The Battery

The Battery

• Main Entry: storage battery

• Function: noun
• Date: 1881
• : a cell or connected group of cells that converts
chemical energy into electrical energy by reversible
chemical reactions and that may be recharged by
passing a current through it in the direction
opposite to that of its discharge -- called also
storage cell.
Battery

HAZARDOUS POSSIBLE
CONSTITUENT EFFECTS
Corrosive, causes
severe skin burns,
SULFURIC ACID
and can cause
blindness.
Causes nerve and
kidney damage,
LEAD suspected
carcinogen
Types of Batteries

The primary battery converts chemical energy to electrical energy directly,

using the chemical materials within the cell to start the action.
The secondary battery must first be charged with electrical energy before it
can convert chemical energy to electrical energy.
The secondary battery is frequently called a storage battery, since it stores
the energy that is supplied to it.
DRY CELL

• Uses An electrolytic paste.

• The electrolytic paste reacts
with the electrodes to produce
a negative charge on one
electrode and a positive charge
on the other.
• The difference of potential
between the two electrodes is
the output voltage.
Lead Acid Battery

• Electrolyte for the most

part distilled (pure)
water, with some
sulfuric acid mixed with
the water.
• Electrodes must be of
dissimilar metals.
• An active electrolyte.
Cells

• Positive electrode
• Negative electrode
• Electrolyte
• Separator
The basic primary wet cell
• The metals in a cell are called the
electrodes, and the chemical
solution is called the electrolyte.
• The electrolyte reacts oppositely
with the two different electrodes
• It causes one electrode to lose
electrons and develop a positive
charge; and it causes one other
electrode to build a surplus of
electrons and develop a negative
charge.
• The difference in potential
between the two electrode
charges is the cell voltage.
The Electrolyte

• When charging first started,

electrolysis broke down each
water molecule (H2O) into two
hydrogen ions (H+) and one
oxygen ion (O-2).
• The positive hydrogen ions
attracted negative sulfate ions
(SO4-2) from each electrode.
• These combinations produce
H2SO4, which is sulfuric acid.
Electrolysis
• The producing of
chemical changes by
passage of an electric
current through an
electrolyte.
Specific Gravity

• Ratio of the weight of a • Example: It is the weight

given volume of a of the sulfuric acid -
substance to the weight water mixture
of an equal volume of compared to an equal
some reference volume of water. Pure
substance, or, water has a specific
equivalently, the ratio of gravity of 1,000.
the masses of equal
volumes of the two
substances.
Hydrometer

• Device used to determine directly the specific gravity of a

liquid.
Hydrometer

The chart below gives state of charge vs.

specific gravity of the electrolyte.
State of Charge Specific
Gravity
• 100% Charged 1.265
• 75% Charged 1.239
• 50% Charged 1.200
• 25% Charged 1.170
• Fully Discharged 1.110
• These readings are correct at 75°F
Voltmeter = Hydrometer

•If you are simply using an accurate voltmeter, along with occasional checks with your
hydrometer, this chart should be helpful in determining your batteries state of charge.
Charge Level Specific Gravity Voltage 2V n Voltage 6V n Voltage 12V n Voltage 24V n

100.00% 1.270 2.13 6.38 12.75 25.50

75.00% 1.224 2.08 6.24 12.48 24.96
50.00% 1.170 2.02 6.06 12.12 24.24
20.00% 1.097 1.94 5.82 11.64 23.28
0.00% 1.045 1.89 5.67 11.34 22.68
n stands for nominal voltage
Ohm’s Law

• Ohm’s Law can be

expressed by the
equation:
• E = IR
• I = E/R
• R = E/I
Ohm’s Law

• Series circuits, the total voltage is equal to the sum of the individual
voltages. The current is constant.
• Parallel circuits, the voltage is constant. The current is equal to the
sum of the individual currents.
Currents

• If one volt of potential difference across a device causes on ampere

of current to flow, then the device has a resistance of
1 ohm = 1 = 1V/A
• Most of your electrical resistance is in your skin and varies from 500
ohms (clean) to several million ohms (dirty).
Currents

Current Physiological Effect on Man

Amperes Phenomena
< 0.001 None Imperceptible
0.001 Perception Threshold Mild Sensation
0.003 Pain Threshold Painful Sensation
0.010 Paralysis Threshold of Person cannot release grip;
Arms and Hands if no grip, victim may be
thrown clear. Tighter grip
because of paralysis may
allow more current to flow;
may be fatal.
0.030 Respiratory Paralysis Stoppage of breathing,
frequently fatal.
0.075 Fibrillation Threshold Heart action uncoordinated,
probably fatal.
4.000 Heart Paralysis Threshold Heart stops on current
passage, normally restarts
when current interrupted.
5.000 Tissue Burning Not fatal unless vital organs
are burned
Series Connected Batteries

• Positive terminal of one cell is

connected to the negative
terminal of the next, is called a
series connected battery.
• The voltage of this type of
battery is the sum of a
individual cell voltages.
Parallel Connected Batteries

• Connect the negative terminal

from one cell to the negative of
the next cell
• Connect the positive terminal
to the positive terminal, is
parallel connected.
• Voltage remains constant and
the current is cumulative.
Series-Parallel Connections

SERIES

SERIES

PARALLEL

SERIES
SERIES-PARALLEL
Capacity Rating System

• The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has established two

ratings for domestic made batteries:
• Reserve Capacity (RC)
• Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
Reserve Capacity

• Reserve capacity is the time required (in minutes) for a fully charged
battery at 80°F under a constant 25 amp draw to reach a voltage of
10.5 volts.
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)

• CCA is an important measurement of battery capacity.

• This rating measures the discharge lead (in amps) that a battery can
supply for 30 seconds at 0°F (-17°C), while maintaining a voltage of
1.2 volts per cell (7.2 volts per battery or higher).
Preventive Maintenance

• When the top of a battery is “dirty or looks damp.

• Give a battery a general cleaning, use hot water (130° F to 170° F)
with a neutralizer / detergent solution.
Charging

• Chemical reaction occur during charging.

• Lead sulfate on both plates is separated into Lead
(Pb).
• Sulfate (SO4) leaves both plates.
• It combines with hydrogen (H) in the electrolyte to
form sulfuric acid (H2SO4).
• Oxygen (O) combines with the lead (Pb) at the
positive plate to form lead oxide (PbO2).
• The negative returns to original form of lead (Pb.
Charging

• Clean Battery Terminals.

• Attach clamps to the battery in proper polarity.
• Keep open flames and sparks away from battery.
• Ventilate the battery well while charging.
Charging

• The charge a battery receives is equal to the charge rate in amperes

multiplied by the time in hours.
• Measure the specific gravity of a cell once per hour during charging
to determine full charge.
Overcharging

• Results in warped or broken plates, damaged separators, severe

shedding of the active materials pasted to the plates, and excessive
loss of water, which cause plates to dry out.
Ventilation Requirements

• The oxygen and hydrogen gases released during the

gassing phase of a typical flooded lead-acid battery
recharge can be dangerous if allowed to exceed 0.8
% (by volume) or 20 percent of the lower explosive
range. Concentrations of hydrogen between 4 %
and 74% are considered explosive (40,000 ppm and
740,000 ppm).
HYDROGEN
• Chemical Formula: H2
• Specific Gravity: 0.0695
• Color: None Odor: None
• Taste: None
• Origin: Applying water to super hot mine fires, explosions electrolysis of battery
acid.
• Explosive Range: 4.1% - 74%
• Ignition Temp: 1030o - 1130o F
• % Oxygen Needed To Burn or Explode: 5%
• TLV: None
• STEL: None
• Effect on Body:Asphxysiant Due to Displacement of Oxygen.
• How Detected: Electronic Detectors, Squeeze Tube Detectors, Chemical Analysis.
• NOTE: Hydrogen is the reason a flame safety lamp is not permitted in a battery
charging station.
Ventilation

• All lead acid power batteries give off gases when recharging and also
for a period after the charge is completed.
• A Concentration of hydrogen in excess of 4% (by volume). It is suggested
that the concentration be controlled to a maximum of 2% (by volume).
Ventilation (cont.)

• A typical lead acid motive power cell will, evolve approximately .016
cubic feet of hydrogen gas over A.H. overcharge.
• Since this gas is given off at the maximum rate at the end of the
charging period, the following calculation assumes a charging current
of 5% of the 6 hour A.H. capacity (C6) during this over charge period.
(This charging current is excessive but has been used to take account
of the worst case.)
• Gas given off per hour per cell = 0.16 x .05 = .0008 C6 cu / ft. / cell /
hr.
Example:
• Consider a battery of 24 cells, type 75CB-13 (C6 = 450 A.H.).
• From the above formula, the rate of gas evolution during overcharge is
24 x .0008 x 450 A.H. = 8.64 cu. Ft./hr.
• Assume that there are 10 such batteries on charge simultaneously in a
room whose dimensions are 25 ft. x 20ft. x 12 ft. high.
• Volume of charging room = 6,000 cu. Ft.
• Volume of Hydrogen gas given off = 8.64 x 10 = 86.4 cu. Ft./hr.
• In order that the concentration of hydrogen is kept at 2% maximum, the
air must be changer every 6,000 x 60/83 = 86.4 cu. X 60 = 83 minutes.
• Consequently, fans capable of extracting 6,000 x 60/83 = 4337 cu.ft. per
hour should be installed as near the roof as possible.
Jump Starting

• Be sure to turn off accessories.

• Connect the red cable to the positive terminal on the good battery while the
engine is running.
• Connect the other end of the red cable to the positive terminal on the dead
battery.
• Then connect one end of the black cable to the negative terminal on the good
battery.
• Connect the other end of the negative cable to a known good ground in the
vehicle with the dead battery.
• After starting the vehicle with the discharged battery, allow the engine to return
to idle speed.
• Remove the negative jumper cable starting with the end that is connected to the
vehicle ground
• Remove the positive cable.