Many times we have been asked for one same question, is the battery AGM or GEL? It seems a lot of people got confused between AGM battery and GEL battery. They have commons and differences, below it's showing the main comparisons.

Introduction:

AGM refers to the material of battery separator, except AGM, the battery separator can be other kinds of material such as PE or PVC.

GEL refers to the material of battery electrolyte. The battery electrolyte material can be Sulfuric Acid H₂SO₄ or GEL=Sulfuric Acid H₂SO₄ mixed with Pyrogenic Silica SiO₂ which is promoted as GEL or Gelled electrolyte.

Commons:

1. VRLA and Rechargeable.

AGM battery and GEL battery both are types of VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) batteries, both of them are rechargeable. Apart from that, the AGM battery can also be type of Vented/Wet batteries.

2. Sealed batteries.

AGM and GEL battery could both be Sealed batteries. The AGM battery can also be Un-Sealed type, the GEL battery is preferred for Sealed type.

Considering on operational and environmental factors, the Sealed AGM and GEL batteries are more popular.

     ▷ When AGM or GEL batteries are Sealed type, they are known as SLA Battery or SMF Battery.

         SLA Battery refers to Sealed Lead Acid Battery

         SMF Battery refers to Sealed Maintenance-free Battery.

     ▷ When AGM batteries are Un-Sealed type, they are known as Traditional/Conventional/Flooded/Wet batteries, they request for maintenance such as DIY-acid filling and sealing, and regular management on acid (volume checking and complement).

3. Cooperation.

The AGM separator and GEL electrolyte could cooperate to form an AGM-GEL battery. The GEL electrolyte can also cooperate with PE or PVC separator, as PE-GEL or PVC-GEL battery.

Main Differences:

① The difference of definition on promotional purposes.

The AGM battery is the most popular type of lead acid batteries being sold to various applications, such as general power reserve and supply, security, alarm, emergency light, civil or industrial UPS and EPS, Data Center, Telecommunication and Motive power.

Due to its popularity, the AGM batteries are commonly regarded as SLA Battery or SMF Battery, no matter they are small sizes or big sizes.

The GEL battery is bit particular and more preferred for renewable energy power reserve applications such as Solar power and Wind power, most of the GEL batteries are assorted in bigger sizes likely 20Ah and above capacity for industrial batteries. In the meantime, due to its featured capability of acid storage and temperature adaptability, the GEL electrolyte is also popular for making batteries for Motive power application.

② Working Temperature range.

The GEL Battery is featured with immobilized gelled electrolyte, it provides talented capability of acid storage inside the GEL material rather than AGM batteries. We do study on the mixing process of the H₂SO₄ and Fumed Silica SiO₂, our formulated gelled electrolyte cooperates with selected high-quality porous PVC separator, they are doing good at acid storage and electrolyte permeability, hence to fit for wider high-low working temperature range. Our GPG Series GEL batteries could be workable in the temperature range -45C to 60C, compared to AGM batteries at -15C to 40C.

③ Life Expectancy.

We don't compare the life expectancy between AGM battery and GEL battery by counting how many years they could be in service. Many factors are affecting the life of a battery, including but not limited to working temperature, depth of discharge, frequency of discharge, conditions of maintenance, equipment and devices connected to batteries such as battery charger, etc.... When every comparable factor set at the same range or same level, it calculates a 12V200Ah GEL battery would have about 60% more life expectancy rather than an AGM battery 12V200Ah.

④ Deep Cycle Capability.

The deep cycle capability is to be indicated by the durability of a battery when it's frequently and deeply discharged.

The durability of a battery is to be indicated by remaining capacity and charge acceptance after discharged.

When every comparable factor set to the same range or same level, GEL battery would obviously be better for deep and cyclic discharged contributed from extra acid storage from GEL electrolyte.

To know about AGM Battery or GEL Battery produced by us, please refer to "Great Battery, GEM made"