Chapter 11 what is a battery

Battery Council International (BCI)and Society of automotive engineering (SAE) establish:

Capacity ratings

Basic components of a battery:

Case, terminals, plates, electrolyte, size type, construction for applications

Specific gravity of electrolyte changes during:

Charging and discharging

Severe gassing:

Charging voltage pushed beyond 2.4 volts a severe discharge take place.

Galvanic batteries

Chemical reaction when electricity is generated when two dissimilar metals are placed in an electrolyte

Primary batteries

Chemical reactions are not reversible; battery can't be recharged

batteries

Convert chemical energy to electrical energy; they also provide starting power for engines and operating electrical accessories whenever engine isn't running

Selecting batteries depend on

Current needs for key off loads, operating electrical accessories, engine type, engine size, climate conditions

Deep cycle- deep discharge

Delivers longer, steady level of power for much longer period of time that SLI batteries, supplies current to constantly powered accessories, supplies power to move inverters

Starting lighting and ignition batteries(SLI)

Designed for short duration deep discharge up to 50 percent discharge during cranking

Dissimilar metals placed in electrolytes form:

Electrodes

Flooded acid batteries

Electrodes are made of thin lead plates submersed in liquid electrolyte.

Type of lead acid batteries:

Flooded cell, deep cycle flooded cell, valve regulating acid battery(VRLA), sealed lead acid battery(SLA)

Batteries connected in series to supply

Higher voltage

Two dissimilar metals

Insulator material separating the metals and electrolyte

Traditional automotive type battery is:

Lead acid battery

Lead acid batteries:

deliver high rates of current with high tolerance, hold charge and longer shelf life when dry, least expensive to manufacture, available in ranges of sizes and capacities

Separator plates

separate positive and negative plates from touching and short circuiting

Electrolytes thicken in cold weather causing:

The battery power to drop

Electrolyte mixture

36 percent sulfuric acid and 64 percent water

Engine resistance increases:

50 % to 250% in the winter

Sulfation happens when:

A battery is in discharge state for too long, continuously undercharged or left discharged

Amount of amperage a battery supplies is:

A function of surface area of the plates

Electrical capacity

Amount of electrical current a lead acid battery can supply

Electrolyte

Any liquid that conducts electrical current

Dry batteries have:

Longer shelf life and lighter to transport

Internal resistance of batteries depends on

Materials used to make plates and chemical composition of electrolytes

Amp Hour

Measure of a batteries capacity

Refractometer:

Measures density and battery electrolyte

Battery state of change

Measuring specific gravity or density of an electrolyte

Batteries connected in parallel supply

More cranking amps

Battery cases are made of

Poly Propylene

Secondary batteries

Rechargeable; based on principles on galvanic reaction; are most practical in automotive applications

Traction batteries:

Rechargeable; used for propulsion in hybrid electric vehicles

Electrolysis

Releases both gases (hydrogen and oxygen)

Squeeze bulb and float type hydrometer measure:

Specific gravity of fluids

Batteries functions

Store energy, act as a shock absorber and operate electric drive traction motors

Battery shelf discharge rate depend on:

Temp and materials used in manufacturing

Batteries are classified by:

Their use, how their made, type of plate materials, chemistry used to provide current.

Separator plates are:

Very thin porus, glass fiber plates allowing electrolyte to diffuse freely throughout cell and prevent plate contact

Material from which electrodes are made and type of electrolyte determine:

Voltage potential of a battery

specific gravity

measure of density