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Battery Charging Facts


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#1 KernowCooper

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Posted 23 July 2013 - 11:18 AM

To charge the battery, the alternator voltage output has to exceed a minimum charging voltage. This minimum charging voltage is 13.8 volts dc across the battery terminals, or at the output of the alternator.

 

A single lead-acid cell starts to charge at anything over 2.25 volts. Since a 12 volt battery has six cells, any 12 volt lead-acid battery needs at least 13.8 volts to start to charge. This voltage will be enough to fully charge or maintain the battery on a trickle charge, but charging time will be very long at 13.8 volts.

 

To fully charge in reasonable times, alternator output  must be 14.2 V to 14.5 V (measured at the battery posts). The battery voltage must be below 14.7 volts to prevent excessive gassing, which would prematurely dry the battery or might even increase risk of battery hydrogen gas explosion. Above 14.5 volts charging voltage, batteries have a greatly increased tendency to release excessive acidic vapors, hydrogen gas, and to corrode things around the battery.

 

Never ever disconnect the battery connections with the engine running or switch off a FIA Type Battery Isolator Switch as the battery stabilizes the electrical system and loads the alternator, preventing high peak voltages or voltage surges  If you rev the engine up and pull a battery cable, the alternator voltage can spike up to 100 volts or higher before the alternator flux dies off enough to bring voltage back down to 14 volts or so. This can kill the car's computer and other expensive electrical components and destroy the regulator/diode pack in the Alternator

 

Battery life and performance - Average battery life has become shorter as energy requirements have increased. Two phrases I hear most often are "my battery won't take a charge, and my battery won't hold a charge". Only 30% of batteries sold today reach the 48-month mark. In fact 80% of all battery failure is related to sulfation build-up. This build up occurs when the sulfur molecules in the electrolyte (battery acid) become so deeply discharged that they begin to coat the battery's lead plates. Before long the plates become so coated that the battery dies. The causes of sulfation are numerous. Let me list some for you.
 

  • Batteries sit too long between charges. As little as 24 hours in hot weather and several days in cooler weather.
  • Battery is stored without some type of energy input.
  • "Deep cycling" an engine starting battery. Remember these batteries can't stand deep discharge.
  • Undercharging of a battery to only 90% of capacity will allow sulfation of the battery using the 10% of battery chemistry not reactivated by the incompleted charging cycle.
  • Heat of 100 plus F., increases internal discharge. As temperatures increase so does internal discharge. A new fully charged battery left sitting 24 hours a day at 110 degrees F for 30 days would most likely not start an engine.
  • Low electrolyte level - battery plates exposed to air will immediately sulfate.
  • Incorrect charging levels and settings. Most cheap battery chargers can do more harm than good. See the section on battery charging.
  • Cold weather is also hard on the battery. The chemistry does not make the same amount of energy as a warm battery. A deeply discharged battery can freeze solid in sub zero weather.
  • Parasitic drain is a load put on a battery with the key off. (Alarms and ECU Drain)

 

 

 

 


 

 



#2 adampat84

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Posted 23 July 2013 - 11:49 AM

Makes for an interesting read!



#3 KernowCooper

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Posted 25 July 2013 - 11:46 PM

Come winter it will be important for those not in the motor trade to read and understand what will help keep their car running


Edited by KernowCooper, 25 July 2013 - 11:46 PM.





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