What Does High-Rate Battery Mean?

High-Rate Discharge SLA Batteries are invented more than 120 years ago but are still the preferred choice of manufacturers and customers because of their voltage capacity and the ability to provide high surge currents.

High-rate batteries are designed mainly for UPS applications, which require a higher rate of discharge over a short period of time. If you have a UPS connected to your computer for backup power, you would definitely need a high-rate battery for it as computers consume a lot more power compared to smaller equipment, such as a TV set or a radio. This means that it would require a higher rate of discharge when running on a UPS. If the power cuts off, the UPS should keep the computer turned on for some time to ensure you can save your work and safely shut down the computer. If your UPS is equipped with a standard battery instead of a high-rate one, the computer will discharge the battery at a higher rate than what it is designed for, which would damage the battery, causing it to never fully recharge again. Batteries such as general purpose or deep cycle, are designed to be discharged at a slower rate. This why it is important to ensure that your UPS is equipped with a high-rate battery. (Check out one of our previous articles if in doubt ifyou need a UPS Device)

Affordability is another benefit of the SLA Batteries. High-Rate Batteries are heavier compared to the other types of batteries like Lithium Iron that have been invented and manufactured in the recent years. However, their efficiency particularly as starter batteries still remains unrivaled given the price range for the customer.

All types of Starter Batteries as we know them are actually High-Rate Batteries. As their name High-Rate Batteries is capable to give a very large amount of energy for a very short period of time. This feature of High-Rate Batteries makes them perfect for UPS Back-Up Applications and for a usage as Starter Batteries.

Advantages and features of High-Rate Discharge Batteries:

• constructed with thinner lead plates to provide you with large amount of energy for a short period of time
• must not be used for deep discharge cycles, since the thin lead plates disintegrate quickly
• maintain a reasonable level of voltage
• sometimes used as stabilizers in electric circuits
• there is an immediate sip in the energy supply after the initial energy surge known as the ‘whip crack’ in the industry and is common to all sealed lead-acid batteries with high-rate discharge
• used in cars, motors, boats, UPS, etc.

High-Rate Batteries Characteristics:

• Valve Regulated Lead Acid Battery (VRLA)
• High quality AGM separators
• Delivers high power density
• High rate of charge and discharge
• Minimal self-discharge 

High-Rate Batteries UPS Applications:

• Data and call centers
• Telecommunications corps
• Hospitals (for medical equipment)
• Computer laboratories
• Universities and colleges

With all this being said, if your application requires a higher rate of amps over a shorter time period then High-rate batteries are ideal for you.