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GettingtoKnowtheBattery:Capabilities,Expectations&Limitations

BatteryUniversity

BU104:GettingtoKnowtheBattery
Recognizethestrengthofthebatteryandlearnhowtolivewithitsweakness.
Natureoffersmanywaystoproducepower.Mostresultthroughcombustion,mechanicalmovementandphotosynthesisasinasolarcell.Electricalenergygeneration
ofthebatterydevelopsbyanelectrochemicalreactionbetweentwometalsofdifferentaffinities.Whenexposedtoacids,avoltagedevelopsbetweenthemetalsas
partofiontransferclosingthecircuitinducesacurrent.In1800,inventorAlessandroVoltadiscoveredthatthevoltagepotentialbecamestrongerthefartherapartthe
affinitynumbersmoved.
Themostsimplisticmanifestationofabatteryisalemon.Drivingazincplatednailandacoppercoinintoalemoncreatesavoltage,butthisquasibatterydoesnot
delivermuchpower.Thecurrentdeliverysystemisweakandanyelectricalloadcausesthevoltagetocollapse.Theenergydoesnotcomefromthelemonitselfbut
fromthechemicalchangeindissolvingzincintotheacidorlemonjuice.Figure1illustratesthelemonbattery.
Figure1:Lemonbattery,oftenusedforeducationalpurposes.The
electrodesarezincintheformofagalvanizednailandcopperina
coin.Thelemonjuiceactsaselectrolyte.
StandardPotentialofzinc=0.76
StandardPotentialofcopper=0.34
Cellpotentialwithconductingpath=1.10V
Elementswiththegreatestnegativeelectrodepotentialarechosenforcathodesthosewiththehighestpositivepotentialserveasanodes.Thedifferencebetweenthe
electrodesprovidestheterminalvoltage.Forarechargeablebatterytobepractical,thechemicalreactionsbetweentheelementsmustbereversible.Tocomplicate
mattersfurther,chemicalreactionsbetweencompoundscannotconsumetheactivechemicalsandthislimitsthepoolofsuitableelectrodes.
Multiplyingthevoltagebythecurrentprovidespower.PowerismeasuredinwattsinhonorofJamesWatt,theeighteenthcenturydeveloperofthesteamengine.The
lengthoftimethebatterycandeliverenergyisexpressedinwatthour(Wh).
Allpowersourceshavelimitationsandtheenergymustbeharnessedcarefullysoasnottooverload.Ananalogyisabicyclerider(Figure2)whochoosesthebest
gearratiototransferenergyintopropulsion.Onaflatroad,ahighgearprovidesfastmovementwithmoderatepedalaction.Thiscanbecomparedtoahighvoltage.
Climbingahillwiththesamepedalingactionincreasesthetorque,andinouranalogythiscorrespondstoincreasedcurrentbutlowervoltage.Thepedalforcethe
riderexertsrelatestopowerinwatt(W)theendurancebeforeexhaustiondefinesenergyinwatthours(Wh).

Figure2:Analogyofabicyclerider.
Energyistheproductofpowerandtime,measuredinWatt
hours(Wh)poweristheflowofenergyatanyonetime,
measuredinWatts.

Abatteryisratedinampere/hours(Ah).Thisspecifieshowmuchcurrentapackcandeliverinanhour.Likefluidinacontainer,theenergycanbedispensedslowly
overalongperiodoftimeorrapidlyinashorttime.Theamountofliquidacontainerholdsisanalogoustotheenergyinabatteryhowquicklytheliquidisdispensed
isanalogoustopower.
Thephysicaldimensionsarespecifiedbyvolumeinliter(l)andkilogram(kg).AddingdimensionandweightprovidesspecificenergyinWh/kg,powerdensityinW/l
andspecificpowerinW/kg.MostbatteriesareratedinWh/kg,revealinghowmuchenergyagivenweightcangenerate.Wh/ldenoteswatt/hoursperliter.(SeeBU
105:BatteryDefinition.)
Batteriesarecustomfitforaspecificuseandmanufacturersarewellintunewithcustomerneeds.MobilephoneandEVmarketsareexamplesofcleveradaptationat
oppositeextremes.Whilebatteriesforconsumerproductsemphasizesmallsize,highspecificenergyandlowcost.Industrialbatteriesstriveforreliableperformance
andlonglife.Safetyinallapplicationsisofutmostimportance.
Lastupdated20160107

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BasicsYouShouldKnow
Introduction
BU001:SharingBatteryKnowledge
BU002:Introduction
BU003:Dedication
CrashCourseonBatteries
BU101:WhenwastheBatteryInvented?
BU102:BatteryDevelopments
BU103:GlobalBatteryMarkets
BU103a:BatteryBreakthroughsMythorFact
BU104:GettingtoKnowtheBattery
BU104a:ComparingtheBatterywithotherPowerSources
BU104b:BatteryBuildingBlocks
BU105:BatteryDefinitionsandwhattheymean
BU106:AdvantagesofPrimaryBatteries
BU106a:ChoicesofPrimaryBatteries
BU107:ComparisonTableofSecondaryBatteries
BatteryTypes
BU201:HowdoestheLeadAcidBatteryWork?
BU201a:AbsorbentGlassMat(AGM)
BU202:NewLeadAcidSystems
BU203:NickelbasedBatteries
BU204:HowdoLithiumBatteriesWork?
BU205:TypesofLithiumion
BU206:Lithiumpolymer:SubstanceorHype?
BU206a:FindingtheOptimalRuntimeandPowerRatioofLiion
BU208:CyclingPerformance
BU209:HowdoesaSupercapacitorWork?
BU210:HowdoestheFuelCellWork?
BU210a:WhydoesSodiumsulfurneedtobeheated
BU210b:HowdoestheFlowBatteryWork?
BU211:AlternateBatterySystems
BU212:ExperimentalRechargeableBatteries
PackagingandSafety
BU301:AlookatOldandNewBatteryPackaging
BU301a:TypesofBatteryCells
BU302:SerialandParallelBatteryConfigurations
BU303:ConfusionwithVoltages
BU304:WhyareProtectionCircuitsNeeded?
BU304a:SafetyConcernswithLiion
BU304b:MakingLithiumionSafe
BU305:BuildingaLithiumionPack
BU306:WhatdoSeparatorsDo?
BU307:HowdoesElectrolyteWork?
BU308:AvailabilityofLithium
BU309:HowdoesGraphiteWorkinLiion?
BU310:HowdoesCobaltWorkinLiion?
BU311:SupplementaryBatteryRawMaterials
ChargeMethods
BU401:HowdoBatteryChargersWork?
BU401a:FastandUltrafastChargers
BU402:WhatisCrate?
BU403:ChargingLeadAcid
BU404:WhatisEqualizingCharge?
BU405:ChargingwithaPowerSupply
BU406:BatteryasaBuffer
BU407:ChargingNickelcadmium
BU408:ChargingNickelmetalhydride
BU409:ChargingLithiumion
BU410:ChargingatHighandLowTemperatures
BU411:ChargingfromaUSBPort
BU412:ChargingwithoutWires
BU413:ChargingwithSolar,Turbine

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GettingtoKnowtheBattery:Capabilities,Expectations&Limitations
BU413a:StoringRenewableEnergyinaBattery
BU414:HowdoChargerChipsWork?
BU415:HowtoChargeandWhentoCharge?
DischargeMethods
BU501:BasicsAboutDischarging
BU502:DischargingatHighandLowTemperatures
BU503:HowtoCalculateBatteryRuntime
BU504:HowtoVerifySufficientBatteryCapacity
"Smart"Battery
BU601:HowdoesaSmartBatteryWork?
BU602:HowdoesaBatteryFuelGaugeWork?
BU603:HowtoCalibrateaSmartBattery
BU604:HowtoProcessDatafromaSmartBattery
ClosePartOneMenu

TheBatteryandYou
FromBirthtoRetirement
BU701:HowtoPrimeBatteries
BU702:HowtoStoreBatteries
BU703:HealthConcernswithBatteries
BU704:HowtoTransportBatteries
BU704a:ShippingLithiumbasedBatteriesbyAir
BU704b:CAUTION&OverpackLabels
BU704c:Class9Label
BU705:HowtoRecycleBatteries
BU705a:BatteryRecyclingasaBusiness
BU705b:GivingBatteriesaSecondLife
BU706:SummaryofDosandDonts
HowtoProlongBatteryLife
BU801:SettingBatteryPerformanceStandards
BU801a:HowtoRateBatteryRuntime
BU801b:HowtoDefineBatteryLife
BU802:WhatCausesCapacityLoss?
BU802a:HowdoesRisingInternalResistanceaffectPerformance?
BU802b:WhatdoesElevatedSelfdischargedo?
BU802c:HowLowcanaBatterybeDischarged?
BU803:CanBatteriesbeRestored?
BU803a:CellMatchingandBalancing
BU803b:WhatCausesCellstoShort?
BU803c:LossofElectrolyte
BU804:HowtoProlongLeadacidBatteries
BU804a:Corrosion,SheddingandInternalShort
BU804b:SulfationandHowtoPreventit
BU804c:AcidStratificationandSurfaceCharge
BU805:AdditivestoBoostFloodedLeadAcid
BU806:TrackingBatteryCapacityandResistanceaspartofAging
BU806a:HowHeatandLoadingaffectBatteryLife
BU807:HowtoRestoreNickelbasedBatteries
BU807a:EffectofZapping
BU808:HowtoProlongLithiumbasedBatteries
BU808a:HowtoAwakenSleepingLiion
BU808b:WhatcausesLiiontodie?
BU808c:WhattheUserCanDo
BU809:HowtoMaximizeRuntime
BU810:WhatEveryoneshouldKnowaboutAftermarketBatteries
BatteryTestingandMonitoring
BU901:FundamentalsinBatteryTesting
BU902:HowtoMeasureInternalResistance
BU902a:HowtoMeasureCCA
BU903:HowtoMeasureStateofcharge
BU904:HowtoMeasureCapacity
BU905:TestingLeadAcidBatteries
BU906:TestingNickelbasedBatteries
BU907:TestingLithiumbasedBatteries
BU908:BatteryManagementSystem(BMS)
BU909:BatteryTestEquipment
BU910:HowtoRepairaBatteryPack
BU911:HowtoRepairaLaptopBattery
BU912:HowtoRepairMobilePhoneBatteries
BU913:HowtoMaintainFleetBatteries
ClosePartTwoMenu
BatteriesasPowerSource
AmazingValueofaBattery

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GettingtoKnowtheBattery:Capabilities,Expectations&Limitations
BU1001:BatteriesinIndustries
BU1002:ElectricPowertrain,thenandnow
BU1002a:HybridElectricVehiclesandtheBattery
BU1003:ElectricVehicle(EV)
BU1004:CharginganElectricVehicle
BU1005:FuelCellVehicle
BU1006:CostofMobilePower
BU1007:NetCalorificValue
BU1008:WorkingtowardsSustainability
Information
BU1101:Glossary
BU1102:Abbreviations
BU1103:Bibliography
BU1104:AbouttheAuthor
BU1105:AboutCadex
BU1403:AuthorsCreed
LearningTools
BU1501BatteryHistory
BU1502BasicsaboutBatteries
BU1503HowtoMaintainBatteries
BU1504BatteryTest&AnalyzingDevices
BU1505ShortHistoryofCadex
BatteryPool
TeslasiPhoneMomentHowthePowerwallwillChangeGlobalEnergyUse
PaintingtheBatteryGreenbygivingitaSecondLife
ChargingwithoutWiresASolutionorLaziness
WhateveryoneshouldknowaboutBatteryChargers
ALookatCellFormatsandhowtoBuildagoodBattery
BatteryBreakthroughsMythorFact?
RapidtestMethodsthatNoLongerWork
ShippingLithiumbasedBatteriesbyAir
HowtomakeBatteriesmoreReliableandLongerLasting
WhatcausesLithiumiontodie?
SafetyofLithiumionBatteries
RecognizingBatteryCapacityastheMissingLink
ManagingBatteriesforWarehouseLogistics
CaringforyourStarterBattery
GivingBatteriesaSecondLife
HowtoMakeBatteriesinMedicalDevicesMoreReliable
PossibleSolutionsfortheBatteryProblemontheBoeing787
ImpedanceSpectroscopyChecksBatteryCapacityin15Seconds
HowtoImprovetheBatteryFuelGauge
ExaminingLoadingCharacteristicsonPrimaryandSecondaryBatteries
Archive
DoestheBatteryFuelGaugeLie?
BatteryFuelGauge:FactualorFallacy?
WeirdandWonderfulBatteries
WhatstheBestBattery?
WillSecondaryBatteriesreplacePrimaries?
FourRenegadesofBatteryFailure
AdvancementsinLeadAcid
TheSecretsofBatteryRuntime
CantheLeadacidBatteryCompeteinModernTimes?
ModernLeadBatterySystems
UnderstandingLithiumion
ExplainingLithiumionChemistries
IsLithiumiontheIdealBattery?
PouchCellSmallbutnotTroubleFree
TheHighpowerLithiumion
LithiumionSafetyConcerns
TheSmartBattery
WilltheReusableAlkalineBatteryhaveaFuture?
WilltheFuelCellhaveaSecondLife?
HowdoesInternalResistanceaffectPerformance?
TheBatteryandtheDigitalLoad
NoncorrectableBatteryProblems
WirelessCommunications
HowtoServiceTwowayRadioBatteries
Memory:MythorFact?
HowtoServiceCellPhoneBatteries
PortableComputing
IndustrialApplications
AdvancedBatteryAnalyzers
ComputerizedBatteryTesting

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GettingtoKnowtheBattery:Capabilities,Expectations&Limitations
RapidTestingPortableBatteries
WhydoDifferentTestMethodsProvideDissimilarReadings?
ObservingBatteriesinEverydayLife
WheeledandStationary
WhatCausesCarBatteriestoFail?
StartingisEasy,butcanISteerandBrake?
RapidTestingAutomotiveandStarterBatteries
AreHybridCarsHeretoStay?
IstheElectricCarMature?
ComparingBatteryPower
BatteriesagainstFossilFuel
TheCostofPortablePower
IsLiiontheSolutionfortheElectricVehicle?
TheFutureBattery
BatteryStatistics
BatteryTestingEquipment
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215

Comments
OnJuly6,2011at10:15pm

PaulPeterwrote:
CanIgetsomelitreature/detailsabouttheLithiumionYitriumbasedrechargaeablepowerbatteriesanditschargers

OnMay6,2012at12:57am

SyedMuhammadTahirHussainwrote:
Whydoesaleadacidbatterylessacceptchargingcurrentratherthandischargingcurrent.?
Example:
Charging:wecanbatterychargeatnormalcurrentatabout10~25%capacityrateandsometimewecanchargeat100%capacityrate(itscalledrapidcharging).Batteryplatesactive
massdisintegrateathighchargingcurrent.
Discharging:Wecanbatterydischarge3~5timescapacityrate.A30AHbatterycanbedischargedat150Ampormore.

OnOctober1,2012at12:24pm

E'Triganwrote:
Idonotunderstandwhyonebatteryisusedoveranother.Example:Ihaveasolarlightthatuseda4v1.0AhSLA(small1.5inchcube)socanIsubstitutea9vofftheshelf?Doesmore
voltcapabilityfrytheLEDbulbs?CouldIsubstitutea4v2.5Ah?Veryconfusing

OnOctober26,2012at12:50pm

MJBuncewrote:
A9VbatterywouldmostlikelydamagetheLEDsandthesolarcellwillbetoolowvoltagetochargeit.A2.5Ahbatterywouldwork,butonlyifthesolarcellproducedenoughcurrentto
chargeit,particularlyonadullday.Ifyourlightisnolongerlastinglongenough,thebatterymaybedying.Replacewithanew1.0AhSLAandassumethemanufacturerofthelighthas
matchedthesolarcelltothebatterybydesign.

OnDecember5,2012at11:59am

johnsuttonwrote:
YousaidWhencharginganSLA.WhatisaSLA?Ilookedthroughmanypagesofthesiteandcouldnotfindthisacronymdefined.
Pleaserespondtomyemailwithananswer.
john

OnJanuary28,2013at2:01pm

mdgwrote:
SLA=SealedLeadAcid

OnJanuary29,2013at11:25pm

nishanwrote:
Whatistheidealchargingrate(Fromalternator).Isitmax14.3v.ifexceedwhatwillhappen.

OnJune1,2013at6:26pm

CharlesDuewrote:

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2/3/2016

GettingtoKnowtheBattery:Capabilities,Expectations&Limitations

Ihadalternatorputtingoutcloseto18vanditboiledthebattery,whatamess.

OnJuly9,2013at3:43pm

hindwrote:
hello...whatisthenameofthemanufacturingprocessofmakingthep.v.cinsulatorsinfloodedleadacidbatteries??

OnJanuary2,2014at10:26pm

libinwrote:
addsomepicutresandexplainitwillbemoreinteresting

OnJanuary3,2014at8:07am

CharlesDuewrote:
Ihavenopicsbutitwasamess.Neverheardof18Vfromalternatortilllastyear.

OnApril27,2014at8:42am

mehmoodaliwrote:
pleasesendmeaboutbatterychargingcircuitandchargingvoltsandchargingtime

OnJuly4,2014at3:29pm

RicardoC.IlGrandewrote:
Dearfriends,asanindustryconsukltanthereinVenezuela,Iamreceivingalotofquestionsonhowtoimprovebatterylife,.Ihavereceiveddozensof4to8AHAGM,6and12V
batteries,basicallyforUPSandemergencylightservice.SoIamdocumentingmyselfthroughyourwebsite,beforeIstarttheactualwork.Ihaveopenedsomeoftherubbercoversfor
thecells,andnoticedtheylookedquitedryinside.IsthereanyneedtoaddwatertoAGMs,ornotatall?Ifso,howmuch?Manyofthosebatterieshavebeenstandingonanemergency
lightformonthsorevenyears.
Bestregards,Ricardo

OnFebruary20,2015at3:23pm

Stevewrote:
Ibelievethatyourpowerdensityshouldbelistedas(W/L)not(Wh/L)asthatisanenergydensity.

OnAugust20,2015at10:48am

WayneLittlewrote:
Verysimplywhichsmallbatteryismostcostefficient?Theoldregularstandbys,alkalineorthemoreexpensiveonesabovealkaline(allavailabileinthebigboxstores).Thankyou!.

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