Gel Batteries vs. Wet Lead Acid Batteries

Gel Batteries

Advantages:

• Sealed
• Spill-proof
• Maintenance free
• Classified as non-hazardous goods for air, rail & road transportation
• Very resistant to over-discharging
• Extremely low self discharge rate
• Virtually no gassing
• Withstand a wide range of temperatures
• Withstand shock & vibration better than any other battery Virtually no terminal corrosion
• MSDS sheets not required
• Can be installed near sensitive electronic equipment
• Excellent deep cycle performance

Disadvantages:

• More expensive
• Lower size to capacity ratio
• Sensitive to overcharging

Flooded Lead Acid

Advantages:

• Relatively inexpensive
• Widely available
• Good size to capacity ratio
• Good deep cycle performance

Disadvantages:

• Require maintenance
• Require ventilated rooms for recharging
• Suffer from terminal corrosion
• Can leak if casing is cracked causing hazardous spill
• Require rubber gloves & goggles when maintaining
• Vent substantial quantities of hydrogen & oxygen gasses as well as other toxins
• Will quickly sulfate if left discharged for any period of time
• Are easily damaged if over-discharged
• Have high self-discharge rate
• Are classified as hazardous goods for transportation