CONVENTIONAL, MAINTENANCE FREE, AND DEEP CYCLE/DRY CELL

The Automotive Battery

What is an Automotive Battery?

Technically, a battery is a electro chemical device capable of storing and producing electrical energy.

Basically, a battery is a device that stores and converts energy.

Automotive Batteries can either be Conventional serviceable

Maintenance Free

Deep Cycle/Dry Cell

What does a battery do?

The battery acts as a stabilizer of voltage for the entire electrical system.

Stores energy for an extended period of time.

Operates and supplies entire electrical system in a vehicle.

What are the main components of a battery?

Positive/Negative plates

Separators

Plate Straps

Case

Electrolyte

Distilled Water

Terminals

Battery Construction is arranged by alternating positive and negative plates in each cell element.

All like plates are connected by plate straps

Each element is 9-13 plates

Typical 12 volt battery is constructed of 6 cells or elements connected together

Each cell produces 2.1 volts This produces a 12.6 volt battery

These cells or elements sit in a bath composed of electrolytes and distilled water.

Conventional Battery.

Conventional batteries are a little bit different when referring to internal component makeup.

Conventional batteries plates are made up of lead peroxide for the positive plates while the negative plates are made up of sponge lead.

These plates, when bathed in electrolytes, create hydrogen gas due to the charging and discharging of the battery. This is why conventional batteries have vents and therefore can be

serviced.

Maintenance Free Batteries (Most

Common). Maintenance free batteries are completely sealed and cannot be

serviced.

The internal plates within the battery are similar to those within a conventional battery, but with the addition of either calcium, cadmium, or strontium. This reduces gassing and self-discharge.

Some of these batteries also contain a built-in hydrometer that shows the battery's state of charge. Keep in mind that a hydrometer only shows the charge for one

individual cell/element.

Deep Cycle/Dry Cell Batteries.

Deep Cycle batteries can either be gel type or conventional. Most common in todays world are gel type though.

Dry Cell batteries are always gel type. Hence dry cell

These batteries can also work in any position possible.

They will never leak electrolyte

Both deep cycle and dry cell batteries can take more abuse both physically as well as electrically.

Life shelf of these batteries is also much longer. Roughly 4 times longer

Battery Terminals.

Two terminals are found on all batteries. One for the positive and one for the negative.

Types of Terminals. Post/Top Terminals

Most common. Theoretically the positive terminal will be larger to offset the chance of cross connecting.

Side Terminals

Positioned on the side of the battery and are threaded in.

L-Terminals

Usually only used on specialty batteries and some imports.

Battery Ratings.

Ampere-hour rating. This is the amount of steady current that a fully charged battery can

supply for 20 hours at 80 degrees Fahrenheit without terminal voltage falling below 10.5 volts.

Cold Cranking Rating (C.C.A) This is determined by load, in amperes, that a battery is able to

deliver for 30 seconds at 0 degrees Fahrenheit without terminal voltage falling below 7.2 volts.

Battery Ratings Continued.

Cranking Amps (C.A) This is a battery’s ability to provide a cranking amperage at 32

degrees Fahrenheit.

Reserve Capacity Rating This is the time, in minutes, that a fully charged battery can be

discharged at 25 amperes before battery voltage falls below 10.5 volts.

Why Batteries Fail.

Excessive over charging.

Excessive under charging.

Excessive vibrations.

Excessive heat or cold.

Cracks in the battery's casing.

Dirt and electrolyte siting on top of the case causing a short or a

severe discharge.

Old age (Most batteries are only good for 4-6 years roughly).

How to Properly Jump a Disabled Battery.

Have both vehicles off.

Connect Red lead to positive (Red) post on disabled vehicle.

Connect opposing Red lead to positive (Red) post on the good battery’s

vehicle.

Connect Black lead to negative (Black) post on good battery’s vehicle.

Connect opposing Black lead to either a clean unpainted surface on the

disabled car or the negative (Black) post on the disabled car.

Start disabled vehicle and let idle for at least 30 minutes.

Remove cables in reverse order.

Demonstration on V.A.T machine and D.V.O.M.

V.A.T machine demonstration done by teacher.

D.V.O.M demonstration done by teacher.

Demonstration on how to properly “jump start” a disabled battery.