Understanding the Car Battery: How it Works

The battery is the heart of every car. It supplies the electric energy to the car and gives power to the starter motor, lights and ignition engine. It is made up of plates of lead and lead dioxides which are placed in an electrolyte (water and sulfuric acid) solution.

The lead plate and lead dioxide plates are assembled side by side and attached to a rack installed with electrical connections. These connections serve as passageway for the electrolytes that flow from the solution to the terminal. The body and base of the battery is made up of molded plastic. This is filled with electrolyte solution that is made of 65% water and 35% sulfuric acid. The assembled lead and lead dioxide plates are submerged and secured to the base plastic.

The electrons in the electrolyte solution are released and allowed to flow through the conductors. This reaction produces an electrical energy that gives power to the vehicle's engine, motor and lights. As the battery is used up, the sulfuric acid solution reacts with the submerged lead and lead dioxide plates, changing the surface of the plates into lead sulfate. During recharging of the battery, the reverse reaction takes place.

The terminal is installed with positive and negative charge heads. This is assembled to serve as passageway for the electron that would be released as soon as the lead and lead dioxide plates are submerged into the electrolyte solution. The electrical assembly installed at the terminal box transfers the electric energy to the battery terminals. The positive head installed on the terminal is connected to the end of the series of lead and lead dioxide plates. This connection allows the flow of the electrons from one plate to another until it reaches the battery terminals.

The series of lead and lead dioxide plates are responsible for the overall volt charge of the battery. A six-cell battery contains 6 plates of lead and 6 plates of lead dioxide assembled to form the 6 cells. Each cell provides 2.1 volts for a total of 12.6 volts when fully charged.

It is essential that the fluid level of the battery is maintained to keep the plates submerged. If the fluid level is too low, the plates will be exposed to the air, get damaged and lose its capacity. Although the sulfuric acid component of the electrolyte solution is not consumed, the impurities present in the water component reduce the performance and life of the battery.

The battery is the heart of every car. It supplies the electric energy to the car and gives power to the starter motor, lights and ignition engine. It is made up of plates of lead and lead dioxides which are placed in an electrolyte (water and sulfuric acid) solution.

The lead plate and lead dioxide plates are assembled side by side and attached to a rack installed with electrical connections. These connections serve as passageway for the electrolytes that flow from the solution to the terminal. The body and base of the battery is made up of molded plastic. This is filled with electrolyte solution that is made of 65% water and 35% sulfuric acid. The assembled lead and lead dioxide plates are submerged and secured to the base plastic.

The electrons in the electrolyte solution are released and allowed to flow through the conductors. This reaction produces an electrical energy that gives power to the vehicle's engine, motor and lights. As the battery is used up, the sulfuric acid solution reacts with the submerged lead and lead dioxide plates, changing the surface of the plates into lead sulfate. During recharging of the battery, the reverse reaction takes place.

The terminal is installed with positive and negative charge heads. This is assembled to serve as passageway for the electron that would be released as soon as the lead and lead dioxide plates are submerged into the electrolyte solution. The electrical assembly installed at the terminal box transfers the electric energy to the battery terminals. The positive head installed on the terminal is connected to the end of the series of lead and lead dioxide plates. This connection allows the flow of the electrons from one plate to another until it reaches the battery terminals.

The series of lead and lead dioxide plates are responsible for the overall volt charge of the battery. A six-cell battery contains 6 plates of lead and 6 plates of lead dioxide assembled to form the 6 cells. Each cell provides 2.1 volts for a total of 12.6 volts when fully charged.

It is essential that the fluid level of the battery is maintained to keep the plates submerged. If the fluid level is too low, the plates will be exposed to the air, get damaged and lose its capacity. Although the sulfuric acid component of the electrolyte solution is not consumed, the impurities present in the water component reduce the performance and life of the battery.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)