A car battery is a type of rechargeable battery that supplies electric energy to an automobile. This also may describe a traction battery used for the main power source of an electric vehicle. Automotive starter batteries provide a nominal 12-volt potential difference by connecting six galvanic cells in series. Each cell provides 2.1 volts for a total of 12.6 volt at full charge. Lead-acid batteries are made up of plates of lead and separate plates of lead dioxide, which are submerged into an electrolyte solution of about 35% sulfuric acid and 65% water. This causes a chemical reaction that releases electrons, allowing them to flow through conductors to produce electricity. As the battery discharges, the acid of the electrolyte reacts with the materials of the plates, changing their surface to lead sulphate. When the battery is recharged, the chemical reaction is reversed: the lead sulfate reforms into lead oxide and lead. With the plates restored to their original condition, the process may now be repeated. In normal automotive service the vehicle's charge system, also referred to as charging system, consisting of the engine-driven alternator and the voltage regulator powers the vehicle's electrical systems and restores charge used from the battery during engine cranking. When installing a new battery or recharging a battery that has been accidentally discharged completely, one of several different methods can be used to charge it. The most gentle of these is called trickle charging. Other methods include slow-charging and quick-charging, the latter being the harshest. In the United States, about 97% of lead from used batteries is reclaimed for recycling.[6] Many cities offer battery recycling services for lead-acid batteries. In several U.S. states and Canadian provinces, purchasers of new lead-acid batteries are charged a small deposit fee, refunded when the replaced battery is returned. Car batteries should always be handled with proper protective equipment (goggles, overalls, gloves), and make certain there are no sparks or smoking close by. [READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE]
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