1. CONVENTIONAL, MAINTENANCE FREE, AND DEEP CYCLE/DRY CELL The Automotive Battery

2. What is an Automotive Battery?  Technically, a battery is a electro chemical device capable of storing and producing electrical energy.  Basically, a battery is a device that stores and converts energy.  Automotive Batteries can either be  Conventional serviceable  Maintenance Free  Deep Cycle/Dry Cell

3. What does a battery do?  The battery acts as a stabilizer of voltage for the entire electrical system.  Stores energy for an extended period of time.  Operates and supplies entire electrical system in a vehicle.

4. What are the main components of a battery?  Positive/Negative plates  Separators  Plate Straps  Case  Electrolyte  Distilled Water  Terminals

5. Battery Construction is arranged by alternating positive and negative plates in each cell element.  All like plates are connected by plate straps  Each element is 9-13 plates  Typical 12 volt battery is constructed of 6 cells or elements connected together  Each cell produces 2.1 volts  This produces a 12.6 volt battery  These cells or elements sit in a bath composed of electrolytes and distilled water.

6. Conventional Battery.  Conventional batteries are a little bit different when referring to internal component makeup.  Conventional batteries plates are made up of lead peroxide for the positive plates while the negative plates are made up of sponge lead.  These plates, when bathed in electrolytes, create hydrogen gas due to the charging and discharging of the battery.  This is why conventional batteries have vents and therefore can be serviced.

7. Maintenance Free Batteries (Most Common).  Maintenance free batteries are completely sealed and cannot be serviced.  The internal plates within the battery are similar to those within a conventional battery, but with the addition of either calcium, cadmium, or strontium.  This reduces gassing and self-discharge.  Some of these batteries also contain a built-in hydrometer that shows the battery's state of charge.  Keep in mind that a hydrometer only shows the charge for one individual cell/element.

8. Deep Cycle/Dry Cell Batteries.  Deep Cycle batteries can either be gel type or conventional.  Most common in todays world are gel type though.  Dry Cell batteries are always gel type.  Hence dry cell  These batteries can also work in any position possible.  They will never leak electrolyte  Both deep cycle and dry cell batteries can take more abuse both physically as well as electrically.  Life shelf of these batteries is also much longer.  Roughly 4 times longer

9. Battery Terminals.  Two terminals are found on all batteries.  One for the positive and one for the negative.  Types of Terminals.  Post/Top Terminals  Most common. Theoretically the positive terminal will be larger to offset the chance of cross connecting.  Side Terminals  Positioned on the side of the battery and are threaded in.  L-Terminals  Usually only used on specialty batteries and some imports.

10. Battery Ratings.  Ampere-hour rating.  This is the amount of steady current that a fully charged battery can supply for 20 hours at 80 degrees Fahrenheit without terminal voltage falling below 10.5 volts.  Cold Cranking Rating (C.C.A)  This is determined by load, in amperes, that a battery is able to deliver for 30 seconds at 0 degrees Fahrenheit without terminal voltage falling below 7.2 volts.

11. Battery Ratings Continued.  Cranking Amps (C.A)  This is a battery’s ability to provide a cranking amperage at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.  Reserve Capacity Rating  This is the time, in minutes, that a fully charged battery can be discharged at 25 amperes before battery voltage falls below 10.5 volts.

12. Why Batteries Fail.  Excessive over charging.  Excessive under charging.  Excessive vibrations.  Excessive heat or cold.  Cracks in the battery's casing.  Dirt and electrolyte siting on top of the case causing a short or a severe discharge.  Old age (Most batteries are only good for 4-6 years roughly).

13. How to Properly Jump a Disabled Battery.  Have both vehicles off.  Connect Red lead to positive (Red) post on disabled vehicle.  Connect opposing Red lead to positive (Red) post on the good battery’s vehicle.  Connect Black lead to negative (Black) post on good battery’s vehicle.  Connect opposing Black lead to either a clean unpainted surface on the disabled car or the negative (Black) post on the disabled car.  Start disabled vehicle and let idle for at least 30 minutes.  Remove cables in reverse order.

14. Demonstration on V.A.T machine and D.V.O.M.  V.A.T machine demonstration done by teacher.  D.V.O.M demonstration done by teacher.  Demonstration on how to properly “jump start” a disabled battery.