Batteries are an essential part of a vehicle and should not be neglected. Without a healthy battery, the car stands still. We handle how long they can support our vehicle. To extend their life, we must maintain them properly. Maintenance-free batteries are slowly taking over from lead-acid batteries, but it’s important to understand that the basic principle remains the same. We will cover all the important aspects of a battery in this article.
How does a battery work?
Lead-acid car batteries are energy storage devices made up of lead plates and lead dioxide. I immersed these plates in an electrolyte solution. The percentage of water is 65% and sulfuric acid contributes 35% to this solution. When the battery is used to start the car, it discharges. The sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution is depleted, leaving a larger proportion of water. We returned the sulfate to the acid during the charging process. The battery provides the high current required by the starter motor to run the car’s engine. Once the engine is started, the engine-driven charging system recharges again the battery. In this process, the alternator takes the energy needed to turn the engine via a belt to recharge the battery. When the engine is running, the alternator produces electricity for the car’s electrical equipment.
What makes a battery weak?
When the car is exposed to direct summer sunlight for long periods, the corrosion process speeds up and the electrolyte evaporates. This reduces the life of the battery and makes it weaker. Therefore, avoid heating your car in the sun by parking it in the shade.
We must instal properly a battery to avoid any kind of vibration. Over time, these vibrations cause the plates to move, resulting in a loss of internal connections. As a result, the battery will not be properly charged.
Once you start the car, be sure to drive it long enough for the battery to recharge again. The alternator takes time to recharge the battery after releasing its energy when the engine is started. Otherwise, the battery will remain undercharged, which will not be enough to provide high current to the starting motor.
Leaving the headlights or music system on while the engine is off will drain the battery. Avoid plugging in a charger for an extended period to prevent the battery from discharging.
Corrosion of the battery terminals is as dangerous to the battery as anything else. Always clean the battery terminals thoroughly once or twice a month. Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection. The white powder on the terminals is toxic and should not come into contact with the skin.
Signs showing battery replacement:
There are a few signs that may show that your battery is weakening and needs to be replaced.
The car’s headlights dim slightly when the engine is off.
The starter motor runs slowly when you start the car because of the low current supplied by the battery.
There are a few visual signs that the battery needs to be replaced.
An internal short or overload causes the battery to swell. If you see signs of swelling anywhere around the battery, replace it.
Carefully examine the battery case for damage.
How do I start an engine with a weak battery?
We do not recommend it to use a weak battery. However, in an emergency, jumper cables can be used when you are stranded on the side of the road. Always keep a set of jumper cables in your car if you think the battery is not in perfect condition. Jump leads allow you to start your vehicle with the help of another car. Although this is a very simple technique, there are safety precautions that must be taken to avoid danger. The following steps will guide you in starting your vehicle:
Make sure both batteries have the same voltage, i.e. 12 V.
Turn off the ignition after parking the vehicle close enough to the other car in the neutral position.
Never jump on a frozen battery. It can easily explode.
Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses.
Carefully identify and connect the positive terminals of both batteries to each other.
Make sure the other end does not touch the car body to avoid dangerous sparks.
Attach the negative cable to the negative terminal of the correct battery.
Connect the other end of the negative cable to a metal part of the car with a weak battery.
Finally, start the car with the good battery.
Give it 5 to 7 minutes to charge the weak battery.
Now turn on the ignition of the car with the weak battery.
Carefully remove the cables in reverse order. First remove the negative cables, then the positive cable from the car with the good battery. Finally, remove the positive cable from the car with the weak battery.
How do I check the condition of the battery?
For proper battery maintenance, plan to check the condition of the battery once a month. There are tools available today that can help measure the current condition of the battery. Here are the most commonly used tools for this purpose:
Battery Charge Tester:
The battery charge tester is used to check the voltage rating of the battery while in operation. It has a display meter with voltage readings up to 16V, as well as a battery condition indicator. It has positive and negative probes. Inside, there is a high-capacity current coil that provides the charge with a toggle switch. The battery voltage can be tested easily by following these steps:
Turn off the car’s engine.
Connect the positive probe of the load tester to the positive terminal of the battery.
Similarly, connect the negative probe to the negative terminal.
Make sure it properly connected both probes to the battery terminals.
The meter will display a voltage reading that corresponds to the health of the battery.
Now turn on the charge toggle switch for 05-07 seconds to measure the voltage of the charging battery.
A healthy battery ideally reads 12.5 volts.
If the meter needle deflects anywhere near the “low” sign, replace the battery immediately.
Safely remove the probes in the reverse order.
Hydrometer:
The hydrometer is another tool for measuring the health of the battery. It measures the specific gravity of the electrolyte but can only be used on batteries with removable caps. Hydrometers usually have a built-in thermometer. Follow these simple steps to measure the remaining battery life:
Start by removing the caps from the top of the battery.
Dip the end of the hydrometer into the first cell of the battery.
Squeeze and release it from the back to allow electrolyte to enter the hydrometer cylinder.
Read the specific gravity of the electrolyte as shown.
Record the reading for all cells, one at a time.
Compare the readings with those of the hydrometer.
Typically, readings between 1.265 and 1.299 show a charged battery. Any reading below this range shows a low battery.
Another method of examining the health of the battery is to use a multimeter. This is like the process we used for the battery charge tester.
How do I replace a battery?
We can easily replace a car battery at home with no complications by following these simple steps:
Remove the old battery:
Start by removing the negative terminal of the battery, usually marked in black or with the (-) symbol, to avoid arcing with the key.
Disconnect the positive terminal, usually marked in red or with the (+) symbol.
Remove the “holding clip” from the battery.
Batteries are heavy, so lift them carefully.
Clean the battery tray if it is corroded.
Connecting the new battery :
Carefully place the new battery in its position.
Start by properly connecting the “holding clip”.
Connect the battery terminals in reverse order, connecting the positive terminal first.
Connect the negative battery terminal.
Make sure the connections are not loose.
We must properly secure the battery to prevent vibration.
The terminals must be clean.
Add a little petroleum jelly to both terminals as it reduces the corrosion process.
The old battery can be sold to a battery store where you bought the new one. We also recycled these car batteries to prevent hazardous chemicals from entering the atmosphere. We can also recycle old lead plates into various other products.
How do you maintain your battery?
To extend the life of your battery, you need to maintain it properly. Schedule battery maintenance on a monthly basis. It includes:
Cleaning the battery and its terminals:
Cleaning a battery involves removing corrosion or any white powder from the battery terminals and surface. To do this, use warm water and add a tablespoon of baking soda. Carefully remove the battery (as described in the replacement section). Make sure the removable caps are tight. Always use rubber gloves, as the white powder is toxic and should not come into contact with the skin. Carefully apply the solution to the battery case. Clean the terminals properly. Use a brush to reach into tight spaces. Leave the solution on for a few minutes, then wash them in cold water. The terminals will be free of corrosion after this operation. Replace the battery carefully.
Electrolyte Level Inspection:
The electrolyte level inside a battery can be visually examined by removing the caps on top of the battery. We should properly immerse the lead plates in the electrolyte solution. If you notice a drop in the electrolyte level in any of the cells, add a little water. Allow the solution to mix properly.
Check Our Recommendation!
EZ Battery Reconditioning is a downloadable e-book that contains informative resources on how to recondition several types of batteries. The primary purpose of this product is to help you extend the life of your electronic product batteries to save hundreds of dollars per year.
Click https://deliverit.blogspot.com/p/ez-battery-reconditioning.html for more review details.
Using a battery charger/maintainer:
If your car will be unused for a long period, use a battery charger to keep the battery properly charged. Batteries discharge quickly if you don’t charge them. A battery charger can be a great help in maintaining the desired output voltage of the battery. It comes in different modes depending on the need, namely charging, trickle charging and maintenance. It can also maintain the battery voltage. Carefully plug the charger into an electrical outlet. Connect the positive cable to the positive terminal of the battery and the negative cable to the negative terminal. Turn on the switch and allow the battery to charge properly.
Always inspect the battery before you travel. If you neglect the condition of the battery, you may run into problems in the middle of nowhere. A 10-15 minute inspection can save you a lot of time on your trip. If you know of any other important battery-related issues, please mention them in the comments section below.
