Batteries are an essential part of a vehicle and should not be overlooked. Without a healthy battery, the car stalls. We are responsible for how long they can support our vehicle. To extend their useful life, we need to maintain them properly. Maintenance-free batteries are slowly replacing lead-acid batteries, but it’s important to understand that the basic principle remains the same. We will discuss all the important aspects of a battery in this article.
How does a battery work?
Lead acid automotive batteries are energy storage devices made up of lead plates and lead dioxide. These plates are immersed in an electrolyte solution. The percentage of water is 65% and sulfuric acid contributes 35% to this solution. When the battery is used to start the car, it discharges. The sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution is depleted leaving a higher proportion of water. The sulfate is returned to the acid during the charging process. The battery provides the high current required by the starter motor to start the car’s engine. Once the engine is started, the engine-driven charging system recharges the battery. In this process, the alternator takes the necessary energy from the rotation of the engine through a belt to charge the battery. When the engine is running, the alternator generates electricity for the car’s electrical equipment.
What causes a battery to weaken?
When the car is exposed to direct sunlight in summer for longer periods, it speeds up the corrosion process and evaporates the electrolyte. This reduces the life of a battery by making it weaker. Therefore, prevent your car from heating up in the sunlight by parking in adequate shade.
A battery must be placed correctly to avoid any kind of vibrations. These vibrations over time shake the plates around which in turn cause the internal connections to be lost. As a result, the battery would not charge properly.
Once you start the car, be sure to drive it long enough for the battery to recharge again. The alternator takes time to recharge the battery after it has released its energy while cranking the engine. Otherwise, the battery will remain low on charge, which is not enough to provide high current to the starter motor.
Keeping the headlights or music system on while the engine is off drains the battery over time. Avoid plugging in a charger for an extended period of time to prevent the battery from discharging.
Corrosion on battery terminals is as damaging to the battery as anything else. Always carefully clean the battery terminals once or twice a month. Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection. The white powder from the terminals is toxic and should not be allowed to come into contact with the skin.
Signs indicating battery replacement:
There are a couple of signs that can indicate that the battery is running low and needs to be replaced.
- The car’s bright headlights dim slightly when the engine is turned off.
- The starter motor turns slowly when you start the car due to the low current provided by the battery.
There are some visual cues that the battery needs to be replaced.
- An internal short or overload leads to a swollen battery. If you see signs of bulging anywhere around the battery, replace it.
- Examine the battery case carefully for any damage to the battery case.
How to start an engine with a weak battery?
It is not recommended to use a weak battery. However, in an emergency, jumper cables can be used when you get stuck during your roadside trip. Always keep a set of jumper cables in your car if you think the battery is not in perfect condition. Jumper cables allow you to start your vehicle with the help of another car. Although it is a very simple technique, safety measures must be taken to avoid any danger. The following steps will guide you to start the vehicle:
- Make sure both batteries have the same rated voltage i.e. 12V
- Turn off the ignition switch after parking it close enough to the other car in neutral position.
- Never jump a frozen battery. It can easily explode.
- Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses.
- Carefully identify and connect the positive terminals of both batteries to each other.
- Make sure the other end does not touch the car body to avoid dangerous sparks.
- Attach the negative cable to the negative terminal of the good battery.
- Connect the other end of the negative cable to a metal part of the car with a weak battery.
- Finally, start the car with a good battery.
- Wait 5-7 minutes to charge the weak battery.
- Now start the ignition of the car with a weak battery.
- Carefully remove the cables in reverse order. Remove the negative cables first, and then remove the positive cable from the car with the good battery. In the end, remove the positive cable from the car with a weak battery.
How to check battery health?
For proper battery maintenance, schedule once a month to check battery health. Today there are tools that can help measure the current state of the battery. The following are the most commonly used tools for this purpose:
Battery load tester:
The battery load tester is used to check the operating voltage rating of the battery. It has a display meter with voltage readings up to 16V along with battery status indicator. It has positive and negative probes. Inside, there is a high current capacity coil that provides the necessary charging with a toggle switch. Battery voltage can be easily tested by following these steps:
- Turn off the car engine.
- Connect the positive probe of the load tester to the positive terminal of the battery.
- Similarly, connect the negative probe to the negative terminal.
- Make sure both probes are properly connected with the battery terminals.
- The meter will display a voltage reading according to the state of the battery.
- Now turn on the charge toggle switch for 05-07 seconds to measure the battery voltage under charge.
- A healthy battery ideally shows 12.5 volts.
- If the meter needle deviates near the “weak” indication, replace the battery immediately.
- Safely remove the probes in reverse order.
Hydrometer:
The hydrometer is another tool to measure the state of the battery. It measures the specific gravity of the electrolyte, but can only be used on batteries with removable caps. Hydrometers usually have a built-in thermometer. Follow these simple steps to measure the remaining battery life:
- Start by removing the covers from the top of the battery.
- Dip the tip of the hydrometer into the first battery cell.
- Squeeze it in and out from behind to allow the electrolyte to enter the hydrometer barrel.
- Read the specific gravity of the electrolyte as indicated.
- Write down the reading of all the cells one by one.
- Compare the readings with those given on the hydrometer.
- Generally, readings between 1,265 and 1,299 indicate a charged battery. Any reading below this parenthesis shows signs of a weak battery.
- Another method to examine the condition of the battery is to use a multimeter. This process is similar to what we use for the battery load tester.
How to replace a battery?
A car battery can be easily replaced at home without any complications by following these simple steps:
Old Battery Removal:
- Start by removing the negative battery terminal, usually marked black or with the (-) symbol, to prevent arcing with the key.
- Disconnect the positive terminal usually marked red or with the (+) symbol.
- Remove the battery “retaining clamp”
- Batteries are heavy, so lift them carefully.
- Clean the battery tray if it is corroded.
New battery connection:
- Carefully lift the new battery into position.
- Properly connect the “holding clamp” first.
- Connect the battery terminals in reverse order connecting the positive terminal first.
- Connect the negative terminal of the battery.
- Make sure the connections are not loose.
- The battery must be fixed correctly to avoid vibrations.
- Terminals must be in clean condition.
- Add some Vaseline to both terminals as it slows down the corrosion process.
The old battery can be sold to a battery store where you bought the new one. These car batteries are also recycled to prevent dangerous chemicals from entering the atmosphere. Old lead plates can also be recycled into other products.
How to maintain your battery?
To prolong battery life, it must be kept in good condition. Schedule battery maintenance every month. Includes the following things:
Cleaning the battery and its terminals:
Cleaning a battery consists of removing corrosion or any white powder from the terminals and surface of the battery. For this purpose, use warm water and add a tablespoon of baking soda. Carefully remove the battery (as mentioned in the replacement section) Make sure the removable caps are tight. Always wear rubber gloves because the white powder is toxic and should not be allowed to come into contact with the skin. Thoroughly apply the solution to the battery case. Clean the terminals properly. Use a brush to get into tight spaces. Let the solution sit for a couple of minutes and then wash it off with cold water. The terminals will be free of corrosion after this practice. Reinstall the battery in its position carefully.
Electrolyte level inspection:
The electrolyte level inside a battery can be visually examined by removing the caps on top of the battery. The lead plates must be properly immersed in the electrolyte solution. If you see a reduced level of electrolyte in any of the cells, add a little water. Let the solution mix properly.
Using a battery charger/maintainer:
If your car is idle for an extended period of time, use a battery charger to keep the battery properly charged. Batteries soon run out if you don’t charge them. A battery charger can be of great help in maintaining the desired voltage output of the battery. It usually comes in different modes depending on the requirements i.e. charge, boost charge and maintain. It can also be used to maintain battery voltage. Carefully plug the charger into a socket. Connect the positive cable to the positive terminal of the battery and the negative cable to the negative terminal. Turn on the switch and let the battery charge properly.
Always inspect the battery before you go on a trip. Overlooking battery status can land you in trouble in the middle of nowhere. A 10-15 minute inspection can help you save a lot of time during your trip. If you know of any other important aspect related to batteries, please mention it in the comments section below.