It has a high energy density and is physically smaller than an equal lead acid battery. Although 92 cells of nickel cadmium are required to equal 60 cells of lead acid, this battery still has the advantage of being smaller in size and weight for a given capacity. These batteries do not experience the severe shortening of life when operated at elevated temperatures and performs better at low temperatures than do the lead acid batteries. Consequently, they can be installed directly next to delicate electronic equipment. When maintained at the recommended float voltage, periodic equalization is not required.
Water consumption is relatively low and, consequently, so is maintenance.
Normal service life should extend beyond the warranted 20 years. Remember that these batteries require routine maintenance and have costs associated with that maintenance over the life of the battery. Maintenance can range from none at all for maintenance-free types, to monthly visual checks and quarterly measurements of voltages and specific gravity, all of which must be completed and recorded in order to maintain the warranty. Battery Sizing Battery manufacturers provide various types of information for sizing batteries. Batteries which will be operated at higher or lower temperatures continuously should be calculated specifically for that temperature.