F.A.Q.

You can read answers to frequently asked questions:
What car battery?

Car battery is a type of battery supplying power in the car. Made in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Plan. Although it has changed in terms of design, the battery we use in our cars today is made of two series-connected voltage elements, each of which is absolutely similar to the element of Gaston Plan.

It can be starter supplying electricity to the starter, lights and engine ignition system, or Traction - used as main source of electric energy.

Automotive batteries are mostly lead-acid batteries providing a voltage of 12 volts (more exactly 12.6 volts). For this purpose, they contain six cells connected in series, each with a nominal voltage of 2 to 2.1 volts. Like other batteries of this type, it is made from electrodes containing lead and lead dioxide. These plates are immersed in an electrolyte composed of approximately 35% sulfuric acid and 65% distilled water. Following the ongoing electrochemical reaction, chemical energy is converted into electricity. In the discharge of the battery electrode material reacts with the acid of the electrolyte, turning in both cases lead sulphate. When the battery is charging, the reverse reaction occurs. Lead sulfate is converted respectively into lead and lead dioxide electrodes to regain their initial state.

Since lead dioxide and lead sulfate are porous crystalline substances are contained in a metal grille for better mechanical stability. Electrode material to add different substances - calcium, strontium or cadmium to change density, hardness or poryoznosttata. This allows for easier manufacturing of the electrodes.
Types

Automotive batteries are different application:

    Starter type gives more power, usually starting the engine. They usually have more electrodes and hence a larger area, which allows giving higher maximum current. Starter batteries contain more antimony, calcium, cadmium. The presence of such elements enhance performance qualities. Recently working on bezantimonovi batteries.
    Traction batteries are designed for continuous input current for a long period of time such as forklift or other vehicle driven by electricity. They can be used for temporary storage of energy from a wind turbine. Their plates are thicker for greater capacity and allow more cycles of discharge / charge.

There are dual-purpose batteries (starter and traction).
 

Use and maintenance
Level of electrolyte

Most of the batteries produced using new technology, no need for maintenance and servicing / refilling with distilled water /. If the battery is easy open tops, it is necessary periodically / monthly basis and in older batteries even weekly / to monitor electrolyte level within the limits and need to be corrected. In this case, the plugs are removed and make distilled water ranged from 10 to 15 mm above the upper surface of the plates.

Tap water or rain water should never be used (tested and proven!) They contain minerals that will corrode the electrodes and reduce the battery capacity.
 

Charging and discharging

When loading or standing by the time the battery is discharged due to electrochemical reaction in which the spent lead and lead dioxide and lead sulfate is produced (known. Sulphation). Lead sulfate is formed in the form of fine white crystals with a large surface. In long standing in a discharged state or at very deep discharge crystals coalesced and formed larger crystals with much smaller surface. In this case, the battery loses much of its capacity because only a part of larger crystals can be converted back into lead / lead dioxide. Due to the reduced surface is reduced considerably and the maximum current that can be given when starting the car.

To avoid that unused batteries must be charged periodically to a charger. During normal operation of the alternator (generator) to charge the car lost in starting the engine is restored and the battery is charging. With frequent travel short distances in the presence of many electric appliances (air conditioning, fans, lighting), however, the battery can not be loaded completely.

When inserting a new battery or charging the battery discharge, apply several methods. The most friendly of them is called trickle charging. Others are slow and fast charge, the second most harmful to the battery. Charging voltage must be greater than about 14.4 volts, otherwise the battery to form hydrogen and oxygen resulting from electrolysis of water.

Charge and discharge depends on many factors: the initial state, to what end state is diluted, age, capacity, load, etc. temeperaturata. For maximum battery fully charged during operation is obtained as the capacity in Ah (A · h or Ah) divided by current flow in amperes (A). For example, new battery with 72 Ah capacity at 10 A should last 7.2 hours to complete discharge. When the battery gets older, its capacity decreases due to partial electrode sulphation. At low temperatures the maximum current that can flow is very low and not sufficient to start the car.
 

Installing the battery in the car

In most vehicles used for mass body of the car as a negative aspect of the battery is connected to the body. In the past there was a car in which plus the battery is connected to the body, but they corrode more. To load should be approached with caution as the electrolyte is sulfuric acid and can cause dangerous damage to human skin.

When removing the battery happiness must be removed first, and then a plus. This will allow a short circuit from the switch touching part of the body, provided that the first wave of cable plus. After placing his works in reverse order.

Hazards

Improper charge (voltage> 14,4 V or recharging) the battery may generate gases (hydrogen and oxygen). In this pressure cell is increased, leading to rupture of the battery and / or loss of electrolyte. Hydrogen and oxygen can react explosively with each other in the presence of a spark that leads to destruction of the battery. The electrolyte contains sulfuric acid and is dangerous because it attacks the skin, tissues, etc.. and causes corrosion of metals.
Terminology

    Ah (A h) gives an electric charge that the battery is able to store and then give.
    Start current (CA), is the current that the battery can be given for 30 seconds at 0 ° C while maintaining 1.2 volts / cell (7.2 volts for 12 volt battery).
    Cold start current (CCA) is the current that the battery can give for 30 seconds at -18 ° C while maintaining 1.2 volts / cell (7.2 volts for 12 volt battery).
    Start current of warm (HCA) is the current that the battery can be given for 30 seconds at 26.7 ° C while maintaining 1.2 volts / cell (7.2 volts for 12 volt battery).
    Law Pyukert explains that the capacity of the battery varies according to the rate of discharge. Battery, dilute faster, giving less ampere-hours than the same diluted more slowly.
    Hydrometer measures the density of the electrolyte and provides information on the discharge of the battery. Low values ​​indicate that the battery is discharged.
    Voltmeter used to measure the battery voltage. Tension is measured with engine off and estimate the degree of dilution:

             

 

New types of

With the development of new types of technology batteries are used in cars. Engine of progress are so "Hybrids" using an electric motor and internal combustion engine. For the input energy to the electric motor in the car put traction batteries or hydrogen cells. Types of batteries:

    NiMH - Nickel Metal Hydride
    LiION - lithium ion