(Click the husky to return to the main page)
(Click here to see more pictures of her)
Episode 7 -- aired on March 28, 2016 -- Batteries
Listen to the episode 48.9 MB MP3
Batteries, featuring an Interview with Peter of the Electric Underground -- Episode 7 on March 28, 2016
Multicell Batteries
Different chemistries have different cell voltages
Cells can be combined in series (add the voltage, divide the current) or parallel (add the current, but the voltages must match or one will be discharged by the next).
The capacity of a battery is measured and communuicated using units of Ampere-Hours. 1 amp hour indicates that a battery can hold and provide 1 amp of juice at the specified voltage for 1 hour. A 60 amp hour car battery can be used in your home to power a 2 amp refrigerator for 30 hours straight. If you try to draw more than around 20 amps from a 60 amp hour car battery, it might fall flat, providing only 20 amps for less than 2 hours and 15 minutes, because you can't pull so much out, but otherwise, you can rely on flooded lead acid batteries to last their fullest amp hour rating if you take less than 20% from them at the most.
Flooded Lead Acid (car) Batteries
Hazards
Sulfuric Acid burns. Try not to spill any on you.
Shorting (connecting together) the terminals of any strong battery can cause burns, fire, or an explosion (tech question)
Lead Acid Batteries emit gas, especially if they're charged too fast. So you must be properly ventilate them to prevent Explosive gas buildup. (tech question)
Disposeable Batteries
Zinc carbon -- A, AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D, 9v
Alkaline Batteries -- longer lasting
Zinc air -- hearing aids and watches (has an air hole)
Rechareable Batteries
Normal Lead-acid Batteries
minimum allowable discharge voltage = 10.5 volts (General Class Question)
How might we charge a 12-volt lead-acid station battery? (This is actually a question on the Technician exam).
We could connect it in parallel with a vehicle's battery and run the engine to keep it charged up. But that's a pain because you have to carry a battery out to the car, leave it connected for a while and carry it back inside to use it.
You could put a battery charger on it
You could charge it using a 12 to 14 volt power supply.
The very coolest thing we can do is connect it to an off-the-shelf 12 volt solar charge controller you can buy anywhere such as this one and connect the charge controller to one or more solar panels and lay them on the roof.
What happens when lead acid batteries get cold?
When do we need to add acid or water?
Lead-acid gel-cell
nickel-cadmium
They have low internal resistance therefore High discharge current (General Class Question)
Nickel-metal hydride
Lithium-ion (LiOn)
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)
If I've made any mistakes, please Call me or email Kila or you can call us directly at (707) 413-6435. Here is my main website.
