This article discusses the appropriate use of lead-acid batteries.

! Work in progress, still needs verifying

Types[edit | edit source]

  • SLI batteries
  • Traction batteries
  • Stationary batteries

Energy density and construction[edit | edit source]

  • SLI batteries --> 45 Wh/kg
  • Traction batteries --> 30-40 Wh/kg
  • Stationary batteries --> 15-25 Wh/kg

SLI batteries are constructed (? plate thickness, ...) to provide a great voltage for a very short duration. Typically, they can provide 100 Ampère-hours during 20 hours.[1]

Traction batteries are constructed ?

Stationary batteries are constructed ?

Applications -->

Possible modifications ? --> plate thickness, ...

System design & implementation[edit | edit source]

Typically, lead-acid batteries are overdimensioned by 25% so as to cope with the power less which will come up as the battery ages.

Wear and maintenance[edit | edit source]

Wear depends on a number of factors.

First off, we must make sure that the type of battery is chosen depending on our application. We will always choose a battery which is intended for the application at hand.

Also note that regardless of what lead-acid battery we choose, some types of use will always inflict more wear than others. Power drains, demanding a lot of power over a short period of time aren't very damaging, however if a lot of power is requested for a long duration (emptying our battery by more than 50%), damage is inflicted. The latter is usually called "cyclic draining", and is usually done with traction batteries. Traction batteries are designed more sturdy to cope with this better, but, as it is still a lead-acid battery, it still gets some damage from it. Avoiding this use will thus increase the life expectancy of the battery.

For applications where "cyclic drains" are required, we better choose another type of battery (ie capacitor or ultracapacitor, ...)

Dimensioning is thus also another critically important factor. We will need to choose a battery that is large enough so that it is not drained by more than 50%, to avoid damage.

Temperature control is also very important. Low ambient temperatures will decrease the efficiency of out battery, meaning that they will only perform at a percentage of what they are able to. However, given that operating temperature will thus also remain low, there is less risk of damage here. Note that an additional problem of the inefficiency can be that the battery can not generate enough initial power (ie to kickstart the internal combustion engine via the starter engine, ...). This is especially so if the battery is underdimensionised, or is too far damaged. High ambient temperatures will increase the efficiency of our battery, meaning that they will perform adequately. However, during operation, the temperature will increase and may cross a certain threshold, doing damage to the battery.

Unsuitable charging can also be a problem, Especially overcharging. Methods for charging include:

  • normal charging, speed charging, buffer charging and drop charging. Charging charisteristics can be:
  • Wa-charisteristic
  • WU-charisteristic
  • IU-charisteristic
  • IUI-charisteristic

We will use a suitable charging hard/software, using the correct mode and characteristic for the required task.

Sulfonation too is a problem. This is the crystallizing of lead sulphate, clogging the pores of the plates. It mostly occurs within completely discharged batteries. The use of a desulphator (ie Walter Trojan's desulphpator) will reduce the problem. Another thing to watch out for is of course to keep the battery in operation and not letting it stand discharged.

Finally, simply aging too is also a problem. Due to the presence of acid, the plates themselves are damaged by corrosion.

Repair[edit | edit source]

Problems can be discovered using

  • an acid weigher (to determine the amount of acid density)
  • a voltmeter (to detect charge-rate; use after a complete discharge or a complete charge)
  • an accu-tester (to detect initial power output, use after complete discharge)

See Lead-acid battery construction

References[edit | edit source]

  1. VARTA:Technische leergang: Startbatterijen
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Authors KVDP
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Created July 30, 2010 by KVDP
Modified June 8, 2023 by StandardWikitext bot
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