| Word |
Description |
| Nickel-Cadmium Battery (NiCad) |
A form of
rechargeable battery used in portable devices such as camcorders, cell
phones, cordless phones and power tools. Compared to
nickel-metal-hydride and lithium-ion batteries, it can provide a higher
constant discharge rate but has a lower capacity. |
| Absorbent Glass Mat |
(AGM) A 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. |
| AC |
Alternating Current - An electric current that
varies periodically in magnitude and direction. A battery does not
deliver alternating current. This periodic variation is counted in
hertz. |
| Active Material |
The chemical paste that adheres to the positive (+) and negative (-) electrodes in a battery and reacts with the sulfuric acid. |
| AGM |
Absorbent 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. |
| AH |
Amp-Hour : 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. |
| Alkaline Battery |
A nonrechargeable, dry-cell
battery ? such as a AA, AAA, C, D or 9-volt battery ? that uses
alkaline aqueous solution for its electrolyte. It has a greater
capacity than some other types of dry-cell batteries. |
| Alloy |
A mixture of different types of metals or a mixture of a metal and a nonmetal. |
| Alternating Current |
(AC) - An electric current that
varies periodically in magnitude and direction. A battery does not
deliver alternating current. This periodic variation is counted in
hertz. |
| Alternator |
An alternating-current generator that produces and rectifies current so that it can be used in an automobile. |
| American National Standards Institute |
(ANSI) - An
organization, sponsored by the National Electric Manufacturers
Association (NEMA), that establishes policy and standards regarding
cell sizes, terminals and testing procedures. |
| Ammeter |
An instrument that measures the flow of
current in amps. Ammeters can be made to read DC (Direct Current) and
AC (Alternating Current.) |
| Amp |
Short for ampere, it is the unit of measure for the amount of current that is flowing through a circuit. |
| 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. |
| Amperage |
The amount of current flow within a circuit, expressed in amps. |
| Ampere |
(Amp) - The unit of measure for the amount of current that is flowing through a circuit. |
| Anode |
The positive (+) terminal of an electrolyte battery. The negative (-) terminal of a primary cell battery. |
| ANSI |
American National Standards Institute - An
organization, sponsored by the National Electric Manufacturers
Association (NEMA), that establishes policy and standards regarding
cell sizes, terminals and testing procedures. |
| Application |
The equipment in which a battery is used. |
| Automotive Battery |
A battery designed to start an automobile, also known as a Starting, Lighting, and Ignition (SLI) battery. |
| Average Drain |
The average current withdrawn ? i.e.,
the drain ? from a cell or battery during discharge, usually
approximated by calculating the current at 50% depth of discharge. |
| 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 Charge |
See State of Charge.
|
| Battery Council International (BCI) |
An association of battery industry companies whose members establish policy and standards for the industry. |
| Battery Group Size |
See Group Size. |
| BCI |
Battery Council International (BCI) - An
association of battery industry companies whose members establish
policy and standards for the industry. |
| BCI Group Number |
See Group Size |
| Boost Charging |
Charging at an extremely high rate
of 50-300 amps, this method is primarily used to rapidly charge a
battery in order to start a vehicle in a matter of a few seconds to
five minutes.
|
| Button Cell |
A single-cell, miniature battery, such as a watch battery, that is the size and shape of a button.
|
| CA |
cranking amps |
| Capacitor |
A device that can store a charge on
conducting plates, it is most frequently called a condenser, as in
"points and condenser," in an automobile.
|
| Capacity |
The ability of a fully charged battery to
deliver a specified quantity of electricity (AH) at a given rate (amps)
over a definite period of time (hours).
|
| Carbon-Zinc Battery |
A general-purpose battery, made
of a carbon-zinc alloy, such as a AA, AAA, C, D or 9-volt battery. It
typically has a lower capacity than alkaline batteries but is used in
the same applications, e.g., flashlights.
|
| Cathode |
(1) The negative (-) terminal of an electrolyte battery. (2) The positive (+) terminal of a primary cell battery. |
| CCA |
cold-cranking amps |
| CCV |
closed-circuit voltage |
| Cell (Dry) |
The basic unit that converts chemical
energy directly into electric energy. Typically consists of two
electrodes of dissimilar material isolated from one another
electronically in immobilized electrolyte. See also Dry-Cell Battery.
|
| Cell (Flooded) |
The basic unit that converts
chemical energy directly into electric energy. Typically consists of a
set of positive (+) plates, negative (-) plates, liquid electrolyte,
separators and casing. A 12-volt battery has six cells.
|
| Cell Mismatch |
The condition of a battery pack that
contains cells with significant variations in voltage or capacity. In a
liquid-electrolyte battery, cell mismatch may be determined using a
hydrometer.
|
| Cell Reversal |
See Reversed Polarity
|
| CEMF |
counter electromotive force |
| Charging |
The process of supplying electrical energy to a discharged battery for conversion to stored chemical energy.
|
| Charging Voltage |
The voltage used to overcome a battery's internal resistance and to recharge the battery.
|
| Circuit |
The path followed by a current. See also Open Circuit, Parallel Circuit and Series Circuit.
|
| Closed-Circuit Voltage (CCV) |
The voltage of a
battery when the cell or battery is under a specific discharge load and
time interval. See also Open-Circuit Voltage. |
| Coin Cell |
A miniature battery ? typically a
single-cell ? such as a keyless-remote or camera battery, that is the
size and shape of a coin. |
| Cold-Cranking Amps (CCA) |
A rating that is used to
define the battery's ability to start an engine under low-temperature
conditions. BCI defines it as "the number of amps a lead-acid battery
at 0ºF (-17.8ºC) can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2
volts per cell (7.2 volts for a 12-volt lead-acid battery). See also CA
and HCA. |
| Conditioning |
(1) The process of restoring capacity
to a nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal-hydride battery by deeply
discharging and recharging the battery multiple times. (2) The process
of preparing a lead-acid battery for a set of standard electrical tests
by a precise charge regime. |
| Conductance |
The ability of a circuit to conduct current. It is the mathematical reciprocal of electrical resistance. |
| Conductor |
A material that allows the movement of
electrons (current), such as the metals used for wire and contacts. The
best conductors are gold, silver and copper, followed by lead, aluminum
and steel. |
| Constant Current |
Charging or discharging method in
which current does not change appreciably in magnitude regardless of
battery voltage or temperature. |
| Constant Resistance |
A situation during discharge in which the resistance of the application remains constant. |
| Constant-Current Battery Charger |
A battery charger with output current that stays relatively constant as the battery state of charge increases. |
| Constant-Current Discharge |
A discharge in which the current drawn from the battery remains constant. |
| Constant-Voltage Battery Charger |
A voltage-regulated battery charger that allows a decrease in charging current as the battery state of charge increases. |
| Continuity |
The indication that a circuit is complete between two points; continuity does not exist in an open circuit. |
| Continuous Test |
A battery test in which the battery is continuously discharged until it reaches a predetermined voltage. |
| 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. |
| Counter Electromotive Force (CEMF) |
The voltage that is produced within the battery, mainly by chemical means, that opposes the charging voltage. |
| Cranking Amps (CA) |
A rating that is used to define
the battery's ability to start an engine in moderate temperature
conditions. BCI defines it as "the discharge load in amps that a new,
fully-charged battery at 32ºF (0ºC) can continuously deliver for 30
seconds while maintaining a terminal voltage equal to or higher than
1.20 volts per cell." This artificially high rating should not be
confused with CCA, which is conducted at 0ºF (-17.8ºC). |
| Cranking Battery |
An SLI battery |
| Current (I) |
The rate that electricity flows through
a conductor, such as the wire in a battery cable. Current is measured
in amps. See also Alternating Current and Direct Current. |
| Current Drain |
The current withdrawn from a battery during discharge.
See Drain |
| Customer Service |
Customer Service for Internet Orders: 866-842-5368 (toll-free).
Customer Service for Fundraising Orders: 800-830-9011 (toll-free).
Customer Service for Vehicle Batteries: 888-772-3600 (toll-free). |
| Cutoff Voltage |
The voltage at the end of useful
discharge. When battery voltage is below this level, the connected
equipment will not operate and operation is not recommended. |
| Cycle |
One sequence of battery activity, which is a 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. |
| Cycling |
The repeated charge/discharge cycle of a battery. Some batteries are rated according to their ability to cycle. |
| Cylindrical Battery |
(1) A battery that has a height greater than its diameter. (2) A battery made up of cylindrical cells. |
| Cylindrical Cell |
A battery cell design in which the
positive (+) plates and negative (-) plates are rolled up and placed
into a cylindrical-shaped container. In Interstate's Extreme
Performance batteries, this construction is called Spiralcell®
technology. |
| DC |
direct current |
| Deep Discharge |
The discharge of the battery to below the specified cutoff voltage before the battery is replaced or recharged. |
| Deep-Cycle Battery |
A battery that is designed to
withstand repetitive discharges to a 20% depth of discharge or more and
to continue providing its rated capacity after hundreds of cycles.
Deep-cycle batteries are often used in marine/RV and industrial
applications. |
| Depth of Discharge (DOD) |
The percent of rated
capacity to which a cell or battery is discharged. It is the reciprocal
of a battery's state of charge. Example: a battery that has a depth of
discharge of 45% has a state of charge of 55%. |
| Digital Voltmeter (DVM) |
See voltmeter |
| Diode |
A semiconductor device that acts like a one-way valve for current. Today's alternators use diodes to rectify current. |
| Direct Current (DC) |
An electrical current that
flows in one direction only. A battery delivers direct current,
discharging the battery, and is recharged with direct current. |
| Discharge Rate |
The rate at which current is drawn from a battery, usually expressed in amps. |
| Discharged |
The state of a battery when it has less
than a 100% state of charge. Levels of discharge are shown in the
Open-Circuit-Voltage Chart. |
| Discharging |
The withdrawal of electrical energy
from a cell or battery, usually to operate connected equipment. A
battery is discharging when it delivers current. |
| Distilled water |
If the water level in your battery
is low, Interstate Batteries recommends adding nothing but distilled
water to a vehicle battery. No other additives have been proven to
extend battery life and may actually decrease it. |
| Drain |
Withdrawal of current from a cell or battery. Often referred to as discharging. See also Average Drain and Initial Drain. |
| Dry Battery |
A battery in which the electrolyte is immobilized, being either in the form of a paste or absorbed into the separator material. |
| Dry-Cell Battery |
A cylindrical-cell battery,
typically nonrechargeable and disposable, such as a standard alkaline,
heavy-duty or general-purpose battery. See also Cell. |
| Dual-Alloy Battery |
See Low-Maintenance Battery. |
| Dual-Terminal Battery |
An automotive battery with top terminals and side terminals. |
| 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 |
volt |
| Electricity |
The flow of electrons through conductive materials and devices. |
| Electrode |
A conductor used to establish electrical contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit |
| Electrolysis |
The chemical process that breaks down
the water in the electrolyte, releasing hydrogen from the cathode and
oxygen from the anode. |
| Electrolyte |
The dilute solution of approximately
25% sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and 75% water by volume in a lead-acid
battery, it conducts electricity required for the battery to supply
energy. A lead-acid battery may have a liquid, gelled or immobilized
electrolyte. |
| Electromechanical |
Of, relating to, or being a
process or device that converts electrical energy into mechanical
movement. A starter motor and an alternator are electromechanical
devices. |
| Electromotive Force (EMF) |
voltage |
| Electron |
A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom. |
| Element |
In a battery, a set of positive (+) plates and negative (-) plates along with separators. |
| EMF |
electromotive force, which is another term for voltage |
| Energy Density |
The ratio of a battery's
energy-delivery capability to its weight or volume, measured in
watt-hours per kilogram or watt-hours per cubic centimeter. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Float Charge |
A low, constant-current or
constant-voltage charge that compensates for the self-discharge of a
battery normally used in a standby application. |
| Flooded Battery |
A type of liquid, lead-acid battery. See Vented Battery. |
| Frequency |
The number of times that a periodic
function, such as current or voltage, repeats the same sequence of
values within a unit of time. It is measured in hertz. |
| Fuse |
A safety device in a circuit that melts "open"
at a specific level of current in order to protect the circuit from
shorts circuits and current surges. |
| Fusible Link |
A type of fuse in a circuit consisting of a reduced number of strands of wire held together by solder. |
| Gassing |
The production of gas in a battery due to the chemical reaction during recharging |
| Gel-Cell Battery |
A recombinant-chemistry, lead-acid
battery in which the electrolyte is immobilized by adding a gelling
agent. Totally sealed and valve-regulated, it is nonspillable and does
not require water addition. Gel-cell batteries are used in special
applications such as telecommunications, wheel chairs and security
alarm systems. |
| General-Purpose Battery |
The least expensive of the
typical dry-cell batteries, it has the lowest capacity and is suitable
only for low-drain applications, such as TV remote controls, clocks and
keyless remotes. |
| 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. |
| Ground |
A large conducting body, such as the metal
frame of a vehicle, used as a common return for an electric circuit and
as an arbitrary zero of potential. When jump starting or installing a
battery, it is important to identify the ground cable to avoid damage
when attaching the cable to the ground. The negative (-) terminal of
the battery is used as the ground in 99% of automotive applications
today. |
| Ground Cable |
The cable which connects the ground -
e.g., the metal frame of the vehicle - to the battery, normally to the
negative (-) terminal. |
| Group Size |
The physical dimensions of a battery.
BCI assigns letters and numbers for North American battery size types.
All group-size-24 batteries, for example, have similar container
dimensions, terminal orientation and terminal types. |
| Hazardous Waste |
Waste that is classified by the
government as potentially harmful to the environment. Lead and cadmium
are examples of chemicals that are particularly hazardous. |
| HCA |
hot-cranking amps |
| HD |
heavy duty |
| Heavy-Duty Battery (Commercial) |
A lead-acid,
liquid-electrolyte, starting battery used in medium and heavy-duty
trucks, construction vehicles and other off-road vehicles. |
| Heavy-Duty Battery (Dry-Cell) |
A dry-cell battery
used in low-to-medium-drain applications, such as flashlights and
radios. A lower-priced alternative to an alkaline battery, it has less
capacity and is unsuitable for high-drain applications. |
| Hertz (Hz) |
A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second. |
| Hot-Cranking Amps (HCA) |
A rating similar to CCA
that is used to define the current output of a storage battery at 80°F
(27°C). These inflated ratings should not be confused with CCA. |
| Hourly Rate |
See amp-hour |
| Hydrometer |
An instrument ? normally a mechanical
float type device but can be electronic ? used to determine the state
of charge of a battery by measuring the specific gravity of its
electrolyte. |
| Hz |
hertz |
| I |
current |
| IEC |
International ElectroChemical Commission |
| Immobilized Electrolyte |
An electrolyte made motionless by use of a gel additive or AGM separator. See also Gel-Cell Battery and Recombinant. |
| Impedance (Z) |
The total opposition that a battery
offers to the flow of alternating current. Impedance is a combination
of resistance and reactance. |
| Initial Drain |
The current that a cell or battery supplies when first placed on load. Also referred to as starting drain. |
| Insulator |
A material ? such as rubber, some plastics and glass ? that is highly resistant to conducting electricity. |
| Internal Resistance (Ri) |
The opposition to direct
current flow within a battery, which causes a drop in closed-circuit
voltage proportional to the battery's discharge rate. |
| International ElectroChemical Commission (IEC) |
A worldwide organization that establishes standards in the electrical and electronic fields. |
| Key-Off Drain |
An electrical discharge, such as that
caused by a vehicle computer memory or alarm system, that draws power
from the car battery when the vehicle is not running. See also Drain. |
| Kilowatt (kW) |
One thousand watts. |
| kW |
kilowatt |
| 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. |
| LeClanche |
A carbon-zinc battery with slightly acidic electrolyte consisting of ammonium chloride and zinc chloride in water. |
| 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. |
| Load |
A circuit's built-in resistance ? e.g., the starting motor, headlights or resistor ? that discharges the battery when operating. |
| Load Tester |
An instrument that discharges a battery
using an electrical load while measuring voltage. It determines the
battery's ability to perform under actual operating conditions. |
| Low-Maintenance Battery |
Normally a lead-acid
battery, it may require periodic water addition under normal service
conditions. A dual-alloy battery, it typically uses a low antimony lead
alloy in the positive (+) grid and a calcium-lead alloy in the negative
(-) grid. |
| mA |
MilliAmp |
| mAH |
Milliamp-hour |
| Maintenance-Free Battery |
A battery that does not
require water addition under normal service conditions. Both positive
(+) and negative (-) grids are made of lead/calcium. |
| Marine-Cranking Amps (MCA) |
A rating that is used to
define the number of amps that a lead-acid marine battery at 32°F (0°C)
can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell
(7.2 volts for a 12-volt lead-acid battery). This artificially high
rating should not be confused with CCA. |
| MCA |
marine cranking amps |
| Memory Effect |
A condition that is created when a
NiCad or NiMH battery is partially discharged and recharged repeatedly,
causing a loss of capacity. |
| MilliAmp (mA) |
One one-thousandth of an amp |
| Milliamp-hour (mAH) |
One one-thousandth of an amp-hour |
| Miniature Battery |
A button- or coin-shaped battery
? i.e., a button cell or coin cell ? with a diameter greater than its
height. The term miniature is also used to describe batteries made up
of miniature cells. |
| Multimeter |
Also known as a volt-ohm-meter (VOM), it
is an instrument designed to do a variety of electrical testing,
including voltage, amperage and resistance. |
| Negative (-) |
Normally refers to the negative (-)
battery terminal, which is the point from which electrons flow during
discharge. The negative (-) terminal cap or cable is typically black,
designating negative (-). See also Ground. |
| Negative (-) Plate |
The negative (-) electrodes of a battery composed of "spongy" lead on a grid. See also Active Material. |
| NiCad |
nickel-cadmium battery |
| Nickel-Metal-Hydride Battery (NiMH) |
A form of
rechargeable battery used in portable devices such as camcorders, cell
phones, cordless phones and laptops. It provides a higher capacity than
a nickel-cadmium battery but is designed to perform at a lower
discharge rate. |
| NiMH |
nickel-metal-hydride battery |
| Nominal Voltage |
The rated voltage of a battery |
| OCV |
open-circuit voltage |
| Ohm |
The unit of measure for resistance within an electrical circuit. Its symbol is the Greek letter omega. |
| Ohm's Law |
An equation ? E (Volts) = I (Current) x R
(Resistance) ? that expresses the relationship between volts, amps and
ohms in an electrical circuit with resistance. |
| Ohmmeter |
An instrument used to measure resistance in an electrical circuit |
| Online Customer Service |
Online Customer Service can
assist you with any online purchase made at InterstateBatteries.com.
You can contact them by phone at 866-842-5368 or by sending an email to
CustomerService@InterstateBatteries.com.
Online Customer Service is available Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Central Time, excluding holidays. |
| Open Circuit |
A circuit that has a broken or interrupted path, preventing current flow |
| Open-Circuit Voltage (OCV) |
The no-load voltage of a cell or battery measured with a voltmeter. See also Closed-Circuit Voltage |
| Overcharging |
The forcing of current through the
battery after it is fully charged. Overcharging reduces service life
and can damage the battery. |
| Parallel Circuit |
A circuit in which the current has
more than one path to follow. In this configuration, two batteries of
equal rating are wired together positive (+) to positive (+) and
negative (-) to negative (-). In parallel, the RC (Reserve Capacity)
and CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) double while the voltage remains the same
as the weakest individual battery. |
| Photovoltaic |
Of, relating to or utilizing the
generation of a voltage when radiant energy falls on the boundary
between dissimilar substances, such as two different semiconductors. |
| Plate |
A composite of a grid framework and the chemical active material. See Positive Plate and Negative Plate. |
| Polarity |
The particular state of a battery terminal, either positive (+) or negative (-) |
| Polarization |
The electrical potential reduction of electrodes, typically arising from prolonged or rapid discharge of the battery |
| Positive (+) |
Normally refers to the positive (+)
battery terminal, which is the point to which electrons in the external
circuit flow during discharge. Sometimes the positive (+) terminal cap
or cable is red, designating positive (+) |
| Positive (+) Plate |
The positive (+) electrodes of a battery composed of lead peroxide on a grid. See also Active Material |
| Potential Difference |
Voltage or electromotive force (EMF) |
| Power |
The rate at which work is done. Power is measured in watts. P (Power) = E (Voltage) x I (Current) |
| Primary Battery |
A cell or battery designed to
deliver its rated capacity once and then be discarded; it is not
designed to be recharged. Primary batteries include alkaline,
heavy-duty and general-purpose batteries |
| R |
resistance |
| Rapid Charge |
The charging of a battery, typically a NiCad, to its capacity in a short period of time |
| Rapid-Charge Battery |
A battery pack that is designed to accept a high amount of current in a short amount of time, such as a radio-control battery |
| Rate Sensitivity |
Typically refers to battery performance under various discharge loads with operating voltage being the defining characteristic |
| Rated Capacity (Dry Cell) |
The average capacity
delivered by a cell or battery on a specified load and temperature to a
cutoff voltage, as designated by the manufacturer. Rated capacity is
usually determined by an accelerated test approximating the cell or
battery's capacity in typical use. |
| Rated Capacity (Flooded) |
The CCA, RC or amp-hours
that a battery can deliver at a given rate of discharge, end voltage
and temperature. These ratings are often displayed on the outside of
the battery |
| RC |
reserve capacity |
| Rechargeable Battery |
A cell or battery capable of being recharged. Refers to secondary batteries |
| Recharging |
See charging |
| Recombinant |
The process in which the oxygen formed
at the positive (+) plate diffuses to the negative (-) plate, reacts
with the lead and suppresses water loss. In a recombinant (immobilized
electrolyte) chemistry battery, gassing is recombined within the sealed
battery so that water addition is unnecessary |
| Reconditioning |
See Conditioning |
| Rectifier |
Device that changes alternating current to direct current |
| Rectify |
To convert alternating current into direct current |
| Reserve Capacity (RC) |
BCI defines it as "the
number of minutes a new, fully-charged battery at 80ºF (27ºC) can be
discharged at 25 amps and maintain a voltage equal to or higher than
1.75 volts per cell" (i.e., 10.5 volts for a 12-volt battery). This
rating represents the time the battery will continue to operate
essential accessories in the event of a charging system failure. |
| Resistance (R) |
The opposition to the free flow of current in a circuit. Resistance is measured in ohms. See also Internal Resistance |
| Resistor |
A device, with electrical resistance, that is used in an electrical circuit for current control and efficient operation. |
| Reversal |
See Reversed Polarity |
| Reversed Polarity |
The changing or reversing of the
normal polarity of a battery, which commonly occurs when battery cables
or charging cables are connected backwards |
| Ri |
internal resistance. |
| Sealed Battery |
A maintenance-free battery with nonremovable vent caps |
| Secondary Battery |
Any battery that is designed to be recharged, such as lead-acid, NiCad and nickel-metal-hydride batteries |
| Self-Discharge |
The discharge that occurs in a
battery while it is not in use. The higher the temperature, the greater
the rate of self-discharge |
| Self-Discharge Rate |
The rate at which a cell or battery loses its capacity when standing idle |
| Separator |
An insulative divider between the
positive (+) plates and negative (-) plates of an element that allows
the flow of current to pass through it and prevents positive (+) and
negative (-) electrodes from touching and creating a short circuit.
Interstate's lead-acid batteries generally use polyethylene separators |
| Series Circuit |
A circuit in which the current has
only one path to follow. In this configuration, two batteries of equal
rating are wired together positive (+) to negative (-). In series, the
battery voltage increases while the RC and CCA remain the same as the
weakest individual battery |
| Series/Parallel Circuit |
A circuit in which some of
the terminals are connected in series to increase total voltage, and
some are connected in parallel to increase total capacity. The amount
of voltage and capacity depends on the exact number of series and
parallel connections |
| Service Life |
The length of time a battery can be used in a given application |
| Shelf Life |
The amount of time a cell or battery
will retain a specified percent of its rated capacity, typically under
ambient storage conditions. Interstate's superior rotation service
ensures that batteries are fresh on the shelf |
| Short Circuit |
An unwanted electrical connection
between a negative (-) ground and a positive (+) source. A short
circuit in a battery cell may be permanent enough to discharge the cell
and render the battery useless |
| Silver-Oxide Battery |
A small, nonrechargeable battery used in devices such as watches and calculators |
| 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. |
| Slow Charging |
Charging at a rate of about 5-10% of a battery's rated capacity. Example: 50 AH battery x 10% = 5-amp charge |
| Smart Battery |
A battery with internal circuitry
designed to communicate information, such as capacity remaining, to the
user or to other parts of the application's circuit |
| Smart Charger |
A charger that fully discharges a
NiCad battery and/or an NiMH battery before recharging it to prevent a
memory effect from occurring |
| Solenoid |
(1) A term used to mean coil or inductor.
(2) A type of relay that switches the starter current "off" in an
automobile after the engine engages |
| Specialty Battery |
Any battery other than an SLI battery |
| Specific Gravity |
In a lead-acid battery, the weight of sulfuric acid compared to the weight of an equal volume of pure water |
| Standby |
A backup power supply. See also Float Charge and Uninterrupted Power Supply |
| Standby Time |
The number of hours a cell phone can be left "on" and unused before its battery's capacity is depleted. See also Talk Time |
| Starting Battery |
A starting-lighting-and-ignition battery (SLI) |
| Starting-Lighting-and-Ignition Battery (SLI) |
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 |
| State of Charge |
The condition of a battery in terms
of rated capacity remaining at a given point in time. See also
Open-Circuit-Voltage Chart, Specific-Gravity Chart and Depth of
Discharge |
| Stratification |
A condition in which the
concentration of acid is greater at the bottom of the battery than at
the top. Normally caused by continued undercharging. |
| Sulfation |
The accumulation of lead sulfates on the
plates of a lead-acid battery. When enough plate area has sulfated, the
battery will not be able to provide enough current and will normally
need to be replaced |
| Switch |
A mechanical device used for opening and closing a circuit |
| Talk Time |
The number of minutes that a cell phone can be used before its battery's capacity is depleted. See also Standby Time. |
| Temperature Cutoff |
A device, such as a thermostat,
that senses battery temperature and opens the battery circuit when the
temperature reaches a certain point. |
| Terminal |
A connection point on a device or component, e.g., a battery terminal. |
| Terminal Voltage |
The voltage at the battery terminals |
| Trickle Charging |
Charging at a very slow rate of
1-2 amps, this is typically used for smaller batteries ? e.g.,
motorcycle, lawn and garden ? or occasionally is erroneously used for
keeping large automotive batteries fully charged when they are not in
use. |
| Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) |
It is a battery-powered system that provides standby power if the primary power is interrupted. |
| Unwanted Resistance |
Any resistance ? e.g., corrosion and inadequate connections ? found in a circuit that is not designed into the circuit. |
| UPS |
uninterrupted power supply |
| 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 |
| Vented Battery |
A battery in which the gaseous
products of electrolysis and evaporation are allowed to escape into the
atmosphere as they are generated. These batteries are commonly referred
to as flooded batteries |
| Venting |
When gas or electrolyte escapes through a valve or vent |
| Volt (E) |
The unit of measure for electrical potential or pressure, which is also called electromotive force (EMF). Volts = Amps x Ohms |
| Volt-ohm-meter (VOM) |
multimeter |
| Voltage |
Also called electromotive force (EMF), it is the electrical pressure that forces electron flow in a complete circuit |
| Voltage Drop |
The net difference in the electrical
potential (voltage) when measured across a resistance (ohms). Its
relationship with current is described in Ohm's Law |
| Voltage Regulator |
A device that limits the charging voltage in a circuit |
| Voltmeter |
An instrument used to measure the voltage in a circuit or the state of charge of a battery by measuring its open-circuit voltage |
| VOM |
Volt-ohm-meter
See Multimeter |
| VRLA |
valve-regulated lead-acid battery |
| W |
watt |
| Watt (W) |
The unit of measure for electrical power. W = Amps x Volts. |
| Watt-Hour |
The unit of measure for electrical energy. Watt-Hour = Watts x Hours. |
| Z |
impedance |
| Zinc Chloride |
A chemistry used in some heavy-duty batteries. |
| Zinc-Air Cell |
A dry-cell battery system that uses oxygen and catalyzed carbon as the cathode and zinc as the anode to produce electricity.
Courtesy of Interstate Battery
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