The car battery is the heart of your vehicles electrical system and acts as a storage tank for electric power.
As the battery ages, it becomes less effective at delivering energy to start your engine. Most automotive batteries have a lifespan of four to five years. A car sli battery is comprised of lead plates, surrounded by an electrolyte solution contained within porous plastic cells.
The battery plates and electrolyte solution are encased in a heavy-duty metal that acts as a protective barrier for the delicate components. The battery sends power to the starter motor, which then turns on your engine. When you turn off your car, the alternator recharges the batteries so it's ready to go when you start your vehicles. SLI batteries are usually in a continuous cycle of charge and discharge since they have a very small charge cycle.The standard lead-acid batteries (automotive) is available in three different types:
Sealed AGM batteries (Absorbed Glass Mat) offer several advantages over conventional flooded cell batteries since they do not require routine maintenance or topping up with water. They have better resistance to vibration and shock damage than other designs. These features make them especially suitable for areas where there is a high risk of flooding, such as in a remote location. The downside is that AGM batteries require the use of a specialised battery charger and cannot be topped up with water as this can be potentially dangerous. The range of pricing of the accessories varies from the type of batteries used. Each one has its own responsibility and benefits.
Flooded cells are the most common type of car battery. These batteries are filled with acid that circulates within the battery's cells via gravity, therefore do not require any additional pumps or valves to operate them. They are usually connected together using metal links (wires) which are attached to a terminal post on each cell. When one cell is accessed for connecting and disconnecting power sources they all need to be interconnected so currents can flow through them together - this means you have another wire from one post to another interconnecting terminal between every cell.
Gel batteries are a variation of flooded cells and require no maintenance or topping up with water, just like AGMs. This type of battery still has an electrolyte (acid) inside but it's suspended in tiny gel beads rather than liquid form as in conventional flooded cell designs. Since the acid is suspended in tiny particles instead of flowing freely within a cell, the risk of spillage is virtually eliminated. Spillages are also less likely to occur due to reduced pressure and possible cracks which can cause leakage. The gel technology is usually mixed with some powdered silica filler material which enhances the performance of these types of batteries by increasing their life expectancy and reducing self-discharge rates compared to regular flooded cells.
All the battery products come in different shapes, sizes and capacities. All batteries have the same structure so the differences are simply down to their capacity, which is how much energy it can store at any one time. The standard starting battery will only last for about 30 seconds when it kicks over your engine's starter motor while a heavy-duty truck battery will power an electrical technology for up to twenty minutes before being drained.
Battery capacities also vary greatly according to vehicle make and model along with whether they're part of an electronic ignition system or not (electric vehicles).
A car owner's manual will have the necessary information regarding any special requirements required by your battery so you can buy the correct model or for battery recycling.The main expenses incurred when replacing the car batteries are the replacement cost of the new battery and any labour costs involved in removal, installation and connection. Some batteries are easier to remove than others while some mechanics charge more for removing batteries from hard-to-reach places.
Many people will know when their car battery is starting to fade if the car struggles to start or takes a longer time than normal to crank over.
A low-cost way of checking your battery's performance is by using a voltmeter. This device will measure all the electrical currents running through your system, including any power flowing from the battery and going back out into the rest of the circuits in your vehicle. Using an analog multimeter is one reliable way of gauging how much charge still remains in your battery and if it needs replacing soon before you are left stranded on the roadside.
Disposing of an old battery needs to be done carefully, according to the City of Newcastle. Check to see if any regulations apply to your area.