Glossary of Battery Terms – Glossary of Technical Battery Terminology

Accumulator

Accumulator – A rechargeable battery or cell (see also Secondary battery).

Ampere or Amp

Ampere or Amp – An Ampere or an Amp is a unit of measurement for an electrical current. One amp is the amount of current produced by an electromotive force of one volt acting through the resistance of one ohm. Named for the French physicist Andre Marie Ampere. The abbreviation for Amp is A but its mathematical symbol is „I“. Small currents are measured in milli-Amps or thousandths of an Amp.

Amp Hour or Ampere-Hour

Amp Hour or Ampere-Hour – A unit of measurement of a battery’s electrical storage capacity. Current multiplied by time in hours equals ampere-hours. One amp hour is equal to a current of one ampere flowing for one hour. Also, 1 amp hour is equal to 1,000 mAh

Ampere-Hour Capacity

Ampere-Hour Capacity – The number of ampere-hours which can be delivered by a battery on a single discharge.

Anode

Anode – During discharge, the negative electrode of the cell is the anode. During charge, that reverses and the positive electrode of the cell is the anode. The anode gives up electrons to the load circuit and dissolves into the electrolyte.

Aqueous Batteries

Aqueous Batteries – Batteries with water-based electrolytes. The electrolyte may not appear to be liquid since it can be absorbed by the battery’s separator.

Actual Capacity or Available Capacity

– The total battery capacity, usually expressed in ampere-hours or milliampere-hours, available to perform work. The actual capacity of a particular battery is determined by a number of factors, including the cut-off voltage, discharge rate, temperature, method of charge and the age and life history of the battery.

Battery

Battery – An electrochemical device used to store energy. The term is usually applied to a group of two or more electric cells connected together electrically. In common usage, the term “battery” is also applied to a single cell, such as a AA battery.

Battery Capacity

Battery Capacity – The electric output of a cell or battery on a service test delivered before the cell reaches a specified final electrical condition and may be expressed in ampere-hours, watt- hours, or similar units. The capacity in watt-hours is equal to the capacity in ampere-hours multiplied by the battery voltage.

Battery Charger

Battery Charger – A device capable of supplying electrical energy to a battery.

Battery-Charge Rate

Battery-Charge Rate – The current expressed in amperes (A) or milli amps (mA) at which a battery is charged.

Cutoff Voltage, final

Cutoff Voltage, final – The prescribed lower-limit voltage at which battery discharge is considered complete. The cutoff or final voltage is usually chosen so that the maximum useful capacity of the battery is realized. The cutoff voltage varies with the type of battery and the kind of service in which the battery is used. When testing the capacity of a NiMH or NiCD battery a cutoff voltage of 1.0 V is normally used. 0.9V is normally used as the cutoff voltage of an alkaline cell. A device that is designed with too high a cutoff voltage may stop operating while the battery still has significant capacity remaining.

C

Used to signify a charge or discharge rate equal to the capacity of a battery divided by 1 hour. Thus C for a 1600 mAh battery would be 1.6 A, C/5 for the same battery would be 320 mA and C/10 would be 160 mA. Because C is dependent on the capacity of a battery the C rate for batteries of different capacities must also be different.

Capacity

Capacity – The capacity of a battery is a measure of the amount of energy that it can deliver in a single discharge. Battery capacity is normally listed as amp-hours (or milli amp-hours) or as watt-hours.

Cathode

Cathode – Is an electrode that, in effect, oxidizes the anode or absorbs the electrons. During discharge, the positive electrode of a voltaic cell is the cathode. When charging, that reverses and the negative electrode of the cell is the cathode.

Cell

Cell – An electrochemical device, composed of positive and negative plates and electrolyte, which is capable of storing electrical energy. It is the basic “building block” of a battery.

Charge

Charge – The conversion of electric energy, provided in the form of a current, into chemical energy within the cell or battery.

Charge Rate

Charge Rate – The amount of current applied to battery during the charging process. This rate is commonly expressed as a fraction of the capacity of the battery. For example, the C/2 or C/5.

Charging

Charging – The process of supplying electrical energy for conversion to stored chemical energy.

Constant-Current Charge

Constant-Current Charge – A charging process in which the current applied to the battery is maintained at a constant value.

Constant-Voltage Charge

Constant-Voltage Charge – A charging process in which the voltage applied to a battery is held at a constant value.

Cycle

Cycle – One sequence of charge and discharge.

Deep Cycle

Deep Cycle – A cycle in which the discharge is continued until the battery reaches it’s cut-off voltage, usually 80% of discharge.

Shallow Cycling

Shallow Cycling – Charge and discharge cycles which do not allow the battery to approach it’s cutoff voltage. Shallow cycling of NiCd cells lead to “memory effect”. Shallow cycling is not detrimental to NiMH cells and it is the most beneficial for lead acid batteries.

Cycle Life

Cycle Life – For rechargeable batteries, the total number of charge/discharge cycles the cell can sustain before it’s capacity is significantly reduced. End of life is usually considered to be reached when the cell or battery delivers only 80% of rated ampere- hour capacity. NiMH batteries typically have a cycle life of 500 cycles, NiCd batteries can have a cycle life of over 1,000 cycles. The cycle of a battery is greatly influenced by the type depth of the cycle (deep or shallow) and the method of recharging. Improper charge cycle cutoff can greatly reduce the cycle life of a battery.

Direct Current (DC)

Direct Current (DC) – The type of electrical current that a battery can supply. One terminal is always positive and another is always negative.

Discharge

Discharge – The conversion of the chemical energy of the battery into electric energy.

Depth of Discharge

Depth of Discharge – The amount of energy that has been removed from a battery (or battery pack). Usually expressed as a percentage of the total capacity of the battery. For example, 50% depth of discharge means that half of the energy in the battery has been used. 80% DOD means that eighty percent of the energy has been discharged, so the battery now holds only 20% of its full charge.

Discharge, deep

Discharge, deep – Withdrawal of all electrical energy to the end-point voltage before the cell or battery is recharged.

Discharge, high-rate

Discharge, high-rate – Withdrawal of large currents for short intervals of time, usually at a rate that would completely discharge a cell or battery in less than one hour.

Discharge, low-rate

Discharge, low-rate – Withdrawal of small currents for long periods of time, usually longer than one hour.

Drain

Drain – Withdrawal of current from a cell.

Dry Cell

Dry Cell – A primary cell in which the electrolyte is absorbed in a porous medium, or is otherwise restrained from flowing. Common practice limits the term “dry cell” to the Leclanch‚ cell, which is the common commercial type.

Electrochemical Couple

Electrochemical Couple – The system of active materials within a cell that provides electrical energy storage through an electrochemical reaction.

Electrode

Electrode – An electrical conductor through which an electric current enters or leaves a conducting medium, whether it be an electrolytic solution, solid, molten mass, gas, or vacuum. For electrolytic solutions, many solids, and molten masses, an electrode is an electrical conductor at the surface of which a change occurs from conduction by electrons to conduction by ions. For gases and vacuum, the electrodes merely serve to conduct electricity to and from the medium.

Electrolyte

Electrolyte – A chemical compound which, when fused or dissolved in certain solvents, usually water, will conduct an electric current. All electrolytes in the fused state or in solution give rise to ions which conduct the electric current.

Electropositivity

Electropositivity – The degree to which an element in a galvanic cell will function as the positive element of the cell. An element with a large electropositivity will oxidize faster than an element with a smaller electropositivity.

End-of-Discharge Voltage

End-of-Discharge Voltage – The voltage of the battery at termination of a discharge.

Energy

Energy – Output Capability – expressed as capacity times voltage, or watt-hours.

Energy Density

Energy Density – Ratio of cell energy to weight or volume (watt-hours per pound, or watt-hours per cubic inch).

Final Voltage

Final Voltage -(see Cutoff voltage)

Float Charging

Float Charging – Method of recharging in which a secondary cell is continuously connected to a constant-voltage supply that maintains the cell in fully charged condition. Typically applied to lead acid batteries.

Galvanic Cell

Galvanic Cell – A combination of electrodes, separated by electrolyte, that is capable of producing electrical energy by electrochemical action.

Gassing

Gassing – The evolution of gas from one or both of the electrodes in a cell. Gassing commonly results from self-discharge or from the electrolysis of water in the electrolyte during charging.

Internal Resistance

Internal Resistance – The resistance to the flow of an electric current within the cell or battery.

Memory Effect

Memory Effect – A phenomenon in which a cell, operated in successive cycles to less than full, depth of discharge, temporarily loses the remainder of its capacity at normal voltage levels (usually applies only to Ni-Cd cells). Note, memory effect can be induced in NiCd cells even if the level of discharge is not the same during each cycle. Memory effect is reversable.

Negative Terminal

Negative Terminal – The terminal of a battery from which electrons flow in the external circuit when the cell discharges. See Positive Terminal.

Nonaqueous Batteries

Nonaqueous Batteries – Cells that do not contain water, such as those with molten salts or organic electrolytes.

Ohm’s Law

Ohm’s Law – The formula that describes the amount of current flowing through a circuit. Ohm’s Law – In a given electrical circuit, the amount of current in amperes (I) is equal to the pressure in volts (V) divided by the resistance, in ohms (R). Ohm’s law can be shown by three different formulas:
To find Current I = V/R
To find Voltage V = I x R
To find Resistance R = V/I

Open Circuit

Open Circuit – Condition of a battery which is neither on charge nor on discharge (i.e., disconnected from a circuit).

Open-Circuit Voltage

Open-Circuit Voltage – The difference in potential between the terminals of a cell when the circuit is open (i.e., a no-load condition).

Oxidation

Oxidation – A chemical reaction that results in the release of electrons by an electrode’s active material.

Parallel Connection

Parallel Connection – The arrangement of cells in a battery made by connecting all positive terminals together and all negative terminals together. The voltage of the group remains the same as the voltage of the individual cell. The capacity is increased in proportion to the number of cells.

Polarity

Polarity – Refers to the charges residing at the terminals of a battery.

Positive Terminal

Positive Terminal – The terminal of a battery toward which electrons flow through the external circuit when the cell discharges. See Negative Terminal.

Primary Battery

Primary Battery – A battery made up of primary cells. See Primary Cell.

Primary Cell

Primary Cell – A cell designed to produce electric current through an electrochemical reaction that is not efficiently reversible. The cell, when discharged, cannot be efficiently recharged by an electric current. Alakline, lithium, and zinc air are common types of primary cells.

Rated Capacity

Rated Capacity – The number of ampere-hours a cell can deliver under specific conditions (rate of discharge, end voltage, temperature); usually the manufacturer’s rating.

Rechargeable

Rechargeable – Capable of being recharged; refers to secondary cells or batteries.

Recombination

Recombination – State in which the gases normally formed within the battery cell during its operation, are recombined to form water.

Reduction

Reduction – A chemical process that results in the acceptance of electrons by an electrode’s active material.

Seal

Seal – The structural part of a galvanic cell that restricts the escape of solvent or electrolyte from the cell and limits the ingress of air into the cell (the air may dry out the electrolyte or interfere with the chemical reactions).

Secondary Battery

Secondary Battery – A battery made up of secondary cells. See Storage Battery; Storage Cell.

Self Discharge

Self Discharge – Discharge that takes place while the battery is in an open-circuit condition.

Separator

Separator – The permeable membrane that allows the passage of ions, but prevents electrical contact between the anode and the cathode.

Series Connection

Series Connection – The arrangement of cells in a battery configured by connecting the positive terminal of each successive cell to the negative terminal of the next adjacent cell so that their voltages are cumulative. See Parallel Connection.

Shelf Life

Shelf Life – For a dry cell, the period of time (measured from date of manufacture), at a storage temperature of 21 degrees C (69 degrees F), after which the cell retains a specified percentage (usually 90%) of its original energy content.

Short-Ciruit

Short-Ciruit – A condition that occurs when a short electrical path is unintentionally created. Batteries can supply hundreds of amps if short-circuited, potentially melting the terminals and creating sparks.

Short-Circuit Current

Short-Circuit Current – That current delivered when a cell is short-circuited (i.e., the positive and negative terminals are directly connected with a low-resistance conductor).

Starting-Lighting-Ignition (SLI) Battery

Starting-Lighting-Ignition (SLI) Battery – A battery designed to start internal combustion engines and to power the electrical systems in automobiles when the engine is not running. SLI batteries can be used in emergency lighting situations.

Stationary Battery

Stationary Battery – A secondary battery designed for use in a fixed location.3

Storage Battery

Storage Battery – An assembly of identical cells in which the electrochemical action is reversible so that the battery may be recharged by passing a current through the cells in the opposite direction to that of discharge. While many non-storage batteries have a reversible process, only those that are economically rechargeable are classified as storage batteries. Synonym: Accumulator; Secondary Battery. See Secondary Cell.

Storage Cell

Storage Cell – An electrolytic cell for the generation of electric energy in which the cell after being discharged may be restored to a charged condition by an electric current flowing in a direction opposite the flow of current when the cell discharges. Synonym: Secondary Cell. See Storage Battery.

Taper Charge

Taper Charge – A charge regime delivering moderately high-rate charging current when the battery is at a low state of charge and tapering the current to lower rates as the battery becomes more fully charged.

Terminals

Terminals – The parts of a battery to which the external electric circuit is connected.

Thermal Runaway

Thermal Runaway – A condition whereby a cell on charge or discharge will destroy itself through internal heat generation caused by high overcharge or high rate of discharge or other abusive conditions.

Trickle Charging

Trickle Charging – A method of recharging in which a secondary cell is either continuously or intermittently connected to a constant-current supply that maintains the cell in fully charged condition.

Vent

Vent – A normally sealed mechanism that allows for the controlled escape of gases from within a cell.

Volt

Volt – The unit of measurement of electromotive force, or difference of potential, which will cause a current of one ampere to flow through a resistance of one ohm. Named for Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745-1827).

Voltage, cutoff

Voltage, cutoff – Voltage at the end of useful discharge. (See Voltage, end-point.)

Voltage, end-point

Voltage, end-point – Cell voltage below which the connected equipment will not operate or below which operation is not recommended.

Voltage, nominal

Voltage, nominal – Voltage of a fully charged cell when delivering rated current.

Watt

Watt – A measurement of total power. It is amperes multiplied by volts. 120 volt @ 1 amp = 12 volts @ 10 amps.

Wet Cell

Wet Cell – A cell, the electrolyte of which is in liquid form and free to flow and move.