/Anyone contemplating fitting a gel type battery
/should perhaps have a word with Europa first. . .
I've not heard Europa's recommendations about
batteries but be aware of the fact that the "gel"
cell as we used to know and love them is nearly
extinct . . . the new gas recombinant batteries
are often called "gel" cells and nothing could be
further from the truth.
In fact, the orignal gel-cell is the poorest
peforming battery aircraft battery ever.
It did have some desirable traits, they were less
messy than flooded batteries but they could still
leak a little and their cranking performance was
dismal compared to flooded batteries.
Except for a few hangers-on, most companies
have quit building the old gel cell. The newer
gas recombinant technologies are sealed and contain
so little liquid that you can't make 'em leak
if you drill a hole through the side. If built
properly, they crank like a ni-cad and will out
perform a flooded battery by 200-300% for cold
weather cranking. The flooded battery will
out perform a gell cell by another 200% or so
when it comes to cold weather performance.
When offered a battery, don't assume that because
it is "sealed" that it's a gel cell. I've been
doing certifications and STC's for the RG battery
into single engine airplanes here in the US and
have run them in my cars. For an airplane, I
wouldn't have any other kind.
Regards,
Bob . . .
AeroElectric Connection
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