Lead-acid car battery

A car battery is a type of rechargeable battery that supplies electric energy to an automobile^[1]. Usually this refers to a SLI battery (Starting - Lighting - Ignition) to power the starter motor, the lights and the ignition system of a vehicle’s engine. This also may describe a traction battery used for the main power source of an electric vehicle. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1585x1515, 184 KB) Summary Description: Car battery Author, date of creation: selfmade by Shaddack, 6 November 2005 Source: self-made Copyright: Public Domain (PD) Comments: Lead-acid battery for car, side-top view Licensing File links The following pages link to... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1585x1515, 184 KB) Summary Description: Car battery Author, date of creation: selfmade by Shaddack, 6 November 2005 Source: self-made Copyright: Public Domain (PD) Comments: Lead-acid battery for car, side-top view Licensing File links The following pages link to... A rechargeable lithium polymer Nokia mobile phone battery. ... “Car” and “Cars” redirect here. ... In 1903, the first U.S. patent for an automobile electric self-starter was issued to Clyde J. Coleman of New York City (No. ... The ignition system of an internal-combustion engine is an important part of the overall engine system that provides for the timely burning of the fuel mixture within the engine. ... The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer (typically air) occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ... The Toyota RAV4 EV was powered by twenty-four 12 volt batteries, with an operational cost equivalent of over 165 miles per gallon at 2005 US gasoline prices. ... For battery powered passenger automobiles, see battery electric vehicle. ...

Automotive starter batteries (usually of lead-acid type) provide a nominal 12-volt potential difference by connecting six galvanic cells in series. Since the cells naturally produce about 2.1 V, the actual voltage is roughly 12.6 V. Lead-acid batteries are made up of plates of lead and lead oxide, which are submerged into an electrolyte solution of 35% sulfuric acid and 65% water. This causes a chemical reaction that releases electrons, allowing them to flow through conductors to produce electricity. As the battery discharges, the acid of the electrolyte reacts with the materials of the plates, changing their surface to lead sulphate. When the battery is recharged, the chemical reaction is reversed: the lead sulphate reforms into lead oxide and lead. With the plates restored to their original condition, the process may now be repeated. Lead-acid batteries are the most commonly used rechargeable batteries today. ... Josephson junction array chip developed by NIST as a standard volt. ... International safety symbol Caution, risk of electric shock (ISO 3864), colloquially known as high voltage symbol. ... The Galvanic cell, named after Luigi Galvani, consists of two different metals connected by a salt bridge or a porous disk between the individual half-cells. ... Electrical circuit components can be connected together in one of two ways: series or parallel. ... This article is about the metal. ... Lead(II) oxide or litharge is a yellow oxide of lead of formula PbO, created by heating lead in air. ... An electrolyte is a substance containing free ions that behaves as an electrically conductive medium. ... R-phrases S-phrases , , , Flash point Non-flammable Related Compounds Related strong acids Selenic acid Hydrochloric acid Nitric acid Related compounds Hydrogen sulfide Sulfurous acid Peroxymonosulfuric acid Sulfur trioxide Oleum Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... For other uses, see Chemical reaction (disambiguation). ... Properties The electron (also called negatron, commonly represented as e−) is a subatomic particle. ... In science and engineering, conductors, such as copper or aluminum, are materials with atoms having loosely held valence electrons. ... Electricity (from New Latin Ä“lectricus, amberlike) is a general term for a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. ... Symbols representing a single Cell (top) and Battery (bottom), used in circuit diagrams. ... Lead (II) sulfate (PbSO4) is a white crystal or powder. ... A rechargeable lithium polymer Nokia mobile phone battery. ...

Types

Lead-acid batteries have different uses. Several elements are alloyed with the lead such as calcium, cadmium or strontium to change density, hardness, or porosity of the plates and to make the plates easier to manufacture. For other uses, see Calcium (disambiguation). ... General Name, Symbol, Number cadmium, Cd, 48 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 5, d Appearance silvery gray metallic Standard atomic weight 112. ... General Name, Symbol, Number strontium, Sr, 38 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 5, s Appearance silvery white metallic Standard atomic weight 87. ... For other uses, see Density (disambiguation). ... Look up hardness in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Porosity is a measure of the void spaces in a material, and is measured as a fraction, between 0–1, or as a percentage between 0–100%. The term porosity is used in multiple fields including manufacturing, earth sciences and construction. ...

• The starting (cranking) or shallow cycle type is designed to deliver quick bursts of energy, usually to start an engine. They usually have a greater plate count in order to have a larger surface area that provides high electric current for short period of time. Once the engine is started, they are being continuously recharged. See Jump start (vehicle).
• The deep cycle (or motive) type is designed to continuously provide power for long periods of time (for example in a trolling motor for a small boat, a golf cart or other battery electric vehicle). They can also be used to store energy from a photovoltaic array or a small wind turbine. They usually have thicker plates in order to have a greater capacity and survive a higher number of charge/discharge cycles. See battery pack.

Some batteries are claimed by their manufacturers to be dual purpose (starting and deep cycling). Electric current is the flow (movement) of electric charge. ... Jumpstarting a vehicle A jump start or boost is a term for a method of starting an automobile or other internal combustion engine-powered vehicle which has a discharged battery. ... A lead-acid gel battery A deep-cycle lead-acid battery is designed to deliver a consistent voltage as the battery discharges. ... A Lamborghini built golf cart A golf cart (officially referred to as a golf car according to ANSI standard z130. ... For electric vehicles other than battery powered passenger automobiles, see electric vehicle. ... A solar cell, a form of photovoltaic cell, is a device that uses the photoelectric effect to generate electricity from light, thus generating solar power (energy). ... This article is about the machine for converting the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical energy. ... In physics the term quantity of electricity refers to the quantity of electric charge. ... A battery pack is a set of any number of (preferably) identical batteries or individual battery cells. ...

Use and maintenance

Fluid level

Formerly car batteries using lead-antimony plates would require regular top-up to replace water lost due to electrolysis on each charging cycle. By changing the alloying element, more recent designs have lower water loss unless overcharged. Modern car batteries have low maintenance requirements, and may not provide caps for addition of water to the cells. If the battery has easily detachable caps then a top up may be required from time to time. Prolonged overcharging or charging at excessively high voltage causes some of the water in the electrolyte to be broken up into hydrogen and oxygen gases, which escape from the cells. If the electrolyte liquid level drops too low, the plates are exposed to air, lose capacity and are damaged. The cells can be topped up with distilled or deionised water just above the visible plates. The sulphuric acid in the battery normally does not require replacement since it is not consumed even on overcharging. In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a method of separating chemically bonded elements and compounds by passing an electric current through them. ... Bottle for Distilled water in the Real Farmacia in Madrid. ... Deionized water (DI water or de-ionized water; Commonwealth English deionised water) is water that lacks ions, such as cations from sodium, calcium, iron, copper and anions such as chloride and bromide. ...

Impurities in the water will reduce the life and performance of the battery. Manufacturers usually recommend use of demineralized or distilled water since even potable tap water can contain high levels of minerals.

Charge and discharge

In normal automotive service the vehicle's engine-driven alternator powers the vehicle's electrical systems and restores charge used from the battery during engine cranking. When installing a new battery or recharging a battery that has been accidentally discharged completely, one of several different methods can be used to charge it. The most gentle of these is called trickle charging. Other methods include slow-charging and quick-charging, the latter being the harshest. Early 20th century Alternator made in Budapest, Hungary, in the power generating hall of a hydroelectric station. ... Most rechargeable batteries, particularly nickel-cadmium batteries or nickel metal hydride batteries, have a moderate rate of self discharge, meaning they gradually lose their charge even if they are not used in a device. ...

In emergencies a battery can be jump started, by the battery of another vehicle or by a hand portable battery booster. Jumpstarting a vehicle A jump start or boost is a term for a method of starting an automobile or other internal combustion engine-powered vehicle which has a discharged battery. ... Jumpstarting a vehicle A jump start or boost is a term for a method of starting an automobile or other internal combustion engine-powered vehicle which has a discharged battery. ...

Changing a battery

In most modern automobiles, the grounding is provided by connecting the body of the car to the negative electrode of the battery, a system called 'negative ground'. In the past some cars had 'positive ground'. Such vehicles were found to suffer worse body corrosion and, sometimes, blocked radiators due to deposition of metal sludge. It has been suggested that Ground conductor be merged into this article or section. ...

The recommended practice when removing a car battery is to disconnect the ground connection first and then other terminal. This ensures that a short circuit will not occur by a wrench touching grounded engine parts while disconnecting the other terminal. Simlarly, the ground should be connected last when installing a battery. For alternate meanings see Short circuit (disambiguation) A short circuit (sometimes known as simply a short) is a fault whereby electricity moves through a circuit in an unintended path, usually due to a connection forming where none was expected. ... Combination wrench, or combination spanner (left: box-end/ring, right: open-end) A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide a mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn bolts, nuts or other hard-to-turn items. ...

Care should be taken when first filling the battery with acid, as acids are highly corrosive and can damage eyes, skin and mucous membranes. A 1994 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association estimated that in 1994 more than 2000 people were injured in the United States while working with automobile batteries. For other uses, see Acid (disambiguation). ... Beyond overall skin structure, refer below to: See-also. ...

Freshness

Because of "sulfation" (see lead-acid battery), lead-acid batteries stored with electrolyte slowly deteriorate. Car batteries should be installed within one year of manufacture. In the United States, the manufacturing date is printed on a sticker. The date can be written in plain text or using an alphanumerical code. The first character is a letter that specifies the month (A for January, B for February and so on). The letter "I" is skipped due to its potential to be mistaken for the number 1. The second character is a single digit that indicates the year of manufacturing (for example, 6 for 2006). Sulfation refers to the process whereby a lead-acid battery (such as a car battery) loses its ability to hold a charge after it is kept in a discharged state too long due to the crystallization of lead sulfate. ... A valve-regulated, sometimes called sealed, lead acid battery Lead-acid batteries, invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté, are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. ...

Corrosion

Corrosion at the battery terminals can prevent a car from starting. To prevent corrosion, during regular battery service the terminals may be cleaned with a wire brush and corrosion products washed away with water. When the battery terminals are re-assembled, they are coated with grease to reduce the rate of corrosion accumulation.

Battery defects

Common battery faults include:

• Shorted cell due to failure of the seperator between the positive and negative plates
• Broken internal connections due to corrosion
• Broken plates due to vibration and corrosion
• Low electrolyte
• Cracked or broken case
• Broken terminals
• Sulfation after prolonged disuse.

In addition, the primary wear-out mechanism is the shedding of active material from the battery plates, which accumulates at the bottom of the cells and which may eventually short-circuit the plates. Sulfation refers to the process whereby a lead-acid battery (such as a car battery) loses its ability to hold a charge after it is kept in a discharged state too long due to the crystallization of lead sulfate. ...

Early automotive batteries could sometimes be repaired by dismantling and replacing damaged seperators, plates, intercell connectors, and other repairs. Modern battery cases do not facilitate such repairs; an internal fault generally requires replacement of the entire unit. ^[2]

Exploding batteries

Any lead-acid battery system when overcharged will produce hydrogen gas. If the rate of overcharge is small, the vents of each cell allow the dissipation of the gas. However, on severe overcharge or if ventilation is inadequate, a flammable concentration of hydrogen may remain in the cell or in the battery enclosure. Any spark can cause an explosion, which will damamge the battery and its surroundings and which will disperse acid into the surroundings. Car batteries should always be handled with proper protective equipment (goggles, overalls, gloves).

Terms and ratings

• Ampere-hours (A·h) is the product of the time that a battery can deliver a certain amount of current (in hours) times that current (in amps), for a particular discharge period. This is one indication of the total amount of charge a battery is able to store and deliver at its rated voltage. This rating is rarely stated for automotive batteries.
• Cranking amps (CA), also sometimes referred to as marine cranking amps (MCA), is the amount of current a battery can provide at 32°F (0°C). The rating is defined as the number of amperes a lead-acid battery at that temperature can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell (7.2 volts for a 12 volt battery).
• Cold cranking amps (CCA) is the amount of current a battery can provide at 0°F (−18°C). The rating is defined as the amperage a lead-acid battery at that temperature can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell (7.2 volts for a 12-volt battery). It is a more demanding test than those at higher temperatures.
• Hot cranking amps (HCA) is the amount of current a battery can provide at 80°F (26.7°C). The rating is defined as the amperage a lead-acid battery at that temperature can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell (7.2 volts for a 12-volt battery).
• Reserve capacity minutes (RCM), also referred to as reserve capacity (RC), is a battery's ability to sustain a minimum stated electrical load; it is defined as the time (in minutes) that a lead-acid battery at 80°F (27°C) will continuously deliver 25 amperes before its voltage drops below 10.5 volts.
• Peukert's Law expresses the fact that the capacity available from a battery varies according to how rapidly it is discharged. A battery discharged at high rate will give fewer amperehours than one discharged more slowly.
• The hydrometer measures the density, and therefore indirectly the amount of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte. A low reading means that sulfate is bound to the battery plates and that the battery is discharged. Upon recharge of the battery, the sulfate returns to the electrolyte.
• The open circuit voltage, measured when the engine is off. It can be approximately related to the charge of the battery by:

Open Circuit Voltage	~ State-of-charge
12.65 V	100%
12.45 V	75%
12.24 V	50%
12.06 V	25%
11.89 V	0%

Open circuit voltage is also affected by temperature, and the specific gravity of the electrolyte at full charge. An ampere-hour (abbreviated as Ah or A-h) is a unit of electric charge. ... Peukerts Law defines a way to measure the capacity of a Battery (electricity) over a range of discharge rates. ... A hydrometer is an instrument used for determining the specific gravity of liquids. ... The sulfate anion, SO42− The structure and bonding of the sulfate ion In inorganic chemistry, a sulfate (IUPAC-recommended spelling; also sulphate in British English) is a salt of sulfuric acid. ... Open-circuit voltage or OCV is the difference of electrical potential between two terminals of a device when there is no external load connected, i. ... Relative density (also known as specific gravity) is a measure of the density of a material. ...

Lead-acid

The following is common for lead-acid batteries:

• Quiescent (open-circuit) voltage at full charge: 12.6 V
• Unloading-end: 11.8 V
• Charge with 13.2-14.4 V
• Gassing voltage: 14.4 V
• Continuous-preservation charge with max. 13.2 V
• After full charge the terminal voltage will drop quickly to 13.2 V and then slowly to 12.6 V.

The energy to weight ratio, or specific energy, is in the range of 30 Wh/kg (108 kJ/kg).

Formats

• Lead-acid battery

The most commonly used battery for SLI applications. It has a low specific energy, but is cheaper than high-performance battery types.

• NiMH

Used on some battery electric cars.

A valve-regulated, sometimes called sealed, lead acid battery Lead-acid batteries, invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté, are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. ... NIMH or NiMH may refer to: National Institute of Mental Health, a part of the United States National Institutes of Health. ... The Toyota RAV4 EV is powered by twenty-four 12 volt batteries, with an operational cost equivalent of over 165 miles per gallon at 2005 US gasoline prices. ...

Future Trends

Due to the increase of electric power payloads in today’s automobile, a 42 V power system has been considered and is being developed to replace the existing 14 V power system. (14 V and 42 V refer to the alternator charging voltage). See for example Modeling of 36 V Lead Acid Battery for the 42 V Automotive System Simulation. For 42 V systems, 18 cell lead acid battery with a nominal 36 V is proposed.

See also

• Battery (electricity)
• Car adapter
• Corbin Sparrow
• NanoSafe
• Vehicle-to-grid

Symbols representing a single Cell (top) and Battery (bottom), used in circuit diagrams. ... A car adaptor is a standard for DC power plugs. ... Corbin Sparrow The Corbin Sparrow is a single-passenger, three-wheeled battery electric vehicle designed specifically for commuting and city driving. ... Altairnano is a industry innovator in the discovery, development and manufacture of ceramic nanomaterials, working with industry and academic partners, have produced novel products for life sciences, alternative energy, air and water purification and advanced materials applications. ... Vehicle to Grid (V2G) technology is a bi-directional grid interface for gridable vehicles such as Battery Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. ...

References

• Autobatteries.com FAQ website

1. ^ Horst Bauer Bosch Automotive Handbook 4th Edition Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart 1996 ISBN 0-8376-0333-1, pages 803-807
2. ^ Horst Bauer Bosch Automotive Handbook 4th Edition Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart 1996 ISBN 0-8376-0333-1, pages 806-807

External links

• Batteries at the Open Directory Project
• Battery manufacturers at the Open Directory Project
• Car battery maintenance on Popular Mechanics
• Car battery FAQ on repairfaq.org
• Voltage of a car battery
• Car Battery Fitment Guide