BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM

Battery in an automobile is the source of electric current. The current is needed for
so many purposes including energizing the lights, audio/video systems, starting motor, and
ignition system. It also supplies required electrical energy to electronic control module
(ECM).
Battery is a device in which chemical energy is converted into electrical energy. While
producing electricity, the battery gets discharged. To get electrical energy continuously from
the battery it has to be rechargeable. The processes of discharging and charging occur
simultaneously and to charge the battery. Charging system is required in an automobile.
The battery that is used in automobiles is lead-acid storage battery. It has sponge lead,
lead oxide and sulphuric acid. These three react together and electric current is produced.
Sponge lead and lead oxide are held in plate grid and form positive and negative plates. Sulphuric acid is
mixed with water to form electrolyte. The proportions in which
water and sulphuric acid are mixed is 60:40. With discharge, the sulphuric acid is spent and
water remains.

CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS
The battery consists of a number of plates that are grouped together through strap. The
groups are positive or negative and these are located adjacent to each other. These are
required to be insulated from each other otherwise there would be short circuiting that
would damage the battery. The insulators are termed as ‘separators. Each pair of positive
and negative plates along with separator is termed as ‘cell’. Combination of these cells’ forms
the battery. The cells are arranged properly in plastic shell that forms the outer box of the battery. The
box has a plastic cover at the top. The cover has openings for filter plugs. These
are used for adding water to the battery from time to time.
Now-a-days the batteries do not require addition of water so frequently. These are
termed as low-maintenance batteries. In another improved version of batteries, water is not
at all required to be added up. There are no removable caps because of this. These batteries
are maintenance free batteries.
Another variant of battery is hybrid battery. This battery can withstand six cycles and
can maintain its full reserve capacity. Its grid consists of 2.75% of antimony alloy on the
positive plate and calcium alloy on the negative plate. This prevents the grid corrosion. The
grid plates have lug near the centre and vertical and horizontal grid bars are arranged in
a radial design. Due to shorter path up to lug the resistance is reduced.