Lead Acid Batteries
About
Lead-Acid Batteries:
Lead Acid Batteries are the most common type of batteries used in EVs
because of their low initial cost and universal availability. There are
many different sizes and designs, but the EV industry uses the deep
cycle type because they can tolerate repeated deep discharges.
Deep Cycle Batteries are designed to be repeatedly discharged to
80% of capacity without serious damage. Shallower cycles will increase
the life of any battery. The life expectancy is greatly shortened if the
batteries are not fully recharged after each discharge cycle. Letting a
battery remain discharged for any length of time will cause sulfation of
the positive plates and a permanent loss of capacity.
Caring for
your Lead-Acid Batteries:
Always use extreme caution
when working around batteries or electrolyte.
Hydrogen will explode!
Wear gloves, goggles and old clothes. "Battery acid" will burn your skin
and eyes, eat your clothes, do other "uncool" things if you are not
careful.
The fastest way to ruin lead acid batteries is to discharge them
deeply and leave them unattended for an extended period of time. When
they are discharged, there is a chemical change in the positive plate
material. The material changes form lead oxide (charged) to lead sulfate
(discharged). If the plate remains in the lead sulfate state for a few
days it will not change back to lead oxide when charged. "Sulfated" lead
will not store energy. Batteries that are deeply discharged and then
partially recharged on a regular basis can fail in under a year. An
expensive thought.
Check your batteries on a regular basis to be sure they are being
charged. Use a temperature corrected Hydrometer to check the specific
gravity of the electrolyte. Check the "water" level of your batteries at
least once per week, top them off with pure distilled water. DO NOT add
water to discharged batteries, if you do they will overflow when you
charge them.
Keep the connections and tops of the batteries clean. DO NOT work
on the cables or connections while the batteries are being charged or
discharged - One little spark can set off a hydrogen
explosion with a cell or batteries, it will ruin your day!
You will need to equalize new batteries with a long steady charge
to get peak performance. Keep an eye on your "fuel" gauge or "Dynamic
Battery Monitor (available thru
EVPerformance.com) so as not to completely discharge your batteries.
With proper care, your lead-acid batteries will give you a long service
life and many miles of driving convenience. Poor treatment will cause
that life to be very short, costing you and the environment dearly.
Recycle! |
