Voltage
- Voltage is the natural physic of different materials with a catalyst and they produce a certain voltage, i.e. lead acid 2.2v, NiCad 1.5v and so on for other technologies.
- The power of a lead acid battery comes from the amount of reaction that can be sustained between the 2 materials.
Facts relevant to the way a deep cycle lead acid battery works
Solar powered systems operate best when deep cycle batteries are used.
- This type of battery works well with deep discharges.
- The lead plates in a deep cycle battery are much thicker than ordinary batteries.
- The life span of a battery is greatly increased when it has thicker lead plates.
- The weight of a battery can be a good sign of thick plates as the units with thick plates are usually heavier than other batteries in their size group.
Different designs affect how a battery works
There are also a variety of designs for the containers of a battery, and these affect how the battery works. Open or sealed varieties are usually the two choices for flooded batteries. Automobiles typically use a sealed flooded battery. A deep cycle flooded cell battery has a cap on the top so that you can easily replace any electrolytes that have escaped from the battery.
How the cell of a battery works
The most basic component of a battery is the cell. The cell is the container area that holds the electrolytes and the lead plates so that they can interact. The voltage that is produced in the lead acid cells can vary. A full cell can generate about 2.12 volts and a discharged cell is about 1.75 volts. The variance between a full cell and a discharged one is only slightly different. Cells are said to be 2v nominal and are not listed as 2.2v, as this makes working voltages out much easier. All chargers are rated at nominal voltage not actual, e.g. a 36v charger is not described as a 39.6v charger.
What voltage is contained in the battery will depend greatly on the number of cells that have been wired into the series. As an example, in a twelve volt battery you will have six cells all wired in the series.
Another vital part of the battery is what state of charge it has. In other words, how full the battery is. The temperature that it is kept at will be a determining factor in its fullness. Because of the way a battery works, a cold battery has less capacity than a hot one due to the temperature affecting the electro chemical reaction.
Amp-hour capacity is used to measure how much capacity a battery has. This will tell you, at a nominal voltage, how much energy it can store. It is very likely that if you purchase a larger battery that it will have a larger amount of storage capacity. The available capacity and the total capacity are also different in a battery.
The overall design that has been put in place for most batteries is intended to ensure that a great deal of energy can be produced. The amount will depend on the capacity and size of the unit. The design of a battery can seem complex, but as you find out more about how a battery works, you will find it easier to determine the best battery for your needs.
If you need advice, or want to know more about how a lead acid battery works, please feel free to contact us or browse our website for more information.