Understanding the Key Components Of a Car Battery And Its Performance Issues

A car battery stores energy in the form of chemical energy which is then converted into electrical energy for use by the electrical systems of your car. The car battery provides energy to your car’s starter motor and also powers all the other accessories such as power steering, power window, lights, electrical systems, onboard entertainment systems and fridge. Besides providing electrical energy, the car battery also stabilizes the voltage and keeps the electrical current steady to keep the engine running.

Without a properly functioning battery, your car will not start. In addition to the starter motor, spark plugs, lights and electronic appliances all require electrical energy. Car battery replacement at regular intervals ensures that you get the best performance from your car, and will not face problems on the road.

Construction of battery

A battery consists of positive and negative electrodes. In a lead-acid battery, there is a positively charged plate consisting of lead oxide which is immersed in an electrolyte. It also has a positive grid consisting of a lead alloy. This is used to hold the active material and serves as a current collector. A grid has two plates, one made of lead and the other one of lead oxide. In most batteries, there are six cells, each providing 2 volts energy; therefore, it becomes a 12-volt battery.

Negative and positive electrodes in the battery are separated by a separator made of polyethylene material to facilitate an efficient flow of electric current.  A positive plate set is made by combining several positive electrodes, while a negative plate set is made by combining several negative electrodes. Negative and positive plate sets make a battery cell.

The electrolyte of the battery consists of a mixture of sulfuric acid and distilled water. The electrolyte can be in a liquid or gel form. In new cars with Start-Stop applications, the electrolyte is bound to a glass mat. This arrangement provides greater cycle stability and eliminates the problem of acid layering as the acid is bound to the glass mat, It also helps provide reliable performance in vehicles with increased demand for energy. The new generation of car batteries in micro-hybrid vehicles have lithium-ion cells that operate at 48V.

Battery terminals

Battery terminals consisting of positive and negative straps provide an interface between the battery and electrical system of your vehicle. Straps are welded to the top of each element to provide an electrical connection to the terminals.

A battery also has battery paste made of lead-oxide mixture that creates lead oxide and sponge lead. The paste adheres to positive and negative grids of the battery. The battery case holds the battery plates, electrolyte and cast-on-straps. It is usually made up of a polypropylene resin and has a robust construction to minimize any vibration impact and extend the battery life.

What is battery stratification and how it is harmful

If a battery is operated at too low a voltage, stratification occurs as the acid in the electrolyte stratifies. This means sulfuric acid settles on the bottom while water moves to the top due to a difference in densities. Because of this, only the middle section of the electrolyte is available for charging purposes. The process of stratification is accelerated when you only take short drives and use all your electrical appliances as the alternator doesn’t get enough time to recharge the battery.

A vast majority of batteries are SLI or starting lighting ignition type. The vehicles with a high demand of electrical energy, such as 4x4s, caravans, campers and recreational vehicles feature two batteries, one main battery that powers the starter motor to crank the engine, and one auxiliary battery that provides power to the other electrical components such as fridge, power windows and lights. Such cars also have a dual battery charging system that charges the batteries so that you have enough power to start your engine and also keep your accessories running.

Issues with your car battery

If the battery isn’t consistently charged to an adequate level, the lead sulphate in it crystallizes on the electrodes and forms a larger crystal structure. This process is known as sulfation that reduces the battery’s capacity to cold start your car. Sharp crystals may also cause short circuit in the cells. To prevent sulfation, the battery should not be subjected to low charging for an extended period of time.

Your car battery can last well beyond three years, but you should have its current condition inspected by a car battery replacement service especially if you are facing battery problems such as slow cranking of engine, dim lights, rotten egg smell (sulfuric odour) around the battery, bloating battery case or low battery fluid level. Also, if you have a dual battery charging system, it may develop problems and you may not get enough power to navigate a steep road.

Car battery replacement service

No matter how good your battery is performing or how well you keep your vehicle, you will have your fair share of battery issues in your lifetime. If you live in Brisbane, approach a trusted car repair service with RACQ-approved mechanics that can provide you the best quality car battery replacement service including dual battery charging system repairs and other electrical system repairs for your car.

It’s important to have your car battery in good condition for your own safety as well as others who travel with you. Getting stranded on an isolated stretch of road at odd hours of the day or night is a situation that most people don’t want to get into. Also, you risk your life and that of other drivers on the road with malfunctioning power steering, engine or lights. Get your vehicle inspected for a possible car battery replacement or repair for the safety of everyone.