Battery Tech

Do SLA Batteries Need Venting?

You may at some stage have heard about battery venting but may not understand what it means. In this article, we’ll take a look at what battery venting is, why it occurs and how the process is different for different lead acid batteries types.

What are SLA batteries?

SLA or Sealed Lead Acid batteries are often also referred to as VRLA or Valve Regulated Lead Acid batteries. These different names refer to exactly the same type of battery. The biggest difference between conventional lead acid batteries and SLA batteries is that SLA batteries are sealed during the battery manufacturing process as the name indicates. This results in them not venting oxygen and hydrogen into the air while they are being recharged. These gasses are instead absorbed by the electrolyte that is inside the battery. This is also why it’s not necessary to add distilled water to SLA batteries as had to be done with conventional lead acid batteries.

What is Battery Venting?

Let’s first take a look at what lead acid batteries are and where they are used. Lead acid batteries are commonly used in a wide variety of different applications including trucks, cars, boats, and many other vehicles, as well as in equipment such as industrial scrubbers, UPS backups, and electric wheelchair batteries. When a lead acid battery is recharged, the electricity that flows through the water in the electrolyte of the battery divides it into oxygen and hydrogen.

Both oxygen and hydrogen are highly flammable and have to be removed from the battery. This is done through venting. The lead acid battery will release the gasses during charging so that they don’t cause pressure to build up inside the battery. This is done via a vent cap that is situated on the battery’s top and allows the oxygen and hydrogen to seep through.

Safety Tips for Lead Acid Batteries

Since oxygen and hydrogen are both flammable, caution should be exercised when lead acid batteries are stored or recharged. Lead acid batteries should only be stored in a well-ventilated area removed from any open flames or sparks. The vent cap should also be kept free of any obstructions. When charging a lead acid battery personal protective gear must always be worn including a face shield or acid-resistant goggles and safety gloves. Wearing an acid-resistant apron or a lab coat and a pair of safety shoes is also recommended.

If a battery charger is used, ensure that it matches the battery’s chemistry and voltage. The battery should also never be overcharged as this will boil the internal components and result in additional venting. The charger should be disconnected once the battery has been charged fully. An alternative would be to use a battery maintainer that will automatically switch off once the correct voltage has been reached.

Do Sealed Batteries Have To Be Vented?

Although SLA batteries don’t release gasses regularly, they can still vent under specific conditions. When a battery is overcharged, it will cook the electrolyte and this will produce a higher pressure than what the battery can maintain. When a battery is charged too fast it will also lead to gas building up faster than what can be recombined with the water in the battery. With either of these scenarios, the SLA will release the pressure by venting gasses via a one-way pop-up valve that is located in the body of the battery.

The prevent the above from happening, follow the same safety rules that apply to a traditional lead acid battery, i.e. storing the SLA battery in a well-ventilated area far from any open flames or sparks. Don’t overcharge the SLA battery and use an appropriate charger.

Do Gel Batteries Have To Be Vented?

Gel batteries are also a type of VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) battery. What makes a gel battery different than other SLA batteries, is that its electrolyte is mixed with a silica additive, turning it into a gel-like substance. Gel batteries generate a minute amount of fumes due to this unique design, and this reduces its need to vent.

Shop Battery Chargers, SLA Batteries, and More

Shop our huge range of batteries for an enormous selection of applications both small and big. A-1 Accredited Batteries supplies SLA and traditional lead acid batteries for cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, children’s riding toys, UPS backups, and much more. If you need a new battery charger, we have an extensive range available. If you’re having problems with any battery, be it for your car or other vehicles, or even your phone, bring it to your nearest A-1 Accredited Batteries and we’ll test it for free. Most of our outlets also offer free installation if you buy a new auto battery from us.

When doing research on how to care for your car battery, you may have come across the term car battery terminal covers. These are also called car battery terminal protectors and are round covers shaped like a washer that are installed on a car battery’s terminals. In this article, we’ll answer some common questions about battery terminal covers, and explain how they can help protect a car battery.

How to Prevent Corrosion on Battery Terminals

The main function of a car battery terminal cover is to help prevent corrosion. This is a corrosive substance that accumulates on a car battery’s terminals and it will limit the amount of current that can flow from the battery to the engine and from the car’s charging system back to the battery. This not only makes it more difficult to start the engine, but also limits how much the alternator can recharge the battery, which may result in the car’s battery being left in an undercharged state.

How Is Corrosion Caused?

The chemical reactions that take place inside a car battery cause corrosion. Lead acid batteries emit hydrogen and sulfuric acid gas. These gases react with the metal on the outside of a battery and the heat under a car’s hood to create corrosion on the battery terminals which are made from lead alloy. Battery terminal covers help prevent this process as they absorb vapors at the battery terminal’ base, which then prevents them from flowing to the battery terminals.

At A-1 Accredited Batteries, We Have All You Need to Maintain A Car’s Battery

If you are trying to keep your vehicle’s battery in the best shape possible, A-1 Accredited Batteries can help. Protect your battery’s terminals with a car battery terminal anti-corrosion spray and vehicle battery terminal protectors. We also supply car battery corrosion cleaner, which is used to clean a battery’s connectors, surface, carriers, and terminals. Batteries of vehicles that aren’t used often should be maintained with our wide range of battery chargers for trucks, cars, boats, and many other vehicles.

Electric wheelchairs are used by millions of people, providing mobility for those who don’t have the ability to operate manual wheelchairs, and helping them to access challenging terrain including steep inclines. Electric wheelchairs can do all this by using battery power. Let’s take a detailed look at wheelchair batteries. We’ll discuss the different types of batteries used by wheelchairs, look at some of the pros and cons of each type, and provide some tips on how to maintain and charge them to get the best possible performance out of an electric wheelchair.

What Voltages are Used by Wheelchair Batteries?

When looking at wheelchair batteries there are two differentiating factors – chemistry and voltage. Let’s look at voltage first. Although all wheelchair batteries are 12 volts, most wheelchairs use a 24-volt system. That means that most electric wheelchairs require 2 X 12-volt batteries to run.

When purchasing a wheelchair battery, it’s crucial that both batteries have the same battery capacity and chemistry. Battery capacity is measured in amp hours (Ah). An amp hour is a measure of the amperage a battery can provide in one hour. This means that the bigger the amp hours rating of a battery is, the longer the wheelchair will be able to operate before having to be recharged.

What Type of Battery Do Wheelchairs Use?

Let’s now look at chemistry. Electric wheelchairs normally use one of two different types of batteries: gel batteries or deep cycle Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. Both are types of SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) batteries. SLA batteries produce electricity by means of chemical reactions that take place between a sulfuric acid solution known as an electrolyte and the plates packed inside the battery. The difference between gel and AGM batteries is how the electrolyte inside the battery is stored.

In gel batteries, a silica additive has been added to the electrolyte that turns it into a gel-like mass. In AGM batteries, the electrolyte is kept in suspension by several fiberglass separators that keep the solution between the battery plates.

Another term that should be defined is deep cycle. Deep cycle batteries have been designed to provide sustained, small levels of power for longer periods. This type of cycle life makes it possible to use deep cycle batteries for hours at a time, and wheelchairs are therefore a great application for them.

Are Gel or AGM Batteries Better?

Gel batteries have several advantages over AGM deep cycle batteries. The first is that the overall lifespan of gel batteries is longer. Gel batteries typically last about twice as long as AGM batteries. Gel batteries are also able to hold a charge for much longer than their AGM counterpart and tolerate extreme temperatures better.

One perceived disadvantage of gel batteries is that they cost more to purchase than what AGMs do. If you however consider that gel batteries last much longer than AGMs, the overall cost of ownership tends to even out. Gel batteries also take much longer to recharge than AGM batteries. This is due to gel batteries having very specific charging requirements in that they should be charged at lower voltages to prevent overcharging.

How Long Does A Wheelchair Battery Last?

A wheelchair battery that is fully charged will be able to operate a wheelchair for about 8 hours and typically last between one and two years. The battery’s actual lifespan will however depend on several factors, including the amount of weight that is transported, how often the wheelchair is used, whether the wheelchair battery is charged properly and the type of terrain it is used on.

Where Can I Find Wheelchair Battery Chargers?

When charging a battery, the most important rule that should always be followed is to ensure the charger is compatible with both the voltage and chemistry of the battery. If you for example use two gel sealed 12 volt lead acid batteries in the wheelchair, the charger must have a 24 volt output and be compatible with gel batteries. Many modern battery chargers come with different selections to cater to different battery chemistries. When you use a charger with more than one setting, always ensure you’ve selected the right chemistry before starting to charge the battery.

Can Wheelchair Batteries Be Overcharged?

Both over- and undercharging batteries can be harmful. It is therefore important that you monitor the charging cycle to ensure the battery is charged for the correct amount of time. You may however also decide to rather use an automatic or smart charger. These types of chargers monitor the battery to ensure the optimum charge and will switch themselves off automatically to prevent overcharging the battery. Once the battery starts to discharge it will switch on to start charging again.

How Are Wheelchair Batteries Charged?

There are a number of things to be aware of when you charge and store a wheelchair battery.

• A wheelchair battery typically takes around 8 hours to recharge fully
• Before recharging deep cycle batteries they need to be discharged fully
• Batteries should not be stored in a discharged state but should always be stored fully recharged
• Before using a battery again, check that it is fully recharged
• Regularly check the battery for signs of deformation including corrosion
• Always store batteries in a dry, cool place

Where Are Wheelchair Batteries Tested?

If your battery struggles to hold a charge or doesn’t last as long as before, the battery should be tested. At A-1 Accredited Batteries, we offer free battery testing. Simply take your wheelchair battery to the nearest A-1 Accredited Batteries outlet and we’ll test it to determine if it needs to be replaced or is still viable. If you do need to replace the battery, we offer a wide range of wheelchair batteries, as well as a range of battery chargers for wheelchairs.