An Exploration Of Car Batteries And Proper Maintenance

Without batteries, today's vehicles would be useless. The part may seem inconspicuous, but it plays a key role in your vehicle's charging system. It is made up from a collection of lead-acid cells which provide power to the ignition system and other parts of the electrical assembly.

A standard battery provides a 12-volt charge through a connection of six cells in a series. The plates are made of lead and the electrolyte solution is roughly 65% water and 35% sulfuric acid. As the reaction progresses and electricity is generated, the surface of the plates transforms into lead sulfate. When recharged, the lead sulfate turns back to lead and lead oxide. Below, I'll describe the two primary types of batteries and explain how to properly maintain them.

Types Of Batteries

The two main battery types are shallow cycle and deep cycle. Shallow cycle units are designed to create the large bursts of power needed for your engine's ignition. While these batteries are continuously charged by the alternator when a car is running, a shallow cycle or "starting" unit is meant to undergo a small amount of discharge. For this reason, overexerting and draining the device can shorten its lifespan and cost more in the long run.

Deep cycle batteries, on the other hand, are intended to provide power for extended periods of time. In addition, they are used to store energy, similar to the way a residential solar panel system stores energy for a home. Other applications include trolling motors and electric vehicles such as golf carts.

Proper Care And Maintenance

With any type of battery, proper maintenance is important in order to lengthen its useful life. The first step in the maintenance process is to check the fluid levels and refill them, if necessary. During electrolysis, water is lost and must be replaced. If the unit is newer, the manufacturer may have added extra in order to compensate for this phenomenon over its useful life.

If you're planning to store a battery, special care must be taken to prevent draining. It must be fully charged and stored in a cool dry environment. It must also be stored upright; if the unit is tipped, the electrolyte will leak out. This problem can be overcome by the use of an absorbent glass mat (AGM) or gel design. In the case of an AGM layout, a panel of fine glass fibers is immersed in electrolyte until the proper amount has been absorbed. The mats are then left flat or are spun into spirals and loaded into the enclosure with the lead.

In gel designs, the electrolyte is mixed with a binder in order to immobilize the mass. The main advantage of this process is the resilient nature of the resulting product: the units are more resistant to shock, vibration, and temperature extremes.

Most motorists won't have reason to store their car batteries; they'll be in use under the hood. That said, follow the tips I've given above to store them properly if the need arises.

Tags:Cars, Autos. Vehicles, Car Batteries, Car Maintenance, Car Repair