What Is Inside of an Automobile Battery?
It sits quietly nestled under the hood of your car, mostly unnoticed until there is a problem, yet still employs the same technology that has been in use for decades. A quick peek into the engine compartment of almost any car will reveal a large, heavy black plastic box with wires attached at two places. It is, of course, an automobile battery, but do you know what's inside it?
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The Facts
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The heart of the typical automobile battery is the battery cell. This consists of negative and positive plates, a container and electrolyte. The battery plates must be made of dissimilar metals, and in automobile batteries the metals of choice are lead and lead oxide. For an electrolyte, a mixture of sulfuric acid and water is used. A single cell can produce 2.1 volts, so to accommodate a car's 12-volt electrical system there are six cells in an automotive battery. When automotive batteries are made, the plates are grouped together with insulating separators and straps (which connect the plates) into an element, of which usually six are then installed in the battery case.
How it Works
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As the alternator charges the battery, free electrons are deposited on the negative plates, causing the negative and positive plates to acquire a difference in potential, and electrical pressure, or voltage, results, When the terminals are connected with a load, electrons flow across the circuit, equalizing the difference in potential. This flow of electrons is what provides the electricity for whatever the battery is being called to power. When the plates have equal charges, the battery is discharged and will need recharging before it can be used again
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Function
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An automobile battery has many functions, most notably to provide the power needed to crank the engine to get it started. This function involves not only the starter (which is the largest draw of amps), but also the ignition system and the electronic fuel injection system. Also, the automobile battery will provide electricity for the vehicle systems such as lights, radio or alarm when the car is not running. One of the little known functions of the battery is to act as a capacitor within the car's electrical system, thus smoothing current flow.
Benefits
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The most significant benefit to a car having an automobile battery is that it allows for the storage of energy for long periods of time. This is significant because a car's alternator only generates alternating current (AC) electricity, which cannot be stored. The current from a car's battery is direct current (DC). Without the battery, we'd still be using a hand crank at the front of the engine to start our cars. A benefit to the way automotive batteries are constructed is the relative ease with which they can be replaced.
Warning
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The electrolyte contained inside an automobile battery, a mixture of water and sulfuric acid is highly caustic and will burn skin and potentially cause blindness if it makes contact with the eyes. Never attempt to open a sealed battery case. When charging, extremely explosive hydrogen gas can collect at the top of the battery, so take care not to bring a spark or flame near.
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