Batteries are a true triumph of science. Thanks to them, we can use extraordinary devices such as smartphones or GPS systems without being constantly connected to a power cable. However, even the best batteries gradually lose capacity until they are completely depleted. But why do batteries “die,” and how are they able to store so much energy?
How batteries work
The lead-acid battery has been used commercially for over 100 years. The chemical principle behind its operation has remained virtually unchanged.
The main components of a battery are:
- Anode (negative electrode)
- Cathode (positive electrode)
- Electrolyte (a conductive solution that separates them)
When a circuit is connected, a chemical reaction takes place in the electrolyte:
- negative ions (anions) and positive ions (cations) are formed
- anions release electrons to cations through the circuit
- the flow of electrons powers the connected device
- when the flow of electrons stops, the battery is depleted.
The “magic” current in a lead-acid battery
What happens inside a cell? A cell consists of a positive plate coated with lead dioxide paste and a negative plate made of spongy lead, separated by an insulating material. Everything is immersed in an electrolyte composed of water and sulfuric acid, contained within a plastic casing.
Batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The electrolyte reacts with the two plates, generating electric current. At the end of the reaction, both plates are converted into lead sulfate. During recharging, the process is reversed: the plates gradually return to their original forms of lead and lead dioxide.
The charge and discharge cycle is continuous, which makes the lead-acid battery rechargeable. Devices that supply the current required for recharging are battery chargers. However, even rechargeable batteries do not last forever: over time, repeated charge and discharge cycles cause imperfections in the cells, and the battery loses its ability to conduct electrons, eventually stopping its operation.
Types of batteries
Different batteries use different chemical substances and reactions.
Among the most common types are:
- Primary cells (non-rechargeable): alkaline batteries, lithium batteries, zinc-carbon batteries
- Secondary cells (rechargeable): lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries
Battery glossary
All batteries work in a similar way, but each type has specific characteristics. Here are the most commonly used terms:
Voltage (V): measures the electrical force that drives electrons from the negative terminal to the positive terminal.
Ampere (A): measures the amount of electric current, meaning the number of electrons flowing through a circuit over a given period of time.
Capacity (Ah): measures the charge that can be delivered at a given nominal voltage. It indicates the maximum amount of energy (in ampere-hours) that the battery can supply under specific conditions.
Why monitoring batteries is so important
Measuring the actual amount of energy remaining in a battery is a complex but essential task. A battery monitor clearly and intuitively provides information such as:
voltage
current in and out
battery consumption
remaining ampere-hours
data on water, fuel, and grey water levels and temperatures
Monitor your battery’s temperature, state of charge, percentage, and remaining time with the device that best suits your needs: Simarine Pico.
