What is a lead acid battery?

A lead acid battery typically consists of several cells, each containing a positive and negative plate. These plates are submerged in an electrolyte solution, which is typically a mixture of sulfuric acid and water. The plates are made of lead, while the electrolyte is a conductive solution that allows electrons to flow between the plates.

What is the construction of a lead acid battery cell?

The construction of a lead acid battery cell is as shown in Fig. 1. It consists of the following parts : Anode or positive terminal (or plate). Cathode or negative terminal (or plate). Electrolyte. Separators. Anode or positive terminal (or plate): The positive plates are also called as anode. The material used for it is lead peroxide (PbO 2).

What happens when a lead acid battery is charged?

When a lead acid battery is charged, the sulfuric acid in the electrolyte reacts with the lead in the positive plates to form lead sulfate and hydrogen ions. At the same time, the lead in the negative plates reacts with the hydrogen ions in the electrolyte to form lead sulfate and electrons.

How do you recondition a lead acid battery?

To recondition a lead acid battery, you need to remove the lead sulfate buildup from the plates and restore the electrolyte solution. This process involves cleaning the plates, adding distilled water and sulfuric acid to the electrolyte, and charging the battery to its full capacity.

Why does a lead-acid battery lose power?

A lead-acid battery acts as a store of power because of the reaction between the lead plates and the electrolyte. The reason that both sulfation and acid stratification cause batteries to lose power and the ability to accept charge is because they both reduce the contact between the lead plates and the active electrolyte.

What are the applications of lead – acid batteries?

Following are some of the important applications of lead – acid batteries : As standby units in the distribution network. In the Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS). In the telephone system. In the railway signaling. In the battery operated vehicles. In the automobiles for starting and lighting.