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Lead Acid Battery is a plastic container with two
metal terminals that stores chemicals; mainly two different types of
lead in presence of acid electrolyte and produce electricity. A lead
acid battery, charge accumulator or storage battery is driven by
electrochemical reactions out of which end product results in form
of voltage & electric current.
Battery is regarded as source of all electrical energy used for
starting almost all kind of automotive engines and thus “CRANKING”
is considered to be a primary purpose of battery. Other uses include
powering up other electrical devices in the vehicle. Thus,
technically, a lead acid battery converts chemical energy to
electrical energy and this energy conversion is the fundamental for
all lead acid based automotive batteries. |
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In the State Off Engine:
Talking about most of the vehicles, when their engine is not running
they draw electrical current from battery to power up head & tail
lamp, Stereo/Music System and other required electrical devices.
In the sate of Starting Engine known “Cranking”: Ignition system of
engine & starter motor draws electric current from the battery. This
is most important aspect of automotive battery as it draws large
amount of current for short time that can last for 3-5 seconds. This
is the function where automotive & inverter or other type of
batteries differ from one another.
In the state of Running Engine: Generally when is running, vehicle 's
all the electrical systems are powered up by dynamo (alternator)
that produces the electricity. However, if the load requirement
exceeds the supply, supplementary supply of current may be drawn
from the battery. In such case, vehicle 's electrical systems are
supplied current form alternator in conjunction with battery. |
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Batteries are classified in two
types on the basis of recharging capability. One is known as Primary
cell battery type and another Secondary Cell Battery. You may wonder
what it means but remember that most of the automotive batteries
sold today are WET CHARGED BATTERIES.
Primary Cell Battery: This type covers mostly alkaline batteries
used in Radio, Flashlights and small toys. The chemical reactions
generally destroys or completely changes properties of inside
contents leaving the battery dead. Since this type of battery entail
irreversible chemical reaction. Hence, this type of battery can only
be used once and are not Re-chargeable.
Secondary Cell Battery: Such type of batteries have in built
reversal chemical system and thus can be recharged after discharge.
Although, secondary cell battery and its materials do have a certain
age, yet they have advantage over primary cell in recharge
capability and hence the later last long. When current is drawn from
the battery the lead metal plates tend acquire each others
properties and acid strength weakens. This process is known as
battery discharge. However, this process is reversible and when
current is supplied to the battery, the inside components restore
their properties, thus recharging the battery for next use.
Automotive batteries fall in Secondary Cell category and they
eliminate the need of replacing battery every-time one starts the
vehicle. |
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Automotive battery
manufacturers produce both kind of battery. There are two types of
batteries available in the market one DRY CHARGED and another WET
CHARGED.
Dry Charge Battery: The battery plates are built and bulk charged in
a large industrial containers. Once charged, plates are then washed,
dried and sealed into battery. Dry Charged battery is shipped
without acid (electrolyte) and at the destination, when the battery
is put under use it is filled with electrolyte at the final stage
for ready to use state.
Wet Charge Battery: Such type of batteries are first charged &
sealed along with acid. The batteries are shipped with Acid from
manufacture. Wet charge batteries gradually discharge and hence
requires periodic recharge. They tend to discharge faster as
compared dry-charge. |
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An automobile battery is a lead
acid battery. It contains several bunches of positive and negative
lead plates called electrodes. The electrodes are submerged in the
electrolyte solutions comprising 36 % and 64 % H2SO4 (diluted
Acid). A battery may contain several cells, and in each cell there
could be bunch of several positive & negative cells bunched together
but contains separator of fiberglass in between two plates. |
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Any two metals placed in acid
solution have capability to produce the electric potential across
two terminals. When connected together the current flows from
negative to positive terminal. In case of a lead acid battery, the
positive plate is made of reddish-brown material such as lead oxide
while the negative plate is made of grayish material called sponge
lead. In presence of electrolyte, when terminal are connected in
circuit, electrons flow from negative to positive plate producing
electric current. |
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Battery stores chemical energy
which, when used, is converted to electrical energy. However, in
case of lead acid battery the chemical process is reversible. i.e.
when reverse current is applied back to the battery by alternator of
vehicle; it restores chemical properties capable of delivering
current for further use. In day to day life, these process are known
as charging and discharging in continuous manner and hence called
“battery cycling”. No, Automotive batteries are generally used for
short burst of high current for few seconds to merely start engine.
After vehicle cranking is performed the alternator starts charging
the battery for the loss of current used in starting the vehicle.
Thus automotive battery do not discharge completely. Since the
automotive battery are not designed for deep cycling hence any
accidental deep cycle will cause the excessive damage to the
battery, will shorten the age and at worst may render battery
completely dead.
However, in case of inverter, go-cart, marine and telecoms
applications, the batteries are designed to be discharged completely
thus increasing the strength to withstand frequent compete
discharged. Recharging a lead acid battery can cause excessive heat
that may lead to the damage of active matter of plates. Its is why,
thicker and stronger grid plates are used in deep cycle batteries.
On the other hand automotive batteries use thinner & weak plates.
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You may be surprised by the
fact that each cell of battery produces approximately 2.1V current
regardless of of the size & thickness of the plates. A 12 V
automobile battery generally contain six cells connected in series
so as to produce 12.1 volts. However, more number of plates grouped
together allow a great amount of electricity to be supplied. In
simpler words, more surface area means the battery can produce more
current. |
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Since automotive batteries are
mounted on moving vehicles, due to jerk and movements electrolytes
erratic movement within the battery cells may cause damage to the
active material of plates . In addition any such movement also
produce gassing within the battery chambers. Its why industry has
come up with a new spiral design of plates filled with gel to
minimize the moments. Many gel batteries also come with one way
valve replacing open vents. The one way valve prevents internal
gasses to recombine back into water in the battery. Ideally, spiral
design allow more power in a smaller battery case and the ability to
recharge much faster than conventional lead acid battery.
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There are several variations of
lead acid batteries they differ from one another in methods of
construction, quality & purity of raw materials besides several
other factors. Different plate material & solution provide different
characteristics within the same type of construction. Some of common
constructions type are given below. A) Lead Antimony:
Currently, most of the conventional lead acid battery use lead
antimony cell plates. |
Lead Antimony Advantages: |
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- It provides longer service life than the calcium batteries.
- Such batteries are easier to recharge when completely
discharged.
- It provides lower cost of construction.
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B) Lead Calcium Battery:
Is generally used in maintenance free batteries. |
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Lead Calcium Advantages: |
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- Provides Larger Electrolyte reserve area above the plates.
- Higher cold cranking and amp rating.
- Lead calcium batteries require little or no maintenance at
all.
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Gel Cell Batteries: Gel
batteries are sealed maintenance free batteries that uses spiral
plate structure for compact design besides gel electrotype for
restricted movement of components within the case. |
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- Such batteries do not contain and liquid to spill, leak or
move erratically within the cell.
- Such batteries can be deep cycle several time without
damage.
- Such batteries are absolutely maintenance free.
- They have long lasting life 4-5 times more than that of a
normal lead acid battery.
- Spiral plate structure and closer plate spacing provides
compact size.
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Electrolyte is a mixture of 64
% distilled water & 36% of sulfuric acid. You add more electrolyte
and when in build HYDROMETER indicator checks the gravity of
electrolyte indicate the need of additional electrolyte or replenish
it . |
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Yes, Lead acid battery is
hazardous product. It contain acid and poisonous lead that requires
extremely cautious handling. Any mishandling may lead to skin burn ,
poisoning or injury to eyes Acid is very corrosive and if your
skin get in touch with the acid, you are required to flush the
contact area with large quantity of water. A mild solution of baking
soda and water neutralizes the acid. During recharging the battery,
highly flammable hydrogen gas is released and thus your are advised
to keep the battery away from flames, hot surfaces to prevent
violent explosion. |
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Having had a look at the battery specifications you may wonder as to
what are the different jargon and ratings all about? Below given are
some of ratings that will help you understand meaning & purpose of
such technocratic language. The ratings are governed by BATTERY
COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL (BCI) evaluates and determined the current
capacity of battery. |
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Cold Cranking
Amps Rating (CCA): The first rating is the cold cranking amps (CCA)
rating. The rating indicates the ability of battery to deliver a
specified current at very low temperature of -18 degree Celsius. The
rating is determined by the amount of current a fully charge battery
can supply for 30 second at -18 'C without having the battery
terminal voltage below 7.2 V.
Cranking Amps rating (CA): Another is CA ( Cranking Amps)
rating which is the same as CCA except for the fact that test is
carried out at very high temperature.
Reserve Capacity Rating: It is the time in minutes, a vehicle
can be driven if the alternator (battery charging system) fails.
This can be assumed that car 's headlights are on and ignition system
and lamps are constantly drawing current from the battery, in such
case RCR denotes in the minutes for vehicle can be driven.
Ampere Hour Rating: The ampere hour rating (AH) is the amount
of current a fully charged battery can supply for 20 Hours without
having the terminal voltage fall below 10.2 V. The test is carried
out 26.7 'C. For example, if a battery can deliver 2 Amp, under
above given conditions, denotes that it is an 80 AH hour battery.
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