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You are here: Home / ARTICLES / Automotive Battery Science: How Batteries Work

June 25, 2017 By BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

Automotive Battery Science: How Batteries Work

Automotive BatteryYour automotive battery is one of the most important, and most often overlooked, electrical components in your vehicle. If your battery is not in good condition, you can be stranded, and other components in your vehicle may be damaged. This article discusses how batteries work and how to take care of them.

What is Inside an Automotive Battery?

Automotive BatteryInside a typical car battery are six smaller energy-producing components called cells. Each cell contains a series of electrodes or plates. The positive plate of the battery is lead [eroxide (PbO2). The negative plates of the battery are pure lead in a soft, sponge-like state. The plates within each cell are arranged in alternating layers for a total of 16 components. All of the positive plates in a cell are wired in parallel, as are all of the negative plates.

Each cell produces roughly 2 volts of electricity. The six individual cells are wired in series with one another so the voltage generated by each cell adds together. The result is 12 volts.

Are You Ready for the Chemistry?

A diluted solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) surrounds the plates. The ratio of acid to water (H2O) is typically in the region of three parts of water to one part of acid.

When we connect a load to the external terminals of the battery, a chemical reaction starts to take place. Our diluted sulfuric acid mixture comprises H2SO4 and water (H20). As the reaction commences, the sulfuric acid splits into positive hydrogen ions (2H) and negative sulfate Ions (SO4).

Automotive BatteryWhen the hydrogen ions reach the lead peroxide plate, they absorb electronics from it and become a hydrogen atom. This process attacks the lead peroxide to produce lead oxide (PbO) and water (H2O). The lead oxide reacts with the sulfuric acid to form lead sulfate (Pb SO4) and water (H2O).

Negative sulfate ions move freely within the solution. As they reach the pure lead plate, they give up their extra electron and become what is known as a radical sulfate. As a radical sulfate cannot exist on its own, it will attack the pure lead plate to produce lead sulfate (PbSO4).

The action of positive hydrogen ions taking electrons from the lead peroxide plate, and the negative sulfate ions giving electrons to the pure lead plate produce an electron imbalance. These electrons flow through the external load to try and balance themselves. This process is how the battery provides power to our load (light, amplifier, heater or computer).

The Chemistry behind Battery Charging

Automotive BatteryWhen we apply an external DC source to the battery, we reverse the process. An external DC source such as an alternator or a battery charger feeds electrons to our positive lead sulfate-covered lead peroxide plate and the negative lead peroxide-covered lead plate. During the charging process, the density of the sulfuric acid solution falls, but we still have positive hydrogen ions and negative sulfate ions.

The positively charged hydrogen Ions more toward the negative terminal of the external DC source. Each hydrogen ion takes one electron from the negative plate to become a hydrogen atom. These hydrogen atoms attack the lead sulfate to produce lead and sulfuric acid.

The negative sulfate ions move toward the positively charged plate. When they get there, they give up their extra electron to become radical sulfates. This radical sulfate reacts with the lead sulfate, and forms lead peroxide and sulfuric acid.

We Can Simplify that a Lot!

In a nutshell, the negative terminal of a lead-acid battery has an over-abundance of electrons. When you connect a load to the battery, the electrons scramble through the load to get to the positive terminal. This electron flow is what allows the battery to provide energy to do work.

When we apply a voltage to the battery that is higher than its resting voltage the electron flow reverses. The sulfate layers on the plates are converted back to lead and sulfuric acid.

Battery Charging: Calm Down – What’s the Rush?

About the worst thing you can do to a car battery is to rush the charging process. If you rush the recharging chemical reaction, the lead sulfate will heat up and adhere permanently to the lead and lead peroxide plates. Once it is stuck there, we can no longer use that area of the plate to flow electrons, and we have reduced the effective size of the battery.

Automotive BatteryYou probably have heard the expression “a battery is never the same after it has been killed.” This statement is very true if the battery is not charged gently and thoroughly.

When you want to recharge your battery properly, keeping the process slow will allow the chemical reaction to take place at a controlled rate. If you are using a high-quality, computer-controlled charger (and you should be!) there are two major charging stages. The first stage is called bulk charging. The charger will maintain a constant current flow to the battery by adjusting the applied voltage.

How do you know if you are charging a care battery too quickly? Standard flooded batteries should not exceed roughly 120 degrees Fahrenheit during charging. We suggest that slower and cooler is always better. An absorbed glass mat (AGM) or gel battery should not exceed 100 degrees.

Once approximately 80% of the used energy has been returned to the battery, the charger will switch to the absorption stage. At that stage, the charger provides a constant voltage to the battery and the current flow diminishes as the battery reaches full charge.

How to Calculate Maximum Battery Charging Rates

A relatively large car battery may have a capacity of 70 or 80 amp-hours. This specification means that under ideal conditions, you can draw 1 amp of current from the battery for 70 or 80 hours. After that time, the battery will be considered dead.

To find the ideal charging rate for our 70 amp-hour battery, we divide this specification by 10 to get seven amps. The battery should be able to accept 7 amps of charging current without overheating. It is worth noting that, if the battery is completely discharged, it will take 10 hours to charge it. Remember, slower is better when it comes to charging batteries.

Taking Care of Your Car Battery

Automotive Battery
The CTEK charger is a great charger to keep your battery operating at its potential.

Some of us who are more fanatical about the care and maintenance of our car batteries will connect them to intelligent battery chargers several times a year. One rule of thumb is to charge your battery fully after each oil change, or four times a year. You should increase this frequency if you make short trips that do not provide adequate charging time. Likewise, time spent playing your audio system with the engine off can drain a battery very quickly. If you have been out with friends and your car battery has been depleted, put it on a high-quality charger overnight.

If you can access the acid solution in your battery, ensure that it is at the proper level, or at the very least, is covering the lead plates completely. A hydrometer should be used to confirm the specific gravity of the solution, but if it is low, adding distilled water is better than doing nothing. That little green “eye” included in some batteries is a hydrometer. When it disappears, the chemical balance within the battery is off and it needs to be charged.

Your local mobile electronics retailer may have a battery load tester that they use before every remote car starter they install. If you are concerned about the condition of your battery, ask them to check it. Being stranded due to a dead battery when the temperatures get cold is frustrating if you are trying to get home or to work.

Ensure the battery terminals and connections to your vehicle are clean and secure at all times. A loose connection can have a dramatic adverse effect on the functionality of your electrical system.

If you need a new battery, check with your local mobile enhancement retailer first. They often have extensive experience in upgrading batteries and can help you choose a solution that will ensure your car is ready to go every time you turn the key.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

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Car Audio and so much more! Handcrafted Car Audio is the Valley's premier destination for mobile electronics.  We sell and install everything you … » Read More

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Flawless Service, Flawless Drone After doing some online research, I called Jon to discuss the remote starter and security system that I wanted to have installed in my brand new 2013 Nissan Titan Pro 4x. I was looking to keep this vehicle for a decade or more, and I wanted to install a top of the line system. During our phone conversation, I decided to make an appointment with Jon... » Read More
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After having some work done by another installer. I went to see Jon at Handcrafted Car Audio. He did not try to placate me and he was very factual about what he would do. The end result is that I am completely satisfied with the work done. He went the extra mile for me when I thought I had a problem with the system (turned out to be a loose... » Read More
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Jon and his staff are simply the very best… bar none! I have a 2007 S550 Mercedes that I prize very much…as in “I’m a Jewish mother” when it comes to my wonderful automobile. I had Jon install a super set of DVD players for the rear seats and he’s going to be putting in a remote starter, (really necessary for the Arizona 116 degree days). Jon’s prices are very... » Read More
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Backup Camera Mike did an excellent job of installing the backup camera system in our Tahoe. The installation is spotless and the rear view mirror display is very clear; even at nighttime. Also, the job was completed in a very timely manner. Thank you » Read More
Don Monteath
Best car audio place in the valley. You will not find better brands any were else. I am currently working 75 hours a week and don’t have time to go in to audio shops and try to find an amp that is worth buying. I was sending text to Jon on breaks or between customers and he ended up finding me amp that I didn’t think I had the money... » Read More
Richard D.
2004 Porsche C4S I knew where I wanted to go with my system, but didn’t completely know how to get there. What I needed was this: a stealth install that upgraded the speakers and amplifiers, retained the oem head unit, possibly added a sub, and minimized any weight increase. After some internet research, I came across Handcrafted Car Audio in Chandler, AZ. I appreciated their stated approach to mobile audio... » Read More
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THE MAN in phoenix I am a custom car audio installer in San Jose, CA 🙂 www.simplicityinsound.com...and I have to say, having met Jon and seen his work, if I lived in the greater PHX area, i would rather pay him to work my own car than do it myself...and i think thats the highest compliment someone in my field can pay to a peer. Don't hesitate to go here,... » Read More
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QUALITY! I was looking for a shop to install an audison full DA system in my new truck. I wanted to make sure that whoever did the install was familiar with this type of setup. After months of calling around,visiting shops and online research I wasn't having any luck. I happened to be on audison's web site and found an audison preferred dealers list. Unfortunatley there wasn't any here in... » Read More
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Great service and very clean shop. They did a radio installation on my moms accord and she couldn't be happier. She loves the bluetooth capability and the price of it all. No surprises at the register. Definitely will be bringing my Tahoe to then soon. Customers for life. Thank you James for helping her make the right decision and not pressuring her into a more expensive radio. Nick thank you... » Read More
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Jon has done 2 installs for me in the past. Each time, I have walked away very satisfied. His work exceeded my expectations on both occasions. I recently had a head unit installed, and the kit was designed to eliminate my stock lcd screen which displayed the A/C controlls. Instead of eliminating the lcd screen, he studied the components and figured out a way to keep the screen there. I... » Read More
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Refreshing change As pretty much everyone before me has said, the unparalleled professionalism of Jon and his shop are above and beyond what can be said in a simple online review. From the moment I first walked into the shop, I knew that this was the only place I would feel completely at ease with leaving my baby (2012 Evo X) in their hands. Jon took the time to listen... » Read More
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