Automotive Battery, an important component for car driving

Have you ever encountered the embarrassing situation of your car breaking down on the road due to a low battery? Automotive batteries supply power for all electric devices in the car, from a small light bulb to the ignition coil, solenoid valve, various sensors, and computer, all are under the control of the battery. If the battery goes on strike, you have to play the role of the engine and push the car. To ensure the smooth travel of our vehicles, we should pay attention to the condition of the battery to prevent any problems.

Ⅰ. The difference between water-filled batteries and maintenance-free batteries

At present, the batteries we commonly use are mainly divided into two categories, namely ordinary batteries and maintenance-free batteries.

1. Water-filled battery

The plates of ordinary batteries are made of lead and lead oxide, and the electrolyte is a sulfuric acid solution. Its main advantages are stable voltage and low price; its disadvantages are low specific energy (i.e. the amount of electrical energy stored per kilogram of battery), short service life, and frequent daily maintenance.

2. Maintenance-free battery

Due to the structural advantages of maintenance-free batteries, the consumption of electrolytes is very small and there is basically no need to add distilled water during the service life. It is also shock-resistant, high-temperature-resistant, small in size, and has low self-discharge. The service life is generally twice that of ordinary batteries.

Ⅱ. Instruction on automotive battery

1. If the battery is not used for a long time, it will slowly discharge itself until it is scrapped. Therefore, the car should be started once at regular intervals to charge the battery or you can unplug the two electrodes on the battery. It should be noted that when unplugging the electrode wires from the electrode column, unplug the negative electrode wire first, or remove the connection between the negative electrode and the car chassis. Then unplug the positive (+) electrode. Batteries have a certain service life and need to be replaced after a certain period of time (usually 2 years). The above order should also be followed when replacing, but when connecting the electrode wires, the order is exactly the opposite, first, connect the positive (+) electrode and then the negative electrode.

2. When the ammeter pointer shows that the battery capacity is low, charge it in time. The battery charge level can be reflected on the instrument panel. Sometimes you find that the battery is low on the road and the engine is stalled and cannot be started. As a temporary measure, you can ask for help from other vehicles and use their car batteries to start your car. Connect the negative electrodes of the two batteries, and the positive electrodes together with battery cables.

3. The density of the electrolyte should be adjusted according to the standards for different regions and seasons.

4. When the electrolyte is deficient, distilled water or special replenishing fluid should be added. Do not use drinking purified water instead. Because pure water contains a variety of microelements that will have adverse effects on batteries.

5. When starting the car, continuous use of the starter can damage the battery due to excessive discharge. Each time, the car should be no more than 5 seconds, and the interval between starting again should be no less than 15 seconds. If the car fails to start after multiple attempts, you should look for the cause in other areas such as the circuit, ignition coil, or oil circuit.

6. During daily driving, you should always check whether the small holes on the battery cover are ventilated. If the small hole is blocked, the generated hydrogen and oxygen cannot be discharged. When the electrolyte expands, it will burst the battery shell and affect the battery life.

Ⅲ. Causes of battery damage

The life of the battery is generally about two years. As long as you pay attention to avoid the following points, the battery life will increase accordingly.

1. Over-discharge (Using the in-car electrical appliances for a long time without starting the car engine).

2. The battery has been stored for a long time (not charged during storage).

3. The battery cannot be charged by the car generator (the generator is damaged).

4. No electrolyte.

5. Over high density of electrolyte.

6. Charge the battery at a high temperature.

7. Contaminated by pollutants (e.g. hydrochloric acid, seawater, organic acids, etc.).

8. Excessive current is applied when charging the battery.

9. The deformation of the electrode plate causes the positive plate and the packaging plate to contact each other, thus causing a short circuit.

10. Dirt is deposited on the upper and lower parts of the plates, causing short circuits.

Ⅳ. Battery inspection

Generally, there are signs that the battery is running low.

1. When the car is in neutral gear at night or the car stops at a red light, the car light will become noticeably dimmer, which means that the battery life is coming to an end. Because neutral gear means the car engine is in a low-speed running, which is not enough to provide power for the night lights. At this time, it is powered by the battery. If a battery’s life is about to end, it is hard to provide sufficient electricity for lighting, so the lights will dim.

2. When starting the car, the ignition power is insufficient, and the speed during ignition is not as good as before.

3. When the engine is turned on and the rotation speed is normal, the light may become slightly dimmer but still bright enough, indicating that the battery is in good condition and is sufficiently charged. If the engine seems weak and the light becomes very dim, it means that the battery is over-discharged and should be charged immediately. If the light is dark red and the engine shuts down immediately when the engine is turned on, it means that the battery has been discharged beyond the limit or the plates have been severely vulcanized.