Car battery: types and features, how to choose the right one

The structure of car batteries is approximately the same. They consist of a box, in which six cans are placed. Also in car batteries there are electrodes - lead plates assembled in packages with positive and negative polarity. They are washed with a special liquid - the electrolyte. Automotive batteries are classified according to the composition of the electrodes and types of electrolyte. They can also be divided by starting currents, capacity, etc.

Antimony automotive batteries

The lead of the electrodes has 5% or more antimony added to them, labeled Sb. It strengthens the soft metal and makes it better able to generate and retain electrical charge. The peculiarity is that the liquid in the tanks quickly boils, the electrodes become bare and deteriorate. Soon a short circuit occurs.

This can be prevented by checking the amount of electrolyte regularly and topping up with distilled water in time. Considering the unsafe vapors, it is necessary to protect the respiratory organs when servicing the battery. Antimony batteries are seldom used anymore.

Advantages:

• deep battery discharges are acceptable;
• low cost;
• unpretentiousness.

Disadvantages:

• weak starting current;
• high self-discharge of the battery;
• Lifetime to 4 years.

Automotive batteries with low antimony content

Batteries have less antimony in their electrodes, not more than 4%. This ensures that the electrolyte does not boil off as much.

Advantages:

• low self-discharge;
• low price;
• they are unpretentious as to what the electrical parameters of the car are;
• not afraid of voltage fluctuations.

The minus of batteries with low antimony content is that you need to check the amount of liquid and add distilled water. However, significantly less often than batteries with higher antimony content.

Calcium car batteries

The pole grids of the electrodes are coated with calcium. To reduce internal resistance and increase efficiency, a little silver is added to some electrode models.

Advantages:

• There is no boiling off of liquid and no overcharge;
• self-discharge is 70% lower than that of low-sulfur batteries;
• Lifespan 5-6 years.

Disadvantages:

• you can't turn the battery upside down;
• If the battery is fully discharged several times, it will lose 80% of its capacity;
• Calcium batteries are very sensitive to voltage fluctuations;
• are expensive.

Hybrid car batteries

The positive electrode is coated with antimony, the negative electrode with calcium. Hybrid batteries have an average starting current and energy capacity. Distilled water must be topped up every six months. Battery resistance to deep discharges and overcharge is high.

Gel car batteries

Gel car batteries use gel instead of liquid as the electrolyte. It almost never boils off, so there is no need to replenish it.

Advantages:

• Tilting and shaking are not dangerous to the battery;
• Gel batteries discharge very slowly, so they can sit idle for 2 years;
• deliver a steady current until discharged;
• will not be damaged by deep discharging;
• last up to 15 years.

Disadvantages:

• The price is twice as high as that of acid batteries;
• are sensitive to the voltage of the onboard network of the car, it is desirable that it does not exceed 13 V;
• short circuits and voltage fluctuations can ruin the battery.

Acid batteries are the most common. They are filled with sulfuric acid. They give off a high current quickly and have a higher energy capacity. The disadvantage of such batteries is that sulfuric acid and lead emit fumes that are hazardous to health. Therefore, such a device has a strong housing, which reliably insulates the contents of the cans. If a crack or chip forms, the battery becomes dangerous.