A car battery is a system that drives the vehicle's electrical components. It is responsible for starting your engine, as well as ensuring that the lights, wipers, and music play, among other things. A car would not start without it, to put it bluntly.
Batteries have become integral units in recent years as the production of electric vehicles has increased. They store the electric energy required to operate the vehicle. Since batteries are rechargeable, they can now be used over and over again for an extended period of time.
Today, cars come with different types of batteries. Not sure what kind of car battery is in your vehicle? Worry not. In this guide, we take a look at the various types to help you identify the kind of battery fitted in your car.
How do automobile batteries work?
When the ignition key is turned (or pressed in the case of an ignition button), the stored electrical energy in the battery is released. This electrical energy is quickly sent to the starter, which then starts the engine.
The extra power is then directed to electrical components, which are powered as a result. The alternator allows the battery to be charged and discharged. Your car would have issues if the battery level is too low.
Then what type of batteries that use in a car ?
A vehicle using electrolyte type battery. This type using electrolyte (it from sulfuric acid) to store and discharge electrical energy.
But the electrolyte type have some design.
1. Regular lead acid battery
A solution of sulfuric acid and purified water serves as the electrolyte in a lead acid battery cell. Pure sulfuric acid has a specific gravity of around 1.84, and it is diluted with distilled water before the specific gravity of the solution falls between 1.2 and 1.23..But, depending on the type of battery, season, and climatic conditions, the manufacturer of the battery may prescribe a particular gravity of diluted sulfuric acid.
regular lead acid battery have several caps. this caps use to fill the electrolyte and it be a way out for vapor created when battery reaction is on going. in othe words, in this battery you need to fully maintenance the battery. keep the electrolyte volume to get maximum battery performance.
2. VRLA battery
VRLA stands for Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid and refers to low-maintenance rechargeable lead-acid batteries. VRLA batteries do not need the addition of water to the cells on a regular basis due to their design.
VRLA batteries are also known as Absorbent Glass Mat batteries or Gel batteries. Although these batteries are often referred to as sealed lead-acid batteries, they often have a safety pressure release valve.
A VRLA battery, unlike vented (also known as flooded) batteries, cannot spill its electrolyte if it is inverted. VRLA batteries are often referred to as "acid-starved" designs because they use much less electrolyte (battery acid) than regular lead-acid batteries. The label "valve controlled" does not fully characterize the technology; these are "recombinant" batteries, which means that the oxygen evolved on the positive plates would largely recombine with the hydrogen ready to evolve on the negative plates, resulting in water—thus avoiding water loss.
The valve serves solely as a safety precaution in the event that the rate of hydrogen evolution becomes dangerously high. One benefit of this design is that it has a much higher power-to-floor-space ratio than big, flooded battery systems; another is that it has a high-rate power capacity, although for a short time. As a result, VRLA batteries are commonly used in UPS systems (uninterruptible power supply) or other high-rate applications.
Because of their specific features and advantages, VRLA batteries can be used in almost any flooded lead-acid battery application (in combination with well-regulated charging), as well as applications where conventional flooded batteries cannot be used.
Pros of VRLA battery
1. Referred to maintenance free battery
These batteries are known as maintenance-free batteries because they don't need to be watered. VRLA batteries outperform flooded batteries in applications where maintenance is difficult to conduct because there is no free liquid and limited gassing.
2. Less vapor
It has less vapor than VRLA, so the battery usage will be last for longer. And the battery has close design, so you don’t need to worry from electrolyte leakage.
However, the VRLA has some disadvantages. Users should exercise caution when charging this battery because overcharging and undercharging will shorten its life and reduce its efficiency. AGM batteries are most reliable when their discharge is limited to no more than 50% of the battery size.
And once the battery drop, you can not service it. It need to be replace.
You often find This type of batteries in off-grid power systems including environmentally friendly renewable energy systems like wind and solar power. They are also great for electric vehicle service and uninterrupted power supply systems, as well as robotics and some ATVs and motorcycles.
Beside the two type above, there is another battery type. It is gel type battery. This battery has same principle as VRLA battery. But the electrolyte form not In liquid, but it is gel form. So the performance clearly better than VRLA battery we discuss above.
But the price so expensive, that’s why this battery is not use in general car, but only several car use this battery like performance car.
The conclusion, What the type for my car ?
Many vehicle produce today using VRLA battery. It is use because the battery has free maintenance and it is not too expensive. So it is the best choice for your vehicle.