A battery must be installed in car engines because their starter motors require electrical power to operate. It is a rechargeable battery that is used to supply electrical current to a vehicle’s electrical components.
Apart from starting the engine, it’s one of the major components of an automobile charging system, as it stores current for further usage. Car batteries are of different kinds, but there are some common ones used in vehicles.
In this reading, we’ll explore what a car battery is, its functions, diagram, components, types, and how it works.
Let’s get started!
What Is a Car Battery?
A car battery is a rechargeable battery that is used to start a motor vehicle. The automobile battery is a wet cell battery that contains actual energy that stores chemical energy and then transforms it into electrical energy for applications.
Apart from various battery designs and specifications, they serve the same purposes. specifically, automotive batteries, which have six cells with lead storage on each. Each cell is filled with a sulfuric acid solution, which is known as an electrolyte.
Functions of Car Battery
Below are the functions of batteries in automobile engines:
- The primary function of a battery in automotive engines is to power the starter motor so as to run the engine.
- All electrical components in a vehicle rely on the battery.
- The battery also powers many components in modern cars, including the injector system, spark plug, and sensors.
Components Of a Car Battery
A car battery is a complex device made up of several key components that work together to store and provide electrical energy. Here’s a detailed look at the main components of a typical lead-acid car battery:
- Container: A part made of steel can be used to enclose the substances of the cell to form a cathode, which is a part of the electrochemical reaction.
- Cathode: The electrochemical reaction reduces the electrode.
- Separators: These nonwoven, fibrous materials are used to keep the electrodes apart.
- Anode: Anodes are electrodes that undergo oxidation and are composed of powdered zinc metal.
- Electrolyte: This is the medium for the movement of ions within the cell. It carries the ionic current inside the battery. it’s made of potassium hydroxide solution in water.
- Collector: It is a brass pin in the middle of the cell that conducts electricity to the outside circuit.
Diagram Of A Car Battery
Characteristics of a Battery
Below are the characteristics of batteries used in car engines:
- Available in a variety of sizes.
- Moderately good high- and low-temperature performance.
- Electrically efficiently
- Good float operation.
- Low-cost battery and can be produced anywhere on a local basis.
- The high open-circuit voltage of all aqueous electrolyte battery systems.
- Good charge retention for intermittent charge applications.
- Cells are easily recycled.
Types Of A Car Battery
When it comes to car batteries, several types are designed to meet different needs and vehicle specifications. Here’s an overview of the most common types of car batteries:
Starting, Lighting, and Ignition Batteries
These types of batteries are abbreviated SLI; they’re widely used in automotive. Just as its name implies, it is used for starting a car and also provides power to the ignition. The battery also powers electrical components such as the radio, headlights, etc. of a vehicle. STLs have a shallow charging circle, which means the time it takes to run down and get charged again.
Deep Circle Batteries
A deep-circle battery is ideal for marine vehicles, golf carts, small recreational vehicles, etc. this is because it provides sustained power over a longer period of time.
Valve-regulated lead-acid Batteries
These types of batteries are designed to be low-maintenance, as they do not require the regular addition of water to the battery cell. Because of this, the battery is sealed, leaving no chance for maintenance or servicing. It’s to be replaced when it’s spoiled.
The valve-regulated lead-acid battery is of two types: Absorption Glass Mat (AGM) and Gel Cell batteries. The AGM supplies a high rate of power in a short burst compared to other sealed versions. On the other hand, gel cell batteries are known for that because of their silica-based electrolyte.
Wet Cell (or Flooded) Batteries
Wet cell batteries are less expensive than other types but require regular maintenance. It’s named a wet cell because it contains a liquid substance, often a combination of lead, sulfuric acid, and water. This helps to create the required electrolyte that may be lost over time of usage.
Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) Batteries
Modern automobiles, such as electric and hybrid cars, use lithium-ion batteries. The battery is able to store significantly more energy and has less weight compared to traditional lead batteries. However, Li-ion batteries generally have low lifespans, which is one of the major drawbacks—a maximum of three years regardless of use.
Car Battery Specifications
Understanding car battery specifications is essential for choosing the right battery for your vehicle. Here’s a detailed overview of the key specifications and factors to consider:
- Physical Design: The sizes, types, and locations of batteries’ terminals, as well as their mounting techniques, define them.
- Amp-hours (Ah): an ampere-hour is a unit related to the energy storage capacity of the battery.
- Cranking Amperages: the amount of current a battery can offer at a cold cranking ampere, which is 0 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). The cranking ampere is the amount of current a battery can provide at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 0 degrees Celsius.
- Reserve Capacity Minutes (RCM): This is the ability of the battery to sustain a minimum stated electrical load.
- Group Size: This is the physical dimension such as weight, height, length, and width of a battery. Manufacturers frequently state it.
- Data codes: the data codes help buyers know if the battery they are buying is the recently released version.
How A Car Battery Works
The working of automobile batteries is less complex and interesting. Most of it relies on a lead-acid chemical reaction to power the electrical components. The SLI is the type mentioned; it provides short bursts of energy in order to power the accessories and, more importantly, the engine starter motor.
It starts the battery, and as soon as the engines begin to run, the alternator returns charge to the battery. Just imagine a battery as a power plant that converts a chemical reaction into electrical energy. Typically, SLI batteries have six cells, each containing two plates.
One of the plates is made of lead and the other of lead dioxide. Each cell can produce about 2 volts of energy. The plates are submerged in sulfuric acid, which allows the two plates to react. This acid will trigger a reaction on the lead dioxide plate, causing it to create ions and lead sulphate.
Related: What Is A Charging System? Its Function and Components
Symptoms Of A Bad Car Battery
You should be on watch for signs that your battery is nearing its end, even with annual battery checkups. These are a few of the most frequent signs of a declined car battery:
Dimming Headlights and Electrical Problems
The alternator bears a lot of load while your battery is failing. Other electronic systems, such as your radio, power windows, or heated seats, may malfunction, and headlights might dim or flicker when this happens.
Check Engine or Battery Light On
A low battery voltage can cause a wide variety of unusual electrical problems. Your engine control unit or module (ECU or ECM) or another module may detect these irregularities and cause the check engine light to illuminate.
Sometimes failed batteries will even set other indicator lights to turn on. Therefore, even if you know your car is maintained properly, if your dashboard shows problems or other unusual faults, it could be related to a bad battery.
Slow Engine Turnover or Clicking
When batteries are low, engine cranking may be sluggish and make a slow “rur rur rur” sound. If your engine won’t crank over even after turning the key, it could be because the power to the starter solenoid is insufficient. Your battery most certainly is dead in either of these situations.
Swollen Battery Case
If your battery appears swollen, resembling a bloated belly after a big meal, it may have a defective cell or has been overcharged. You should change a bloated battery as soon as possible because it will die eventually.
Sulfurous Smell
Your battery most likely leaks if you smell strongly of rotting eggs. Battery leaks should be replaced right away. Do not attempt a DIY battery replacement without first donning protective gear, since exposure to battery acid can irritate the skin and potentially cause tissue damage.
Before installing a new battery, properly clean your battery wires off using a wire brush or fine sandpaper, as leaking batteries can also create corrosion around your battery posts or terminals. If not, there might not be a strong connection, and your car might not start.
Low Battery Fluid Level
If your car uses an AGM battery, as we indicated before, you can forget about filling the fluid in your battery. However, you should check the battery fluid often if you are using an older, non-maintenance-free liquid battery. You can do this by gently peeping behind the red and black top caps or peering through the translucent portion of its housing.
Should it be low, you may be able to top it off with distilled or deionized water. It is time to have the battery and charging system examined, nevertheless, if the fluid level is below the internal lead plates. Overcharging generates heat, which reduces fluid levels and may indicate an alternator problem.
Car Battery Maintenance
Taking good care of a car battery will help extend its lifespan. The battery’s state of charge should be checked on a regular basis. There is a spot on the top of a battery that shows the condition of the battery. But the ideal way to check a battery’s state is with the use of a voltmeter to know the stabilized voltage.
If a battery vent cap is movable, a hydrometer is used to determine the specific gravity (SG). An actively charged battery is expected to have a stabilized voltage above 12.5 volts and an SG reading above 1.240.
The battery top should be clean, dry, and free from dirt and grime. Cables, terminals, and screws should be inspected on a regular basis to ensure there are no loose, broken, or damaged connections. These should also be free from dirt and corrosion.