Rock down to electric avenue what you need to know about car batteries
Rock Down to Electric Avenue: What you need to Know about Car Batteries
Anybody who’s ever left their headlights on after running around on a rainy day knows the soul-crushing experience of sticking the key into the ignition only to be met by a deafening silence. Luckily, the battery in your car is more like the one in your iPod than your digital camera. Your car’s electrical system is constantly recharging as you drive. And, with a little basic knowledge, you can even recharge a dead battery or keep a new one in proper working order during storage, extending its life beyond the manufacturer’s specifications.
Most modern vehicles use “flooded cell” batteries, indicating the presence of liquid electrolytes (no, not from Gatorade). When you put the key in the ignition and start (or crank) the vehicle, your vehicle’s electric system delivers large bursts of energy from the battery to the spark coil, which lights up the spark plugs and gets the engine roaring.
A flooded cell car battery provides your vehicle with a 12-volt jolt by connecting six galvanic cells in a series, with each cell providing 2.1 volts for a total of 12.6 volts at full charge. These lead-acid batteries are made up of two different types of plates, lead and lead dioxide. In turn, the plates are submerged into an electrolyte solution (again, not Gatorade), causing a chemical reaction that releases electrons. This charge allows the electrons to flow through conductors and produce the electricity required to start the vehicle.
As the battery discharges, the acid reacts with the materials of the plates, changing their surface to lead sulfate. When the battery is recharged, the chemical reaction is reversed and the lead sulfate reforms into lead oxide and lead, restoring them to their original condition and allowing the process to repeat.
When installing a new battery or recharging a battery that has been accidentally run down, there are several different methods used to charge it. The most gentle of these is called trickle charging. Using a battery charger you can conveniently and safely recharge a dead battery or maintain a battery charge while storing a vehicle for extended periods of time without having to disconnect the battery from the vehicle. The modern battery charger isn’t like the clunky old dinosaur in your dad’s garage. It’s small enough to slip between the battery and the frame of your vehicle and comes complete with multiple output cords and battery clamps. Plus, many come with a plastic case for safety, preventing electric shock.
A car battery should be monitored and charged on a regular basis when kept in storage. In addition, when preparing to store batteries, they should be fully charged, cleaned of any corrosion, and placed in a cool, dry environment. High temperatures increase the rate of self discharge and plate corrosion.
Lastly, don’t throw away a used battery. About 97% of the lead from used batteries is reclaimed through recycling. In fact, many cities offer battery recycling services for lead-acid batteries. There are even some retailers that provide a nominal credit towards the purchase of a new battery for recycling your old 12V car battery at their location.