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The Vanagon Dictionary

Get to know your Volkswagen.

Look up Vanagon, EuroVan and Volkswagen Bus terms, then follow the definitions to their sources.

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Results for “electrolyte”

8 public entries · page 1 of 1

  • electrolyte

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    In the lead-acid batteries discussed in Gerry’s battery FAQ, the liquid mixture of sulfuric acid and water in contact with the plates. Its density changes with charge state. This meaning is specific to that battery chemistry; it is not a generic name for every camper battery’s contents.

    • battery
    • chemistry
  • Absorbed electrolyte

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    Type of deep-cycle battery using absorbed electrolyte and recombinant technology

    • batteries
    • absorbed-electrolyte
  • Electrolyte level

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    The height of the liquid electrolyte relative to the plates in a serviceable flooded lead-acid battery. It describes liquid quantity, not state of charge or specific gravity. Gerry’s battery FAQ discusses accessible cells; this term must not be read as an instruction to open a sealed battery.

    • batteries
    • maintenance
  • Flooded cell

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    Battery design using liquid electrolyte and lead-antimony plates

    • batteries
    • flooded-cell
  • Gel cell

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    Battery design using gel-type electrolyte and lead-calcium plates

    • batteries
    • gel-cell
  • Specific gravity

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    The ratio of a liquid’s density to that of water. In the flooded lead-acid battery context of Gerry’s FAQ, electrolyte specific gravity helps estimate charge and compare cells. It is different from electrolyte level; temperature and battery design affect interpretation. It is not a measurement for a sealed lithium camper battery.

    • batteries
    • specific
    • gravity
  • Hydrometer

    Tools and maintenance terminology

    English · machine-assisted draft

    An instrument that measures a liquid’s specific gravity. In Gerry’s battery FAQ it is used with electrolyte from accessible cells of a flooded lead-acid battery, helping compare cells and estimate charge. It does not measure voltage and is not a general-purpose tester for sealed or lithium camper batteries.

    • batteries
    • hydrometer
    • testing
  • State-of-charge

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    An estimate of how much charge remains in a battery, commonly expressed as a percentage of full charge. It differs from battery health: a worn battery can be fully charged yet store little usable energy. The voltage and electrolyte-density table in Gerry’s 1995 FAQ concerns lead-acid batteries, not a universal camper-battery gauge.

    • batteries
    • maintenance