C-Rate (also see Hourly Rate) - Discharge or charge current, in amperes, expressed in multiples of the rated capacity. For example, C/10 discharge current for a battery rated at 1.5 Ah is:
Cell - The basic electrochemical unit used to generate or store electrical energy.
Voltage (float) - DC voltage applied to the battery to maintain its charge level. This voltage depends on the type of battery, the number of cells and the manufacturer's recommendations.
E-Rate - Discharge or charge power, in watts, expressed as a multiple of the rated capacity of a cell or battery which is expressed in watt-hours. For example, the E/10 rate for a cell or battery rated at 17.3 watt-hours is 1.73 watts. (This is similar to the method for calculating C-Rate.)
Metal Hydride - An intermetallic compound or alloy in which hydrogen has been absorbed; also, the negative electrode in a nickel-metal hydride battery.
Service Life - The period of useful life of a battery before a predetermined end-point voltage is reached.
PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) - Inverter high-frequency chopping technique using a means of regulation enabling rapid modification of pulse widths over a single period, thus making it possible to maintain the inverter output within tolerances even for non-linear loads.