Your car uses a lead-acid battery to store energy and power your electrical devices. From the starter and headlights to your phone charger and other electronic devices, your entire electrical system relies on a battery. No matter how you recharge your batteries, their efficiency will still depends on their health. Speaking of recharging batteries, BestOfMachinery has some important tips about solar chargers that you should also check out more about how a battery works and discover how you can order a new battery or another auto part by searching vehicle specs by VIN online.
Ensuring Your Battery Has Proper Voltage
When your car won’t start or your electrical devices are fading, you may need a new car battery. Before diving into how exactly batteries store energy, it’s important to understand the signs of a battery that needs to be replaced.
Use a multimeter to test your battery’s voltage. If you don’t have one of these devices, stop by your local auto parts store to have your battery tested or to pick up a multimeter. Car batteries are referred to as 12-volt batteries, but the exact voltage of a fully charged battery is typically 12.6 or higher.
A battery with a voltage reading between 12.4 and 12 isn’t fully charged. Your vehicle has an alternator that should fully charge the battery while the engine of your vehicle is running. A low charge may be a sign of an old battery or a faulty alternator.
Any reading of 11.9 or lower means your battery is fully discharged. If charging it doesn’t increase the voltage above 11.9, it’s time to recycle your car battery and pick up a new one. A reading of zero means there’s a short circuit in your battery or an issue with the way you’re testing your battery.
How Does a Car Battery Store Energy?
Car batteries are designed to hold just enough energy for starting, lighting, and ignition components. The 12-volt battery uses a number of cells. Each cell uses a plate of lead and a plate of lead dioxide, capable of transferring chemical energy into electrical energy. A typical cell holds two volts, so a 12-volt battery should have six cells.
The space around the plates in your battery shell is full of sulphuric acid. This catalyst causes a chemical reaction that produces electrons. When you correctly connect your battery to an electrical device, these stored electrons flow out and power your device.
Because this chemical reaction is reversible, it’s easy to use a car battery charger or alternator to charge a car battery. Most batteries can last about two years with hundreds of uses. Over time, however, your battery will struggle to hold a charge. When this happens, it’s time to stop by a local auto parts store.
Lead and acid are both harmful components, so routinely inspect your battery for signs of leaks or exterior damage. A cracked case, broken terminal, or other issue means it’s time to safely dispose of your car battery at a recycling station. Either your local waste management team or auto parts store can help.
Safely recycle your lead-acid battery to avoid polluting the environment and any adverse health effects. Pick up a new lead-acid battery for years of efficient starting and powering of all your automotive electrical devices.
