DEFINITIONS
DOE-HDBK-1084-95
Lead-Acid Storage Batteries
Batteries
Page 2
Rev. 0
DEFINITIONS
Active material
- Constituents of a cell that participate in the electrochemical
charge/discharge reaction.
Battery
- Two or more cells electrically connected to form a unit. Under
common usage, the term "battery" also applies to a single cell.
Capacity
- Number of ampere-hours (Ah) a fully charged cell or battery can
deliver under specified conditions of discharge.
Cell
- Basic electrochemical unit used to store electrical energy.
Current
- Flow of electrons equal to one coulomb of charge per second,
usually expressed in amperes (A).
Cutoff voltage
- Cell or battery voltage at which the discharge is terminated. The
cutoff voltage is specified by the manufacturer and is a function
of discharge rate and temperature.
Cycle
- The discharge and subsequent charge of a secondary battery such
that it is restored to its fully charged state.
Duty cycle
- Operating parameters of a cell or battery including factors such
as charge and discharge rates, depth of discharge, cycle length,
and length of time in the standby mode.
Electrode
- Electrical conductor and the associated active materials at which
an electrochemical reaction occurs. Also referred to as the
positive and negative plates in a secondary cell.
Electrolysis
- Chemical dissociation of water into hydrogen and oxygen gas
caused by passage of an electrical current.
Electrolyte
- Medium which provides the ion transport function between the
positive and negative electrodes of a cell.
Equalizing charge
- Charge applied to a battery which is greater than the normal float
charge and is used to completely restore the active materials in
the cell, bringing the cell float voltage and the specific gravity of
the individual cells back to “equal” values.
