AGM GEL VRLA SLA... More Battery Questions

I got a call from a customer wanting a 12volt 12ah "gel" battery, and I kinda of stumbled in explaining whether we have one.

The short answer is and should have been... YES   its here (b12)

But, I chose to make it more complicated... Our batteries belong the family called.  VRLA.  Which is Valve Regulated Lead Acid.  These Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries are contrasted with Vented, Flooded or Wet batteries.  Your car battery is a Vented/Wet/Flooded battery.

from wikipedia

But within the VRLA family there are 2 species, AGM and Gel Cell.  Our Powersonic batts are AGM (meaning Absorbed Glass Mat). The electrolyte is not a gel but is a liquid in such a small proportion as only to keep the internal mats within the battery damp.   Real Gel Cels dont use any liquid, but rather a gel paste.

It turns out, Gel Cels are more expensive and discharge slowly  (not good for UPSes) and require a proper recharge regiment (also not good for UPSes), plus they tend to be more expensive and create less power per lb.  Finally according to the guys at BatteryStuff.com, "gel" means to most people AGM VRLA, since AGM outsell Gel 100 to 1.   Even Wikipedia has a VRLA AGM listed incorrectly as a "gel battery"

Look how similar the two types of VRLA batts are

• AGM 
• GEL

If I take a UPS on a plane, will I be sent to Gitmo?

Nearly every UPS system uses lead-acid batteries which is the most proven battery technology available.   Specifically, these batteries are termed Valve Regulated Lead Acid - Absorbant Glass Mat batteries (VRLA - AGM).  In these batteries the acid or electrolyte is absorbed into a mat of fine glass fibers.

According to C&D battery, makers of the great Dynasty battery, VRLA-AGM batteries are completely safe for air transport.

Yet, while these batteries are safe and will not cause the same risks as flooded batteries or Lithium Ion batteries, I would not recommend going through TSA security with a UPS and announcing you have lead ACID batteries underneath your burka. 

Recently, even an experienced shipper questioned me on my UPS batteries.  To assuage his fears I marked the air bill "Uninterrupted Power Supplies."  But technically they should be marked as NMFC 063496 UPS System with DOT safe AGM batteries. 

If you get stopped by Homeland security, ICE, FBI, FAA or other spook, remember UPS batteries are:

• "Battery, wet non-spillable, not subject to regulations" by DOT 
• "Not restricted for air transport" by IATA
• "In compliance" with IATA/ICAO special provision A67