How to Charge a Gel Cell Battery
Gel cell batteries can hold up in extremely hot and cold environments and are often used for charging wheelchairs and radio communications. They are also known as dry cell batteries because they never spill and are maintenance free. Make sure you keep a gel cell battery charger on hand to recharge your gel cell battery when needed. There are a couple of different ways you can charge a gel cell battery.
Fast Charging (Cycling Charging)
- Place your gel cell battery into the gel cell battery charger. Check with the manufacture's directions to make you insert the battery correctly into the charger.
- Turn your charger on and let the battery charge. Let it continue to charge until the terminal voltage reaches between 2.40 and 2.45 volts per charge at 20 degrees Celsius. If you have a 12-volt battery the voltage should reach between 14.4 to 14.7 volts.
- Let the gel cell battery remain on this voltage until the charge current lowers down to 0.01 x C amps. C is known as the battery's amp-hour rating.
- Stop the battery charge once it reaches the cycling charging mode or let it change over to the float charging mode.
Float Charging (Standby Service)
- Place your gel cell battery into the gel cell battery charger. Check with the manufacture's directions to make sure you insert the battery correctly into the charger.
- Turn your charger on and let the battery charge. Let it continue to charge until the terminal voltage reaches between 2.25 and 2.30 volts per charge at 20 degrees Celsius. If you have a 12-volt battery the voltage should reach between 13.5 to 13.8 volts. During this voltage the battery should regulate its own level of current.
- Remove your battery from the charger once it is completely charged.