bulk time will also result in a longer absorption time.

• Storage mode
After completion of the absorption period the battery should be fully charged, and the voltage is lowered to the
float or standby level. If no discharge occurs during the next 24 hours, the voltage is reduced even further and the
battery goes into storage mode. The lower storage voltage reduces corrosion of the positive plates.
Once every week the charge voltage is increased to the absorption level for a short period to compensate for self-
discharge (Battery Refresh mode).

12. Battery charging in case of standby use: constant voltage float charging
When a battery is not frequently deeply discharged, a 2-step charge curve can be used. During the first phase the battery is
charged with a limited current (the bulk phase). Once a pre-set voltage has been reached the battery is kept at that voltage (the
float phase).
This charge method is used for starter batteries in vehicles and in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

Fig. 4: Four-step adaptive charge curve

13. Optimum charge voltage of Victron VRLA batteries
The recommended charge voltage settings for a 12V battery are shown in table 3.

14. Effect of temperature on charging voltage

The charge voltage should be reduced with increased temperature. Temperature compensation is required when the
temperature of the battery is expected to be less than 10°C / 50°F or more than 30°C / 85°F during long periods of time.
The recommended temperature compensation for Victron VRLA batteries is -4 mV / Cell (-24 mV /°C for a 12V battery).
The centre point for temperature compensation is 25°C / 70°F.

15. Charge current

The charge current should preferably not exceed 0,2C (20A for a 100Ah battery).The temperature of a battery will increase by
more than 10°C if the charge current exceeds 0,2C. Therefore temperature compensation is required if the charge current
exceeds 0,2C.
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Float Cycle service Cycle service

Service (V) Normal (V) Fastest recharge (V)
Victron AGM ‘Deep Cycle’
Absorption 14,2 - 14,6 14,6 - 14,9
Float 13,5 - 13,8 13,5 - 13,8 13,5 - 13,8
Storage 13,2 - 13,5 13,2 - 13,5 13,2 - 13,5
Victron Gel ‘Deep Cycle’
Absorption 14,1 - 14,4
Float 13,5 - 13,8 13,5 - 13,8
Storage 13,2 - 13,5 13,2 - 13,5
Victron Gel ‘Long Life’
Absorption 14,0 - 14,2
Float 13,5 - 13,8 13,5 - 13,8
Storage 13,2 - 13,5 13,2 - 13,5

Table 3: Recommended charge voltage

12 Volt Deep Cycle AGM General Specification

lxwxh Weight CCA RES CAP Technology: flat plate AGM

Article number Ah V mm kg @0°F @80°F Terminals: copper
BAT406225084 240 6 320x176x247 31 1500 480 Rated capacity: 20 hr. discharge at 25°C
Float design life: 7-10 years at 20°C
BAT212070084 8 12 151x65x101 2,5 Cycle design life:
BAT212120084 14 12 151x98x101 4,1 400 cycles at 80% discharge
BAT212200084 22 12 181x77x167 5,8 600 cycles at 50% discharge
1500 cycles at 30% discharge
BAT412350084 38 12 197x165x170 12,5
BAT412550084 60 12 229x138x227 20 450 90
BAT412600084 66 12 258x166x235 24 520 100
BAT412800084 90 12 350x167x183 27 600 145
BAT412101084 110 12 330x171x220 32 800 190
BAT412121084 130 12 410x176x227 38 1000 230
BAT412151084 165 12 485x172x240 47 1200 320
BAT412201084 220 12 522x238x240 65 1400 440

12 Volt Deep Cycle GEL General Specification

lxwxh Weight CCA RES CAP Technology: flat plate GEL
Article number Ah V
mm kg @0°F @80°F Terminals: copper
BAT412550104 60 12 229x138x227 20 300 80 Rated capacity: 20 hr. discharge at 25°C
Float design life: 12 years at 20°C
BAT412600100 66 12 258x166x235 24 360 90 Cycle design life:
BAT412800104 90 12 350x167x183 26 420 130 500 cycles at 80% discharge
BAT412101104 110 12 330x171x220 33 550 180 750 cycles at 50% discharge
1800 cycles at 30% discharge
BAT412121104 130 12 410x176x227 38 700 230
BAT412151104 165 12 485x172x240 48 850 320
BAT412201104 220 12 522x238x240 66 1100 440
BAT412126101 265 12 520x268x223 75 650 400

2 Volt Long Life GEL General Specification

lxbxh Weight Technology: tubular plate GEL

Article number Ah V mm kg Terminals: copper
BAT702601260 600 2 145x206x688 49 Rated capacity: 10 hr. discharge at 25°C
Float design life: 20 years at 20°C
BAT702801260 800 2 210x191x688 65 Cycle design life:
BAT702102260 1000 2 210x233x690 80 1500 cycles at 80% discharge
BAT702122260 1200 2 210x275x690 93 2500 cycles at 50% discharge
4500 cycles at 30% discharge
BAT702152260 1500 2 210x275x840 115
BAT702202260 2000 2 215x400x815 155
BAT702252260 2500 2 215x490x815 200
BAT702302260 3000 2 215x580x815 235

Other capacities and terminal types: at request

Victron Energy B.V. | De Paal 35 | 1351 JG Almere | The Netherlands

General phone: +31 (0)36 535 97 00 | Fax: +31 (0)36 535 97 40
E-mail: [email protected] | www.victronenergy.com