--- description: What is Activation Voltage: It is the voltage at which a charge controller will intervene to safeguard batteries. title: What is Activation Voltage? - Energy Theory image: https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Depositphotos_112682100_XL-1.jpg --- [ Close Menu ](#) * [About](https://energytheory.com/about-us/) * [EV](https://energytheory.com/category/electric-vehicles/) * [FAQs](https://energytheory.com/category/faqs/) * [Glossary](https://energytheory.com/category/glossary/) * [Green](https://energytheory.com/category/green/) * [Renewable](https://energytheory.com/category/renewable/) * [Sustainable](https://energytheory.com/category/sustainable/) * [Energy Economy](https://energytheory.com/category/energy-economy/) * [Energy Services](https://energytheory.com/category/energy-services/) * [Solar](https://energytheory.com/category/solar/) * [Sustainable](https://energytheory.com/category/sustainable/) * [News](https://energytheory.com/category/latest-news/) * [Language](#) [ ![Energy Theory](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2e3rtgthghnm.png) ](https://energytheory.com/ "Energy Theory") ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg)English [![es](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/es.svg) Spanish](#) [![fr](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fr.svg) French](#) [![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English](#) [![it](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/it.svg) Italian](#) [![zh-CN](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/zh-CN.svg) Chinese (Simplified)](#) [![nl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/nl.svg) Dutch](#) [![fi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fi.svg) Finnish](#) [![de](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/de.svg) German](#) [![hi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/hi.svg) Hindi](#) [![ja](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ja.svg) Japanese](#) [![pl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pl.svg) Polish](#) [![pt](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pt.svg) Portuguese](#) [![ru](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ru.svg) Russian](#) [ ![Energy Theory](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2e3rtgthghnm.png) ](https://energytheory.com/ "Energy Theory") ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg)English [![es](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/es.svg) Spanish](#) [![fr](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fr.svg) French](#) [![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English](#) [![it](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/it.svg) Italian](#) [![zh-CN](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/zh-CN.svg) Chinese (Simplified)](#) [![nl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/nl.svg) Dutch](#) [![fi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fi.svg) Finnish](#) [![de](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/de.svg) German](#) [![hi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/hi.svg) Hindi](#) [![ja](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ja.svg) Japanese](#) [![pl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pl.svg) Polish](#) [![pt](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pt.svg) Portuguese](#) [![ru](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ru.svg) Russian](#) [Glossary](https://energytheory.com/category/glossary/) # What is Activation Voltage? By [Elliot Clark](https://energytheory.com/author/elliot%5Fclark/)November 17, 20232 Mins Read ![JAN23What is Activation Voltage?](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Depositphotos_112682100_XL-1-1024x683.jpg "What is Activation Voltage?") Activation Voltage is the voltage at which **a charge controller will intervene** to safeguard batteries. At this voltage, a charge controller transmits electrical current by permitting particular sorts of ions to pass through the membrane to safeguard the batteries is known as voltage. ### **Why Activation Voltage Safeguards the Battery?** The [Nernst Equation’s](https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General%5FChemistry/Book%3A%5FChem1%5F%28Lower%29/16%3A%5FElectrochemistry/16.04%3A%5FThe%5FNernst%5FEquation#:~:text=The%20Nernst%20equation%20relates%20the,the%20activity%20of%20the%20ion.) description of battery voltage and battery capacity makes the assumption that the battery is in equilibrium. The measured voltage and battery capacity may deviate greatly from the equilibrium values because a battery under load is not in equilibrium. The further from equilibrium (i.e., the higher the charge or discharge currents), the greater the deviation between the equilibrium battery voltage and capacity may be. Polarization is the term used to describe the difference between the voltage at equilibrium and the voltage with a current flow. Battery operation is significantly impacted by **polarisation effects**, both positively and negatively. For instance, polarization effects allow lead acid batteries to operate normally even when water electrolysis occurs slowly and to first order during discharge (but not charging since the voltage is higher). Polarization effects, however, also have negative consequences on performance, such as **decreasing efficiency and making the battery capacity vulnerable** to charging and discharging conditions. Activation voltage prevents by safeguarding the battery from working. **Recommended:** [What Does C20 Battery Rating Mean?](https://energytheory.com/what-does-c20-battery-rating-mean/) Share. [ Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fenergytheory.com%2Fwhat-is-activation-voltage%2F "Share on Facebook") [ Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fenergytheory.com%2Fwhat-is-activation-voltage%2F&text=What%20is%20Activation%20Voltage%3F "Share on X (Twitter)") [ Pinterest ](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fenergytheory.com%2Fwhat-is-activation-voltage%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fenergytheory.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F01%2FDepositphotos%5F112682100%5FXL-1.jpg&description=What%20is%20Activation%20Voltage%3F "Share on Pinterest") [ LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fenergytheory.com%2Fwhat-is-activation-voltage%2F "Share on LinkedIn") [ Tumblr ](https://www.tumblr.com/share/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fenergytheory.com%2Fwhat-is-activation-voltage%2F&name=What%20is%20Activation%20Voltage%3F "Share on Tumblr") [ Telegram ](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fenergytheory.com%2Fwhat-is-activation-voltage%2F&title=What%20is%20Activation%20Voltage%3F "Share on Telegram") [ Email ](mailto:?subject=What%20is%20Activation%20Voltage%3F&body=https%3A%2F%2Fenergytheory.com%2Fwhat-is-activation-voltage%2F "Share via Email") ![mm](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Elliot1-150x150.jpg) [Elliot Clark](https://energytheory.com/author/elliot%5Fclark/) Elliot is a passionate environmentalist and blogger who has dedicated his life to spreading awareness about conservation, green energy, and renewable energy. With a background in environmental science, he has a deep understanding of the issues facing our planet and is committed to educating others on how they can make a difference. #### Related Posts [![Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Post-consumer-recycled-PCR-content.png "What is Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Content?")](https://energytheory.com/what-is-post-consumer-recycled-pcr-content/ "What is Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Content?") #### [What is Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Content?](https://energytheory.com/what-is-post-consumer-recycled-pcr-content/) April 9, 2024 [![Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Heating-Seasonal-Performance-Factor-HSPF.jpg "What is Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)?")](https://energytheory.com/what-is-heating-seasonal-performance-factor-hspf/ "What is Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)?") #### [What is Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)?](https://energytheory.com/what-is-heating-seasonal-performance-factor-hspf/) February 3, 2024 [![What is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/What-is-Annual-Fuel-Utilization-Efficiency-AFUE.jpg "What is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)?")](https://energytheory.com/what-is-annual-fuel-utilization-efficiency-afue/ "What is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)?") #### [What is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)?](https://energytheory.com/what-is-annual-fuel-utilization-efficiency-afue/) February 2, 2024 [Add A Comment ](#) Leave A Reply [Cancel Reply](https://energytheory.com/what-is-activation-voltage/#respond) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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