Battery Selection Guide

Battery Selection Guide
Selecting a battery is a very calculating and carefully implemented job. For selecting the right battery, we have to match the requirements of the instrument to the features provided by the batteries. Usually it is a process of placing a proper value on the available features according to their weight and making a decision. Batteries have a very limited life and these should be replaced when that lifetime is completed. There are many factors that affect the decision of battery selection. Physical size. The size of the battery should be selected in such a way that the new battery fits the place at which it is placed. A battery chosen should not be very large and it should fit properly and should be fastened securely in place. Dry-charged / Wet-charged battery. The batteries can be either dry-charged or these can be wet-charged. According to the environment in which the battery has to be placed, we can make our selection for either type of battery. A dry-charged battery is stored without electrolyte in it. We must put electrolyte in the battery and charge it for a short time before connecting it to the instrument. So if the instrument is not used regularly then these types of batteries are very useful and have long life. On the other hand, wet-charged battery is stored with electrolyte already in it. Wetcharged batteries should be charged continuously otherwise if these are stored too long without charging then they are damaged permanently. As compared to wet-charged batteries, dry-charged batteries have the advantage of a longer life. On the other hand, wet-charged batteries are usually ready to use always and should be used with the instruments, which are working continuously. Maintenance free / Conventional batteries. Maintenance batteries are constructed in a different way as compared to the conventional batteries. The amount of electrolyte loss is very little in these type of batteries because there is less gas production. These batteries are wet-charged and have a longer life due to a low discharge rate. But on the negative side, these batteries are costly compared to conventional batteries. Moreover, these are not available in all sizes and for all type of equipments. Cost. Before buying a battery, it is necessary to find out the savings that can be done and the efficiency factor it is going to add if a battery is installed to the system. If the system requirement is very crucial then the cost of the battery is negligible. If the system requirements are not very crucial then we should decide beforehand, the money we are going to spend on the battery. Mostly the batteries which are maintenance free and having latest technology are much more costlier as compared to the other batteries. Primary vs. Secondary. Primary batteries are those batteries, which are used once and then discarded. On the other hand, they have the advantage of convenience and cost less per battery. Generally, primary batteries have a higher capacity, initial voltage and a sloping discharge curve. Primary batteries also do not require any special disposal system. But the secondary batteries are the rechargeable batteries. They have the advantage of being more cost-efficient over the long term. Generally, secondary batteries have a lower capacity, initial voltage, a flat discharge curve, and varying recharge life ratings.
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Electrical size. There are two different methods to measure the electrical size of a battery. The first method is called as Cold Power Rating. This rating is the indication for the power while starting the instrument at low temperatures. That means it is the amperes of electricity which is delivered at 0 degrees F. A battery should be selected according to the size of the instrument to which it is connected. The second method is Capacity for reserve in which the rating indicates the number of minutes for which 25 amperes of electricity can be produced continuously at 80 degrees F. The only condition is that the battery voltage should always be more than 10.5 volts. If the reserve capacity is more then the margin of safety is more.
Availability. While selecting a battery, we should check up its availability in the market. If the battery you are using is rarely available then it can create problems for the system in which it has been installed. So we should always select a battery, which is readily available and can be bought even from remote places.
Battery Care and Maintenance

Battery life is defined by the number of times it is cycled if it has been designed in such a way that it can take care of the frequent and significant discharging. The other important factor is how many number of times a battery is discharged before recharging. The life of the battery can be extended by keeping a few things in mind and by taking care of a few things. These precautions are: Try to keep the level of the electrolyte at the proper level. If the level is going down then distilled water can be added to increase the electrolyte level. If the distilled water is not used then other water will add some harmful minerals to the electrolyte which due to some chemical reaction can reduce the life of the battery. Moreover, the water to a discharged battery should be added only when it is on the verge of recharging. If the battery require add water very frequently then it indicates that the battery is being overcharged and we should check the charging system i.e. method and environment properly. The batteries which are called as "Maintenance free" are sealed due to which electrolyte levels cannot be adjusted. So in the long run it can create problem as it is not possible to increase/decrease the electrolyte level on your own. There are very few batteries which provide good results at high temperature. Normally, high temperatures are not good for storage batteries as at this temperature the anode, cathode and electrolyte will start different chemical reaction. Similarly, very low temperature will reduce the total power available to the battery. Moreover, it will weaken the strength of the battery case and it can break very easily. To maintain the batteries and to increase their life, batteries should be stored at temperatures between 32 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the time, batteries should be kept clean and dry. The water content or presence of dirt on a battery will decrease its charge level. When water or dirt is present then the current flows through the dirt and water from one place to the another and it decrease its density. The batteries should be cleaned from time to time. To do this, a solution of baking soda and water can be used. This solution will remove dirt and water content from the battery. Battery connections should be put together in a clean way and should be separated out by using some tape or cloth. The connecting surfaces should be clean and should fit the place in a tight position. A light coating of petroleum jelly or grease can also be applied to the external connections to remove the dirt and moisture from the connections externally.
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The batteries should be placed in such a way that vibration or bouncing is not present which can damage the battery. Moreover, it can also loosen the cable connections, the battery case and internal parts. Buy the batteries with deep cycles which can be identified by thicker plates (1/4" or 0.270"). As deep cycle batteries are very rugged and can have thousands of charging cycles. Due to these factors, these batteries have much greater service life than the other batteries and maintenance is less. Avoid the following... 1. Undercharging - It is caused by not allowing the charger to charge the battery to full charge. 2. Overcharging - Continuous charging for a long period of time can give more power to the positive plates and increase in water consumption. 3. Over-watering - If more water is added to the electrolyte then the electrolyte will be converted into diluted form and it will reduce the overall performance of the battery.
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Battery Care and Maintenance

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