Lead Acid Batteries : The Advantages

Lead acid batteries also known as 'starting batteries', are the oldest rechargeable batteries in existence and the very first employed for commercial use. They have dominated the marketplace for more than One hundred years, ever since their invention in the 1850s by Gaston Plante, a French engineer, and continue to weave their magic to this day.The surge of new batteries in the market has not lessened their importance.

As we speak, lead-acid are cost-effective and their ability to deliver high surge currents, makes them probably the most practical choice for use in automobiles and other motor vehicles, as they satisfy the requirement of the high current that automobile starter motors require.

Car batteries are used to start diesel or gasoline engines, as they supply the electricity required for starter motors, ignition, lights and other electronic features. The majority of car batteries are lead-acid batteries and the energy is generated through a chemical process that involves lead, lead oxide and a liquid electrolyte solution. Plates of lead and lead oxide sit in the electrolyte solution that is made up of a small percentage of sulfuric acid and more of water. This causes a chemical reaction and electrons are released, which are all routed through conductors in the battery to generate the electricity needed for the automobile.

When lead batteries are discharged, sulfuric acid forms on the lead plates, and when they are recharged again, this sulfuric acid on the plates breaks back into its constituent lead and lead oxide.

Certain car batteries require maintenance in the form of adding water. It was during the Seventies that maintenance-free sealed lead-acid batteries were introduced and they can be used in any position, sideways or inverted without the danger of acid leakage. The liquid electrolyte is gelled into separators and sealed. Safety valves are employed allowing venting during charging, discharging and other atmospheric pressure changes.

At the moment, there are two lead-acid systems being used, the small sealed lead-acid (SLA) and the larger valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA).

The more recent type of sealed lead-acid batteries are the Absorbed Glass Mat batteries (AGM) that are maintenance free and the plates are postioned in such a way that they can stand up to extensive vibrations and shock.

The hydrogen emission from automobiles using these batteries is less than 4% and self-discharge is extremely low at 1-3% per month. This gives them prolonged storage before the need to recharge. These batteries are more costly than the flooded lead-acid batteries (liquid electrolyte), but because of their durability, they are the preferred version for high performance cars rather than the flooded variety.

Amongst the most useful things about lead-acid batteries is their self-discharge, which is one of the best on rechargeable batteries at about 40% per year, in comparison with nickel-cadmium that self-discharges in three months.

In summary, lead-acid batteries are a superb choice for cars as they are reasonably priced, reliable and provide dependable service, long lasting when used correctly, and they have the lowest self-discharge rate among rechargeable batteries.

Note: To store electrical energy you will need a Deep Cycle Battery