The service life of a gel battery, according to manufacturers, is at least 10 years. In practice, the need to repair or replace it becomes obvious after 3-4 years, when a decrease in capacity is observed or the electrolyte solution dries out. The product belongs to the category of maintenance-free elements, but experienced vehicle owners know how to restore a gel battery at home.
Diagram: what parts does a gel battery consist of?
Fundamental differences between gel batteries
Such batteries differ from lead-acid analogues in a number of technical characteristics and electrolyte composition. The binding solution in it is distilled water with the addition of silica gel, which tightly seals the contents of the case.
This allows you to avoid chemical fumes, which affects the environmental friendliness of the device - it can be installed not only inside the car, but also in residential areas. In addition, due to the absence of gas emissions, their re-involvement in the work process is ensured and the service life of the product is increased.
Another advantage of the battery is the ability to place it in any position - on its side or upside down, while acid batteries need strictly vertical fixation.
Advantages of the gel battery design.
Batteries with gel electrolyte do not require deep recharging, charge quickly and maintain a service life in standby mode for 2 years.
Due to the increase in the number of charge-discharge cycles, more intensive use of such products is possible.
Among the negative features of such batteries are:
- Instability to low temperatures. At -50⁰C the electrolyte freezes and becomes brittle.
- Rapid failure when applying voltage above 15 V.
- High price.
When should you not recharge your battery?
If the body of the device is damaged, there is a crack or swelling, it is impossible to restore gel batteries. The deformation shows that the process of chemical destruction of the electrolyte was active. Perhaps the gel has undergone irreversible changes. Water will no longer restore the internal component composition.
The plates inside may collapse. Unusable cans in a gel battery are not changed. You can make sure that the plates have crumbled or settled by shaking the body. Characteristic sounds will be heard. You can shine a flashlight inside the suspicious cavity.
Cracks in the body or fistulas led to the removal of part of the active mass. By sealing them, you will not restore internal balance. If cracks occurred when the battery was frozen, the composition itself has already lost its properties.
How to check a gel battery
If there are no obvious flaws, the device is checked using a voltmeter and a load fork, simulating the operation of the starter for 3-4 seconds. The load is connected after setting the voltage values at the terminals, and then an improvised motor is connected for a short period.
The rate of recovery of the electromotive force is assessed by observing the voltmeter needle, which should rise back.
A rapid drop in current indicates that the battery has almost used up its resource; a new device takes a long time to charge. If no changes occur, the voltage can be increased by gradually adding 5 V. During the operation, you should pay attention to ensure that the temperature of the device does not exceed 40-45⁰C.
Filling distillate
The water for the gel battery is not ordinary tap water, but distilled water. If you have questions about purchasing it, you can contact one of the pharmacies or a store that is popular among car enthusiasts. But it is best to buy distilled water at a pharmacy, since you can avoid counterfeiting.
Filling with water is done with a syringe, and there are several effective methods that are essentially the same:
- The method is as follows. Using a syringe, each jar is completely filled with water, after which you need to leave the battery for a while. 5-10 minutes is enough, after which all the water should be removed, using the same xs syringe. During this period, the electrolyte will absorb the required amount of water. In some cases, it is recommended to wait not 10 minutes, but half an hour. After the water has been drained, you can close the caps and charge the battery.
- The next way to restore a gel battery (12V, 7 Ah) is no less effective. You need to pour no more than 3 cubes of water into each of the cans, after which they are closed with caps, and the power source is put on charge.
- Fill the jars with water until the plates close, but at the same time you want the water to not reach the edges. Do not close the caps yet, as excess water and gas will escape. Now you can charge the battery, and at the end of the process you can close the jars with caps.
When installing the protective rubber bands in their place before charging (except for the last case), you need to fix them well.
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Is the gel recoverable?
The basis for battery restoration is the drying of moisture in the electrolyte. To check the liquid level in the cans, open the battery cover with a knife or other sharp instrument. When returning the cover to its original position, you must ensure that there is no dirt on the valves.
Because of this, they may not close, and the gel will dry out faster. In addition, the integrity of the device case and its contents is taken into account. The amount of charge stored in the battery must be at least 30% of the required value.
Principle of operation
Before you begin restoring gel batteries, you need to understand in detail the principle of their operation and the main differences from other types of batteries. In essence, it is somewhat similar to that used in sealed acid-type devices. However, experts mention two main differences.
A special gel-like substance is used as an electrolyte, which consists of purified water and sulfuric acid, which influenced the appearance of the characteristic name. Many car owners attribute the name “helium” to the systems, although this is not entirely correct, since they do not operate on gas.
Overcharging of such devices is unacceptable, because it causes a rapid loss of capacity. To avoid such consequences, it is advisable to maintain a voltage range of 14-16 V.
Basic rules for safe charging
The gel battery can be charged at home. The main thing is to ensure the supply of direct current. The procedure is carried out using a 12V charger, which is used only for gel devices.
You can make such chargers yourself. What distinguishes them from other products is the ability to control the incoming voltage. It is recommended to set this indicator at 0.1 of the battery power, the charging time will be about 12 hours. A device designed for acid-type devices cannot be used.
The battery is fully charged and is not used at a low energy level.
A long stay in a discharged state leads to a decrease in capacity. Regularly recharging the battery will prevent this situation.
What can happen if you charge incorrectly?
A gel battery is a capricious “creation”, and if you apply a voltage of 15 or more volts, it will simply swell, since the battery is completely sealed. In addition, detachment of the electrolyte from the plates may occur. In some cases, gas is even released. Then how to restore a gel battery (6V) is out of the question.
Thanks to its good sealing, any room is suitable for charging the battery, the main thing is to prevent the voltage from increasing. You need to turn off the charger only after the battery is fully charged, not earlier. This is also very important!
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How to restore a battery
The process of restoring a gel battery.
Gel batteries are more demanding to maintain, so refurbishing them requires great care. The following tools are used during the procedure:
- syringe;
- tweezers;
- screwdriver;
- Charger.
To restore electrolyte levels, you will need distilled water, which can be purchased at a pharmacy.
Filling distillate
The battery is disassembled by removing the top cover, after which the rubber valve caps are removed with tweezers. Then use a syringe to add 2 ml of distillate to each jar. The liquid must be added gradually as the water is absorbed into the gel. The restored level should completely cover the lead plates, and excess moisture is pumped out with the same syringe.
In some cases, instead of distilled water, electrolyte is poured into the battery. This will work if the battery is old and needs to be revived temporarily.
Recovery using long-term battery charging
After adding distilled liquid, the valves are returned to their place and closed with a lid, which is fixed with tape or glue, and a load is placed on top. This is necessary in order to prevent the valves from breaking due to the released gas.
When connecting the battery to the charger, set the voltmeter to 14-15 V and wait until the battery restores current consumption (within 14 hours). If this does not happen, the voltage is increased to 20 V.
It is important not to leave the battery unattended, since restoration of the electrolyte leads to a sharp drop in load and can cause smoke and burnout of the device. Therefore, as soon as current flows, the level of electromotive force is reduced to 14 V and the battery continues to be charged in the standard mode, i.e., with a charge equal to 0.1 of its nominal capacity.
Cyclic charging
The method is used for severe loss of capacity. It involves 3-4 repeating cycles of charging and discharging.
The first two are carried out under a high voltage of 25-30 V, which gradually decreases to 14 V as current consumption increases. For discharge, a 5-10 W light bulb is used, and care must be taken that the potential difference does not fall below 10, 5-11 V.
After recovery, the battery is charged in standard mode. If it is not possible to return full power to the battery, it is used with an incomplete charge or a new model is purchased.
Checking the electrolyte level
According to the manufacturers, the advantage of a gel battery is that it maintains the electrolyte level throughout its entire service life. This is not always the case, since higher levels of current are supplied to the terminals of the device during the charging process or water evaporation from the gel structure does occur. The internal composition of the cans between the electrodes becomes drier over time, losing the ability to cover the cathode and anode area, which leads to a drop in capacity.
To check the electrolytic level, you need to look at the indicators, if any, or open the lid with caps yourself. If there is a decrease in the volume of the gel, it should be replenished. The process involves adding distilled water to the structure of the gel-like mass. The most important thing is the gradual introduction of liquid with constant monitoring of the coverage of the electrodes with moisture.
The average time for distillate to be absorbed into the gel is from half an hour to 40 minutes. At this frequency, the electrolyte level should be re-checked and water should be added again if necessary. If a layer of pure distillate forms on the surface of the gel, it should be removed as this may have adverse effects on the battery. Upon completion of the work, the inside of the battery is again sealed with the old cap. To ensure tight contact with the body, double-sided tape or adhesive is used. All caps are reinstalled.
How to extend the device's operating life
Application of GEL (Gelled Electrolite) and AGM (Absorptive Glass Mat) technologies for the need to maintain a gel battery.
The service life of a gel battery depends on the operating conditions and care of it. It is not recommended to allow the battery to completely discharge.
If this happens, use a limited charge replenishment scheme - not 10%, but 5% of the declared capacity - and double the process time. The loss of energy intensity during such actions is less than with the standard method.
To avoid such situations, you should purchase a multimeter. For preventive purposes, they regularly check the correct fastening of the terminals and perform a full battery charging cycle once a quarter.
Features of the device of gel batteries
The structure of a gel battery is similar to the already standard acid one. This is a housing with plates and electrolyte. Only the latter is not the usual liquid, but in the form of a gel substance.
In acid batteries, for example, due to temperature changes, the density of the electrolyte can change and it leaks out. In the gel version, the solution does not change its state, therefore, chemical leaks are impossible. Hence the following - you can operate the battery with gel in any position, even “upside down”. More benefits:
- no deep charging is required, since the state of the plates does not change depending on the rate of charge replenishment;
- energy loss in storage state is 20%;
- the increased number of charge-discharge cycles, respectively, lasts longer. Of course, taking into account that regular proper maintenance is carried out.
A gel battery is very demanding on charging parameters. If you exceed the voltage even slightly, the power source can easily be destroyed, and in most cases it will not be possible to “revive” it.
In what cases is battery restoration inappropriate?
Batteries are disposed of:
- When the cans swell, which is caused by the detachment of the gel from the plates. Such a defect is determined visually.
- When the contents of the case are destroyed as a result of prolonged exposure to high temperature. If during inspection of the battery there are extraneous sounds coming from it, the element cannot be “revitalized”. You can also enlighten the holes of the cans and make sure that the lead plates have lost their original appearance.
The right decision in this case would be to buy a new gel battery.
general description
Currently, gel batteries are widely distributed in various retail outlets, where they offer a wide range of spare parts for various vehicles. However, many people still do not know what the device is, how it works and what benefits it has. The fact is that externally the battery is not much different from its close cousins that run on acid.
For many years, old wet batteries have been in great demand. We are talking about acid models. However, as modern batteries developed, humanity began to actively abandon old, not entirely environmentally friendly systems, giving preference to improved modern developments.
Initially, such devices were developed exclusively for military transport, including aviation, where conventional batteries could not perform their task because they constantly overheated and lost capacity. As a result, they quickly failed and were no longer suitable for further use. Soon new inventions appeared on the market - gel analogues , which quickly occupied a leadership niche and began to gain popularity.
Advantages
- Autonomous operation, without monitoring the level and quality of the electrolyte;
- In the event of a leak, the viscosity of the electrolyte prevents leakage;
- Tightness prevents the release of chemical reaction products into the surrounding space;
- Operation allows any position, including upside down;
- Long resource and service life;
- High current level;
- Acceptability of use in residential premises (does not emit fumes);
- Withstands repeated charging and discharging.
What is the difference
The main feature of a gel battery is its tightness and a special jelly-like electrolyte. The gel composition was recognized as the best solution for a sealed structure. In a conventional automotive power source, the electrolyte participates extremely violently in chemical reactions - vapors are released, and sometimes boiling occurs. The sealed structure may explode if chemical reactions occur with violent release of vapors. To eliminate this effect, gel solutions used a special viscous electrolyte composition and a design that ensures self-absorption of released gases. The user may not even realize that he is the owner of a gel battery - after all, he will not be able to look inside without breaking it. Gel devices, due to their high output current, enjoy increased attention among lovers of powerful audio systems.
Summary
Chemical sources of electric current, which include lead-acid, are in a state of constant improvement. Gel batteries are the next stage of this development. Gel batteries are ideal for use in transport on extreme or sports routes, for owners of powerful audio systems. They performed well at high current loads and have an impressive service life. If necessary, you can restore a tired gel battery by applying cyclic voltage.
