FAQ’s

Terra Supreme’s bi-polar composite battery is a 12-Volt AGM valve-regulated lead-acid battery (VRLAB).” Bi-polar” is the term used to describe electrodes in contiguous cells that share a common current collector. The common current collector (aka bi-polar grid) reliably connects the cells in series and eliminates the need for a secondary series connection required in conventional multicell battery designs. “Composite” is the term used to describe the bi-polar current collector material produced by co-extruding pure lead and fiberglass yarn at high pressure and temperature. The resulting composite wire is flexible and dimensionally stable over the battery’s operating temperature range.

Traditional AGM VRLAB use discrete positive and negative plates in each cell oriented vertically. TSB’s bi-polar plates are oriented horizontally, stacked like pancakes in a common plenum. Horizontal orientation of dimensionally stable bi-polar plates eliminates two major failure modes of conventional VRLAB: electrolyte stratification and positive active material shedding, both of which rapidly reduce conventional battery power and capacity.

The electrolyte in lead acid batteries is a mixture of sulfuric acid and water. Sulfuric acid is almost twice as dense as water. Vertically oriented plates in conventional batteries experience segregation of water and acid because of this density difference. Gravity segregates water and acid resulting in large conductivity and solubility gradients from top to bottom of vertically oriented plates. Both power and capacity decline from the non-uniform distribution of electrolyte throughout the porous plate structure. In TSB’s horizontally oriented plates gravity-induced electrolyte segregation cannot occur. Uniform electrolyte concentration is preserved throughout the plate structure enabling full participation of plate materials at all states of charge.

In conventional batteries positive active material loss (aka positive material shedding) gradually develops as grid material deforms under pressure exerted on it by volume changes resulting from cycling positive active material. Conventional positive grids grow with cycling eventually disconnecting the grid from its active material. TSB’s composite material grid is 20x stronger than conventional grid materials and does not deform with cycling. Positive material structural integrity is maintained with cycling eliminating positive material shedding.

Group 31 is a standardized physical battery size designation developed by BCI (Battery Council International). It does not, by itself, indicate the battery’s chemistry, capacity, or performance. 

nominal Voltage – 12v
nominal capacity – 105Ah C20 capacity
Reserve capacity (25A @ 80F (27C) – 240-minutes
CCA – 1,250A
MCA – 1700A
PHCA – >3000A

See Documents and Downloads for our White Paper

4,000 cycles at 60% DOD
PSOC, 5% Capacity changes @ 50% SoC – >10,000,000 cycles

Terra Supreme Battery technology is a lead-acid valve regulated AGM battery using bi-polar composite grid technology.

TSB’s Group 31 battery weighs 68 lbs.

Yes. TSB’s Group 31 battery can replace your conventional Group 31 Battery. It is a high-performance replacement which will provide years of significantly improved power and service in harsh operational environments.

TSB’s Group 31 provides superior performance in a large variety of applications with all well-regulated chargers. In extremely hot or cold environments the best performance and service life for any VRLAB occurs with chargers using temperature compensated Voltage regulation.

Yes. TSB Group 31 batteries can be used in applications requiring high Voltage, high Ahr capacity storage systems. Energy storage systems requiring Voltage > 48 Volts require professional connection and operational guidance to ensure long term safety and system performance.

Batteries connected in parallel have positive terminals connected to a common cable; negative terminals are connected to a separate common cable.

It is critically important never to allow direct metallic contact between positive and negative terminals of a battery!

The image below is a 20.16 kWhr, 48 Volt series-parallel array of TSB Group 31 batteries connected to an Indiana residential solar system. In this sixteen-battery array four 105 Ahr batteries are connected in series to create a 105 Ahr, 48 Volt string. Four of these 48 Volt strings are connected in parallel to form a 48 Volt energy storage system with capacity of 48 Volts x 420 Ahrs = 20.16 kWhr capacity.

Multi-Megawatt-hour, high Voltage (>1000 Volts) battery energy storage systems (BESS) can be safely deployed with TSB Group 31 bipolar VRLAB. Contact TSB for information regarding design and management of large-scale bipolar BESS.

TSB’s Group 31 VRLAB dimensions are 13.27 × 7.13 × 10 inches.

Yes. The company positions its Group 31 battery for both high-power engine starting and deep-cycle use, including industrial equipment, vehicles, and auxiliary systems.

Replacing your existing Group 31 battery with TSB’s bipolar Group 31 requires no changes to your electrical wiring or charging system. TSB terminal connections are either standard SAE tapered posts or threaded studs: 3/8’ x 16 for positive and 5/16’ x 16 negative. Before removing your existing Group 31 you should verify your cable connector style and dimensions. While BCI Group 31 standards call out different diameter connectors for positive and negative terminals to avoid reverse polarity connection to the battery, some battery manufacturers use same diameter connectors on both positive and negative battery posts. Observe your connector dimensions before attempting to install TSB’s Group 31 bipolar battery.

Examine the dimensions and shape of brackets that hold your existing battery to the vehicle. TSB Group 31 bipolar VRLAB top dimensions are 13.27” x 7.13’. In some installations the top-mounted pressure relief valve may interfere with your existing hold down bracketry. The photo below shows a safe and acceptable hold down bracket.

TSB’s bipolar Group 31 VRLAB is designed to deliver best in class power, reserve capacity, vibration tolerance and cycle life in continuous, heavy-duty, harsh temperature operating environments.

Yes. Class 6 and 8 trucking, emergency vehicles, boating, heavy industrial equipment, agricultural equipment, RV’s, fork lift trucks are ideal applications for TSB’s bipolar battery.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. TSB batteries are particularly well suited for BESS of all sizes and load profiles. Legacy designs of TSB’s Group 31 bipolar battery have delivered millions of cycles in large-scale off-grid and grid-tied renewable-power energy storage systems.

Yes. TSB’s bipolar VRLAB technology has been successfully tested and used in other battery formats providing auxiliary 12 Volt power in state highway patrol and first-responder vehicles and 24 Volt power in helicopter and certain turbine-powered aircraft. Its exceptional cranking power and cycle life are well suited to such applications.

Terra Supreme’s TSB Sync eBM™ mobile device application lets iOS and android users connect with individual TSB batteries to monitor live status of Voltage, temperature and SOC% (State of Charge). The main display screen also indicates warranty status, the manufacturing serial number and manufacturing date. Each battery can include a customized battery profile – including name, installation dates & details.

The TSB Sync app user guide and links to the iOS or Android app download can be found on our website.

See – TSB Connect eBM™ | Terra Supreme Battery Monitoring App

The eBM system accommodates up to 22,000 data storage points that can be viewed in table or chart format and be exported via email or text for detailed data analysis.

Terra Supreme Battery offers a limited five-year replacement warranty, including coverage for defects in materials and workmanship from the date of purchase shown on the original receipt. All warranty claims must be filed within 45 days of the battery’s failure. Replacement batteries will carry the remainder of the original battery Warranty Period.

Please see https://terrasupremebattery.com/warranty/ for up-to-date Warranty information, Warranty Exclusions and the Warranty Claims process.

Warranty Inquiries: please email: warranty@terrasupremebattery.com

TSB bipolar Group 31VRLAB are 98% recyclable through the well-established domestic and international lead acid battery recycling infrastructure.

TSB batteries are built in the USA with materials and 90% of fabricated parts sourced in the USA. Ten percent (10%) of fabricated parts content is sourced in South Korea.

Terra Supreme Battery operates with direct factory sales along with authorized resellers listed on our website.

Contact us: 260-636-661

See Battery Procurement Solutions – https://terrasupremebattery.com/procurement/