Comparison of Small Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries

This report contains the results of a series of initial performance and life tests on several brands of sealed, valve-regulated lead-acid batteries. "Small" (3 Ah) and "large" (15 Ah) modules were assembled into as 12 V test batteries.

Initially, the general electrical performance was characterized, together with additional tests designed to evaluate "problem areas", such as excessive internal resistance, slow recharging and recovery from over-discharge.

These were followed by life testing on two types of duty schedules: a continuous float charging schedule, typical of standby and emergency power applications, to measure corrosion resistance; and a more rigorous charge/discharge cycling schedule, characteristic of mobile or independent battery power applications, which also provides an assessment of active material retention, recharge efficiency and resistance to electrolyte stratification.

The cycling test terminated after 250 cycles, and some 160 days were completed on the float charge duty.

The products used for the tests came from Gates Energy Products, Hawker Energy Products, Power-sonic Corporation, Sonnenschein and Yuasa Battery Co Ltd.

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