Comparison between AGM Battery vs Gel Battery

APR.19,2023

Both AGM and gel batteries are valve-regulated sealed lead-acid (VRLA) battery, which are all sealed using the gel absorption technology. But how do AGM and gel battery differ from one another? You may compare the performance of AGM and gel batteries in this post.

How Do AGM Batteries Work?

AGM is a designation for the separator’s material. The AGM separator’s electrolyte is to be adsorbed in the AGM glass fiber adsorption separator in order to prevent the electrolyte from flowing.

In order to meet starting requirements more frequently, deep discharges and cycles, also some charge-to-run and dynamic charge reception characteristics, AGM batteries are primarily employed in automobile start-stop system battery. Today, you may find them in regular automobiles and trucks as well as in motorcycles, military vehicles, submarines, and aircraft.

How Do AGM Batteries Function?

The electrolyte of AGM batteries is a pure aqueous solution of sulfuric acid. A portion of the electrolyte is absorbed inside the plate, while the majority of it is found in the glass fiber membrane. The positive electrode releases oxygen during charging, while the negative electrode releases hydrogen.

10% of the separator’s pores must be free of electrolyte in order to create a pathway for the oxygen that the positive electrode precipitates to be absorbed by the negative electrode.

Definition Gel Battery

To transform the sulfuric acid electrolyte into a gel condition, add a gel to it. Gel batteries are batteries with gel electrolytes being able to serve as a solar battery.

How Do Gel Batteries Function?

The positive electrode’s oxygen travels through distinct routes to the negative electrode in a gel battery and an AGM battery, although having the same basic operating principles.

The gel that surrounds the electrolyte in the battery is a part of the network structure. After some time, the colloid starts to dry up and shrink, causing fractures, and oxygen flows directly through the cracks to the negative plate for oxygen circulation.

What Distinguishes a Gel Battery from An AGM battery?

AGM batteries and gel batteries have various distinctions despite sharing the same characteristics and operating ideas. One of the biggest distinctions between AGM and gel batteries is how the electrolyte is fixed; one uses an AGM and the other a gel.

The oxygen transport path from the positive electrode to the negative electrode differs depending on the kind of cell: the gel cell’s oxygen passes through the colloidal crack, whereas the AGM cell’s oxygen passes through the separator’s open pores.

When compared to conventional lead-acid batteries, the performance of AGM batteries and gel batteries is significantly better. Since they charge faster, their reduced internal resistance enables improved performance. They also outperform gel cell batteries in cooler temperatures.

The sulfuric acid electrolyte has a varied concentration. The electrolyte of an AGM battery has a density of 1.29–1.3 g/cm3, a colloid density of 1.26–1.28 g/cm3, and contains 20% more electrolyte than an AGM battery.

Does Gel or AGM Batteries Require Maintenance?

Gel cell batteries are less expensive to maintain than AGM batteries, which include lithium ion batteries.

The AGM battery, however, requires maintenance while the battery is stored; it must be recharged frequently. Keep in mind that the voltage cannot go below 12.65V and that you must consider the loss of electricity storage. Batteries cannot be kept upright in storage.

AGM Battery or Gel Battery Is Better?

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries are the other sealed lead acid battery. How do gel batteries compare to AGM batteries?

For starters, gel batteries can be more expensive. They also need specific chargers to prevent overcharging. Not using these chargers reduces the batteries lifespan.

They’re also don’t work as well with appliances that need a higher current because they have a higher internal resistance. After weighing the benefits and drawbacks of AGM batteries and gel batteries, it was determined that gel batteries would perform better because safety, self-discharge rate, service life, resistance to high and low temperatures, and safety must all be taken into consideration when choosing batteries. As well as now there are many application cases where lithium battery has taken replaced of lead acid battery.