Battery Glossary – Sealed Lead Acid (SLA)

Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Battery – these batteries are valve-regulated to release gas in case of excessive internal pressure build-up but are otherwise sealed as opposed to flooded lead acid units which can be opened to top off the liquid electrolyte.  SLA products are generally maintenance-free, vibration resistant, leak-proof and able to operate in any orientation.

SLA have lead electrodes with an electrolyte of dilute sulphuric acid that is either impregnated into a mat (Absorbent Glass Mat) or held within a silicon gel (Gel).  For more on these two battery types see the article Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) – Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) vs Gel.

Opened AGM battery
An absorbent glass mat battery (AGM) is one type of SLA battery. Here it has been pried open to reveal the plates and acid saturated glass mats separating them. AGM also come in cylinder form where the plates and mats are wound into a spiral. Image: YouTube

Sealed Lead Acid batteries are part of the lead acid chemistry. See What is a lead acid battery for more details on this battery type.

See also: a list of sealed lead acid batteries.

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