Installation Guide

Document No. 6-0100 Rev. G
Page 28 of 43
APPENDIX A – GLOSSARY OF BATTERY TERMS
AGM -
Stands for Absorbed Glass Mat. This is the separator system used
in all Sun Xtender® AGM batteries.
Active Material -
Electrode material which produces electricity during its chemical
conversion. In the positive plate it is lead dioxide. In the negative
plate, it is sponge lead.
Ampere -
Unit of electrical current abbreviated as amps or A.
Amps = Watts/Volts or A = W/V.
Ampere Hour (Ah) -
The capacity of a storage battery is measured in ampere hours.
One ampere hour is defined as a current flow of one ampere for a
period of one hour. Five ampere hours means a current flow of
one ampere for five hours, a current flow of 2.5 amperes for 2
hours, or any multiple of current and time that will result in five.
This relationship can be expressed as follows:
Capacity (Ampere hours) = I*T, where I is the current (in
amperes) and T is the time (in hours). The capacity of a storage
battery is based on a given discharge rate, since the capacity will
vary with the rate of discharge.
Battery -
Two or more chemical cells electrically connected together to
produce electric energy. Common usage permits this designation
to be applied also to a single cell used independently.
Boost Charge -
A charge applied to a battery which is already near a state of full
charge, usually of short duration.
C/X Rate -
Discharge rate in amperes that will take X hours to fully discharge
the battery. C/1 = 1-hour rate, C/120 = 120-hour rate, C/0.5 =
½-hour rate (normally written as 2C).
Capacity -
The quantity of electricity delivered by a battery under specified
conditions, usually expressed in ampere hours.
Capacity, Rated -
A designation by the battery manufacturer which defines the
performance of a new battery at a defined rate of discharge. For
Sun Xtender® AGM batteries, the rated capacity is based on the
24 hour rate.
Capacity, Residual -
Capacity remaining at a particular point in time and operating
conditions, usually at a partial state of charge condition.
Case -
The battery box which contains the cells and associated internal
connectors.
Cell -
An electrochemical device composed of positive and negative
plates, separator, and electrolyte which is capable of storing
electrical energy. When encased in a container and fitted with
terminals, it is the basic building block of the battery.
Cell Reversal -
Reversing of polarity within a cell in a multi cell battery due to
over discharge.
Charge -
The conversion of electrical energy from an external source, into
chemical energy within a cell or battery.
Charge Rate -
The rate at which current is applied to a cell or battery to restore
its capacity.
Charge Retention -
The ability of a charged cell or battery to resist self discharge.
Charge, State of -
Ratio of the amount of capacity remaining in a battery to the
capacity when fully charged. A battery at 25% state of charge
has 25% capacity remaining versus what it could give if fully
charged.
Charger -
Device capable of supplying electrical energy to charge a battery.
Charging -
The process of converting electrical energy to stored chemical
energy. The opposite of discharging.