How do you compare flooded batteries (flat plate, tubular type) with sealed maintenance free VRLA batteries, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each type?
For Inverter/UPS applications, a general comparison of the different battery types is provided below:
Flat plate (Flooded) |
Tubular (Flooded) |
SMF VRLA |
|
Suitable for |
Low power applications | Heavy duty applications, frequent power cuts | UPS applications, back-up time less than 1hr |
Price |
Low | Medium | High |
Life expectancy |
Around 3 yrs | 4 to 5 years | 3 to 5 years |
Tolerance to depth of discharge |
Suitable for discharges upto 80% of battery capacity | Suitable for discharges upto 80% of battery capacity | Suitable for discharges upto 50% of battery capacity |
Cyclic operation life (Charge cycles at 80% Depth-of-Discharge) |
500 – 800 cycles | 1000– 1200 cycles | 400 – 450 cycles |
Charging time |
Charges slowly compared to tubular batteries | Faster charging | Faster charging |
Temperature performance |
Inferior operation compared to tubular batteries | Satisfactory operation at extreme temperatures (both high and low) | Capacity reduces significantly at higher temperatures |
Electrolyte top-up frequency |
Frequent water top up required | Less frequent top up | No top up required |
Space requirement |
High | Medium | Low |
Battery placement |
Fixed | Fixed | Can be placed in any orientation |
Battery Emissions |
High, proper ventilation required | Lower emissions compared to flat plate, proper ventilation required | No battery emissions |
Other Questions
What type of batteries should I connect to my Inverter/UPS?
Can I connect any capacity/any number of batteries to an Inverter/UPS to increase its runtime?
How is the capacity of a battery defined? What does the Ah capacity of a battery mean?
Why are batteries connected in both series & parallel? How does the battery bank capacity change as result?
What kind of Inverter/UPS and battery should I buy for my requirements?