Glossary

Absorbent Glass MatAcidAcid PackAcid StratificationActive MaterialAdvanced Flooded BatteryAlloyAmmeterAmp-HourAmpereAverage DrainBackfire ProtectionBackup BatteryBalancingBatteryBattery CareBattery CaseBattery CategoriesBattery HydrometerBoost ChargingCalcium BatteryCapacityCarbon AdditiveCellCell Short-CircuitCharge RegulatorChargerChargingCharging VoltageCircuitClosed BatteryCold Cranking Amps (CCA)Constant Current Battery ChargerConstant Current DischargerConstant-Voltage Battery-ChargerContinous TestCorrosionCurrentCurrent CollectorCutoff VoltageCycleCycle LifeCyclic LoadsCyclingCylindrical BatteryDamage due to Long Down-TimesDeep DischargeDeep-Cycle BatteryDegassingDepth of DischargeDirect CurrentDischarge RateDischargingDistilled WaterDouble LidDry-ChargedElectrolysisElectrolyteEnd of Charging VoltageEnhanced Flooded BatteryExpanded Metall GridFill LevelFlat PlateFloat ChargeFlooded BatteryFuseGas Recombinant TechnologyGassingGel BatteryGlass MatGridGroundGround CableHVTHybrid BatteryImmobilized ElectrolyteInternal ResistanceIonLead SedimentsLead SulfateLead-Acid BatteryLithium Iron Phosphate BatteryLithium-Ion BatteryLoadLow-MaintenanceM.A.S.S.MaintenanceMaintenance-FreeMemory EffectMultimeterNegative (-)Negative (-) PlateNominal VoltageNon-SpillableOpen Circuit VoltageOpen-Circuit VoltageOverchargingParallel CircuitPlacement of TerminalsPlatePlate PackPlate SetPolarityPole GreasePositive (+)Positive (+) PlatePrimary BatteryPulse ChargePure Lead BatteryRapid-Charge BatteryRecycling EffiencyResistorReversed PolaritySLI BatterySafety ReserveSealSealed Maintenance-FreeSecondary BatterySelf-DischargeSelf-Discharge RateSeparatorSeries CircuitSeries/Parallel CircuitService LifeShock-ResistantShort CircuitSilent LoadsSilverSmart ChargerSpacerSpecific GravityStandbyStart-Light-IgnitionState of ChargeStationary BatterySulfatingSuper-Heavy Duty BatterySupply BatteryTemperature Cut-offTerminalTerminal BridgeTerminal Pole TypeTerminal VoltageTraction BatteryTubular PlateUninterrupted Power SupplyUnwanted ResistanceValve-Regulated Lead-Acid BatteryVent CapVented BatteryVenting HoseVibrationVoltVoltageVoltmeterWattWatt-HourWet ChargedZinc-Air Cellkey-off drain
Self-Discharge

The reduction of the voltage of a battery when it is not in use.

Charging or discharging always takes place in a battery, and the underlying chemical processes cannot be switched off completely. This means that a battery constantly loses voltage.

The higher the ambient temperature, the higher the self-discharge. In addition, a battery can also lose charge through connected silent loads while a vehicle is not in use.

To compensate for self-discharge, trickle charging can be used, e.g., for batteries that are to remain in continuous operation.