Battery Maintenance and Recharging Problem Analysis

Many battery problems are caused because of poor maintenance and recharging troubles. Battery life and performance depends on the preventive care taken as described in this article. Battery charging related questions are answered here.

Battery maintenance is essential in order to obtain the best reliability and performance from industrial and automobile batteries. A battery will survive longer and be more effective and reliable if proper care is taken by understanding the basics of battery maintenance explained in this article.
A battery is like a money box: if you keep taking out and deposit nothing back, then you soon will have nothing.

Basics of the battery:

Batteries store Direct Current (DC) electrical energy in the form of chemical energy.
The lead acid battery is made up of plates, lead, and lead oxide with a 35% sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and 65% water solution.
The solution, or electrolyte, triggers a chemical reaction that generates electrons. A hydrometer tests the amount of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte. (A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the specific gravity of liquids; i.e. comparing the ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of water.)
If electrons are less, then a hydrometer shows a low reading. When we recharge the battery, the sulfur returns to the electrolyte from the battery's positive plates.
Generally battery lifespan may be from 6 months to 48 months, but hardly 25% of all batteries actually achieve the 48 month point.

Battery Types

1. Starting (or cranking): Designed to supply a quick surge of energy (as in starting engines) and having a greater plate count. The plates shall be thinner (more surface area) and have rather different material composition.
2. Deep cycle battery: Designed to provide less instant energy, but greater long-term energy delivery. Deep cycle batteries have thicker plate design and can survive a greater number of deeper discharge cycles.

How can I decide if my battery is low and needs to be recharged?

When the engine starter does not turn the engine on or the lights are dim, that means you have low battery. Engine starting difficulty because of slow cranking is also an indication of a flat battery.
If the battery is low, it needs to be recharged to restore full power and to prevent possible damage to the battery. The cell plates become sulfated if the battery is low or the battery is left in a discharged condition for several days. As sulfate builds up on plates, it reduces battery performance.
The charge level depends on the concentration of battery acid. The charge level can be checked with a hydrometer.
A hydrometer has a float contained in a glass vessel with a rubber bulb to draw the electrolyte into the tube. Some hydrometers have a number of colored balls in place of the single float, but reading the device is the same. The colored floating balls indicate a fully charged battery status, and no floating balls at all indicate a fully discharged battery.