| By :
Lawrence Reaves
The battery in your car is essential for starting your car's engine. It is also used to power all the electrical equipment in your car, when the alternator isn't producing enough voltage, such as when you are stopped at traffic signals or in a traffic line. The basic principles of a car battery haven't changed much for decades, but car battery technology has advanced. All car batteries were traditional called flooded lead-acid batteries. The name was simply derived from the fact that each battery cell contains two lead plates and the cell is filled with sulfuric acid. The concept is that while your battery is being charged, either by a battery charger or from your alternator, positive and negative electrons flow through the battery cells. Electrons then move from one of the lead plates to the other, both of which are covered in sulfuric acid. This creates an electrical charge which the battery cell is able to store until it is needed. Car batteries generally produce 12 volts; although you can purchase 6 volt lead-acid batteries. The battery contains six 2-volt cells which are connected in series to produce 12 volts. It's important that each cell works correctly as just one cell can mean you battery goes dead very quickly. Flooded lead-acid batteries used to require occasional maintenance to keep them in good order. Each battery cell had a removable cap and it was necessary to top up the fluid level in each cell with distilled water as the fluid in the cells evaporates over time. However, battery manufacturers developed a battery that didn't require topping up; the sealed lead-acid battery. This means that these types of car battery are totally maintenance-free. One problem that has always existed with flooded lead-acid batteries is that if tipped or dropped sulfuric fluid could leak out. Sulfuric acid is a dangerous fluid; it burns skin and is highly corrosive and so made these types of battery potentially hazardous. Two new types of battery entered the market several years ago. The first was called a gel battery. It was exactly the same as a regular flooded lead-acid battery is so far as it contained lead plates. However, instead of the sulfuric acid being in liquid form, manufacturers developed a gel. It has the same properties as the fluid, but is much safer. If you drop or put a gel battery on its side, the gel doesn't leak out. This makes the battery much safer. A further development has been the absorbed matt battery. Again the general principles of how the battery works are the same as a regular battery, but an absorbed matt battery has solid cells so however much damage the battery suffers, nothing can leak out. All three types of battery produce exactly the same voltage and contain six individual 2-volt cells, but you will find that a gel and an absorbed matt battery are both more expensive to buy. Ultimately the type of battery you choose is down to your own personal preference, but next time you need to replace your car battery, check out the various types before making your decision.
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