The battery is the source direct current, which is designed to accumulate and store energy. The overwhelming number of types of rechargeable batteries are based on the cyclic conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy, this allows the battery to be repeatedly charged and discharged.

Back in 1800, Alessandro Volta made an astonishing discovery when he placed two metal plates - copper and zinc - into a jar filled with acid, and then proved that an electric current flows through the wire connecting them. More than 200 years later, modern batteries continue to be produced based on Volta's discovery.

Types of batteries

No more than 140 years have passed since the invention of the first battery, and now it is difficult to imagine the modern world without battery-based backup power sources. Batteries are used everywhere, starting with the most harmless household devices: control panels, portable radios, flashlights, laptops, telephones, and ending with security systems of financial institutions, backup power supplies for data storage and transmission centers, the space industry, nuclear energy, communications, etc.

The developing world needs electrical energy as much as humans need oxygen to live. Therefore, designers and engineers work every day to optimize existing types of batteries and periodically develop new types and subtypes.

The main types of batteries are shown in Table No. 1.

	Application	Designation	Operating temperature, ºC	Element voltage, V	Specific energy, Wh/kg
Lithium-ion (Lithium polymer, lithium manganese, lithium iron sulfide, lithium iron phosphate, lithium iron yttrium phosphate, lithium titanate, lithium chlorine, lithium sulfur)	Transport, telecommunications, solar energy systems, autonomous and backup power supply, Hi-Tech, mobile power supplies, power tools, electric vehicles, etc.	Li-Ion (Li-Co, Li-pol, Li-Mn, LiFeP, LFP, Li-Ti, Li-Cl, Li-S)
nickel-salt	Road transport, Railway transport, Telecommunications, Energy, including alternative energy, Energy storage systems
nickel-cadmium	Electric cars, river and sea vessels, aviation
iron-nickel	Backup power supply, traction for electric vehicles, control circuits
nickel-hydrogen
nickel metal hydride	electric vehicles, defibrillators, rocket and space technology, autonomous power supply systems, radio equipment, lighting equipment.
nickel-zinc	Cameras
lead acid	Backup power systems, Appliances, UPS, alternative power supplies, transport, industry, etc.
silver-zinc	Military sphere
silver-cadmium	Space, communications, military technology
zinc-bromine
zinc chloride

Table No. 1. Classification of rechargeable batteries.

Based on the data given in Table No. 1, we can come to the conclusion that there are quite a lot of types of batteries, different in their characteristics, which are optimized for use in a variety of conditions and with different intensities. By using new technologies and components for production, scientists manage to achieve required characteristics Nickel-hydrogen batteries have been developed for specific applications, such as space satellites, space stations and other space equipment. Of course, the table does not show all types, but only the main ones that have become widespread.

Modern backup and autonomous power supply systems for the industrial and household segments are based on varieties of lead-acid, nickel-cadmium (less commonly used iron-nickel type) and lithium-ion batteries, since these chemical power sources are safe and have acceptable specifications and cost.

Lead acid batteries

This type is the most popular in the modern world due to its universal features and low cost. Due to the presence of a large number of varieties, lead-acid batteries are used in the areas of backup power systems, autonomous power supply systems, solar power plants, UPS, various types transport, communications, security systems, various types of portable devices, toys, etc.

Operating principle of lead-acid batteries

The basis of the operation of chemical power supplies is based on the interaction of metals and liquid - a reversible reaction that occurs when the contacts of the positive and negative plates are closed. Lead-acid batteries, as the name suggests, are made of lead and acid, with the positively charged plates being lead and the negatively charged plates being lead oxide. If you connect a light bulb to two plates, the circuit is closed and an electric current (the movement of electrons) occurs, and a chemical reaction occurs inside the element. In particular, the battery plates corrode and the lead becomes coated with lead sulfate. Thus, as the battery discharges, a coating of lead sulfate will form on all plates. When a battery is completely discharged, its plates are covered with the same metal - lead sulfate and have almost the same charge relative to the liquid, accordingly, the battery voltage will be very low.

If you connect a charger to the battery to the appropriate terminals and turn it on, current will flow in the acid reverse direction. The current will cause a chemical reaction, the acid molecules will split, and due to this reaction, lead sulfate will be removed from the positive and negative plasticine batteries. In the final stage charging process the plates will have their original appearance: lead and lead oxide, which will allow them to again receive a different charge, i.e. the battery will be fully charged.

However, in practice, everything looks a little different and the electrode plates are not completely cleaned, so the batteries have a certain resource, after which the capacity is reduced to 80-70% of the original.

Figure No. 3. Electrochemical circuit of a lead acid battery (VRLA).

Types of Lead Acid Batteries

Lead-Acid, serviced – 6, 12V batteries. Classic starter batteries for internal combustion engines and more. They require regular maintenance and ventilation. Subject to high self-discharge.

Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA), maintenance-free – 2, 4, 6 and 12V batteries. Inexpensive batteries in a sealed housing, which can be used in residential premises, do not require additional ventilation and maintenance. Recommended for use in buffer mode.

Absorbent Glass Mat Valve Regulated Lead–Acid (AGM VRLA), maintenance-free – 4, 6 and 12V batteries. Modern batteries lead-acid type with absorbed electrolyte (not liquid) and fiberglass separators that significantly better preserve lead plates, preventing them from collapsing. This solution made it possible to significantly reduce the charging time of AGM batteries, since charging current can reach 20-25, less often 30% of the nominal capacity.

AGM VRLA batteries have many modifications with optimized characteristics for cyclic and buffer operating modes: Deep - for frequent deep discharges, front-terminal – for convenient placement in telecommunication racks, Standard – general purpose, High Rate – provide better discharge performance up to 30% and are suitable for high-power sources uninterruptible power supply, Modular - allow you to create powerful battery cabinets, etc.



Figure No. 4.

GEL Valve Regulated Lead–Acid (GEL VRLA), maintenance-free – 2, 4, 6 and 12V batteries. One of the latest modifications of lead-acid batteries. The technology is based on the use of a gel-like electrolyte, which ensures maximum contact with the negative and positive plates of the elements and maintains a uniform consistency throughout the entire volume. This type batteries requires the “correct” charger that will provide the required level of current and voltage, only in this case can you get all the advantages compared to the AGM VRLA type.

Chemical power supplies GEL VRLA, like AGM, have many subtypes that the best way suitable for certain operating modes. The most common are the Solar series - used for solar energy systems, Marine - for sea and river transport, Deep Cycle - for frequent deep discharges, front-terminal - assembled in special housings for telecommunication systems, GOLF - for golf carts, as well as for scrubber dryers, Micro – small batteries for frequent use in mobile applications, Modular is a special solution for creating powerful battery banks for energy storage, etc.



Figure No. 5.

OPzV, maintenance-free – 2V batteries. Special lead-acid cells of the OPZV type are produced using tubular anode plates and sulfuric acid gel electrolyte. The anode and cathode of the elements contain an additional metal - calcium, which increases the resistance of the electrodes to corrosion and increases their service life. The negative plates are spreadable; this technology ensures better contact with the electrolyte.

OPzV batteries are resistant to deep discharges and have long term service up to 22 years. As a rule, only the best materials are used to manufacture such batteries to ensure high efficiency in cyclic mode.

The use of OPzV batteries is in demand in telecommunications installations, emergency lighting systems, uninterruptible power supplies, navigation systems, household and industrial energy storage systems and solar power generation.


Figure No. 6. Structure of the EverExceed OPzV battery.

OPzS, low maintenance - 2, 6, 12V batteries. Stationary flooded lead-acid batteries OPzS are manufactured with tubular anode plates with the addition of antimony. The cathode also contains a small amount of antimony and is a spreadable grid type. The anode and cathode are separated by microporous separators that prevent short circuits. The battery housing is made of special impact-resistant, chemical and fire-resistant transparent plastic, and the ventilated valves are of the fireproof type and provide protection from possible ingress of flames and sparks.

Transparent walls allow you to conveniently control the electrolyte level using minimum and maximum value marks. The special structure of the valves makes it possible to add distilled water and measure the density of the electrolyte without removing them. Depending on the load, water is added once every one to two years.

OPzS type batteries have the most high performance among all other types of lead-acid batteries. The service life can reach 20–25 years and provide a resource of up to 1800 cycles of deep 80% discharge.

The use of such batteries is necessary in systems with medium and deep discharge requirements, incl. where inrush currents of average magnitude are observed.



Figure No. 7.

Characteristics of lead-acid batteries

Analyzing the data given in Table No. 2, we can come to the conclusion that lead-acid batteries have a wide selection of models that are suitable for various operating modes and operating conditions.

			AGM VRLA	GEL VRLA
Capacity, Ampere/hour
Voltage, Volt
Optimal discharge depth, %
Allowable discharge depth, %
Cyclic life, D.O.D.=50%
Optimal temperature, °C
Operating temperature range, °C
Service life, years at +20°С
Self-discharge, %
Max. charge current,% of capacity
Minimum charge time, h
Maintenance Requirements						1 – 2 years
Average cost, $, 12V/100Ah.

Table No. 2. Comparative characteristics by types of lead-acid batteries.

For the analysis, we used average data from more than 10 battery manufacturers, whose products have been on the Ukrainian market for a long time and are successfully used in many areas (EverExceed, B.B. Battery, CSB, Leoch, Ventura, Challenger, C&D Technologies, Victron Energy, SunLight , Troian and others).

Lithium-ion (lithium) batteries

The history of the passage of origin goes back to 1912, when Gilbert Newton Lewis worked on calculating the ion activities of strong electrolytes and conducted studies of the electrode potentials of a number of elements, including lithium. Since 1973, work was resumed and as a result the first lithium-based batteries appeared, which provided only one discharge cycle. Attempts to create a lithium battery were hampered by the active properties of lithium, which, under incorrect discharge or charge conditions, caused a violent reaction with the release of high temperatures and even flames. Sony released the first Cell phones with similar batteries, but was forced to recall the product after several unpleasant incidents. Development did not stop and in 1992 the first “safe” batteries based on lithium ions appeared.

Lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density and therefore compact size and light weight provide 2-4 times more capacity compared to lead acid batteries. Undoubtedly, the great advantage of lithium-ion batteries is high speed Full 100% recharge within 1-2 hours.

Li-ion batteries received wide application in modern electronic technology, automotive industry, energy storage systems, solar power generation. They are extremely in demand in high-tech multimedia and communication devices: phones, tablet computers, laptops, radios, etc. Modern world It’s hard to imagine without lithium-ion power supplies.

Operating principle of lithium (lithium-ion) batteries

The operating principle is to use lithium ions, which are bound by molecules of additional metals. Typically, lithium cobalt oxide and graphite are used in addition to lithium. When a lithium-ion battery is discharged, ions move from the negative electrode (cathode) to the positive electrode (anode) and vice versa when charging. The battery circuit assumes the presence of a separation separator between the two parts of the cell, this is necessary to prevent the spontaneous movement of lithium ions. When the battery circuit is closed and the process of charging or discharging occurs, the ions overcome the separation separator, tending to the oppositely charged electrode.

Figure No. 8. Electrochemical circuit of a lithium-ion battery.

Due to their high efficiency, lithium-ion batteries have received rapid development and many subtypes, for example, lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4). Below is a graphical diagram of how this subtype works.

Figure No. 9. Electrochemical diagram of the discharge and discharge process of a LiFePO4 battery.

Types of Li-ion Batteries

Modern lithium-ion batteries have many subtypes, the main difference being the composition of the cathode (negatively charged electrode). The composition of the anode can also be changed for complete replacement graphite or the use of graphite with the addition of other materials.

Different types of lithium-ion batteries are designated by their chemical degradation. This can be a little confusing for the average user, so each type will be described in as much detail as possible, including its full name, chemical definition, abbreviation, and short designation. For convenience of description, an abbreviated name will be used.

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2)– It has a high energy density, which makes lithium-cobalt batteries popular in compact high-tech devices. The battery cathode is made of cobalt oxide, while the anode is made of graphite. The cathode has a layered structure and during the discharge, lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode. The disadvantage of this type is the relatively short service life, low thermal stability and limited element power.

Lithium-cobalt batteries cannot be discharged or charged with a current exceeding their rated capacity, so a battery with a capacity of 2.4Ah can operate with a current of 2.4A. If a high current is used for charging, this will cause overheating. The optimal charging current is 0.8C, in this case 1.92A. Each lithium-cobalt battery is equipped with a protection circuit that limits charge and discharge rate and limits current to 1C.

The graph (Fig. 10) shows the main properties of lithium-cobalt batteries in terms of specific energy or power, specific power or ability to provide high current, safety or chances of ignition when high load, operating ambient temperature, service life and cyclic resource, cost.



Figure No. 10.

Lithium Manganese Oxide (LiMn2O4, LMO)– The first information about the use of lithium with manganese spinels was published in scientific reports in 1983. In 1996, Moli Energy released the first batches of batteries based on lithium manganese oxide as a cathode material. This architecture forms three-dimensional spinel structures that improve the flow of ions to the electrode, thereby reducing internal resistance and increasing possible charge currents. Spinel also has the advantage of thermal stability and increased safety, but its cyclic life and service life are limited.

Low resistance allows the lithium-manganese battery to be quickly charged and discharged with a high current of up to 30A and short-term up to 50A. Suitable for heavy-duty power tools, medical equipment, as well as hybrid and electric Vehicle.

The potential of lithium-manganese batteries is approximately 30% lower than lithium-cobalt batteries, but the technology is approximately 50% better than batteries based on nickel chemistries.

Design flexibility allows engineers to optimize battery properties and achieve long service life, high capacity (energy density), the ability to provide maximum current(power density). For example, the long-life cell size 18650 has a capacity of 1.1Ah, while cells optimized for high capacity have a capacity of 1.5Ah, but they have a shorter service life.

The graph (Fig. 12) does not show the most impressive characteristics lithium-manganese batteries, however, modern developments have significantly improved performance characteristics and made this type competitive and widely used.



Figure No. 11.

Modern lithium-manganese batteries can be produced with the addition of other elements - lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC), this technology significantly extends the service life and increases the energy density. This composition brings best properties from each system, the so-called LMO (NMC) is used for most electric vehicles such as Nissan, Chevrolet, BMW, etc.

Lithium-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO2 or NMC)– Leading lithium-ion battery manufacturers have focused on nickel-manganese-cobalt combinations as cathode materials (NMC). Similar to the lithium-manganese type, these batteries can be adapted to achieve either high energy density or high power density, but not at the same time. For example, an NMC type 18650 cell under moderate load has a capacity of 2.8Ah and can provide a maximum current of 4-5A; NMC element optimized to parameters increased power, has only 2Wh, but can provide a continuous discharge current of up to 20A. The peculiarity of NMC is the combination of nickel and manganese, an example is table salt, in which the main ingredients are sodium and chloride, which individually are toxic substances.

Nickel is known for its high energy density but low stability. Manganese has the advantage of forming a spinel structure and provides low internal resistance, but also has low specific energy. By combining these two metals, it is possible to obtain optimal NMC battery characteristics for different operating modes.

NMC batteries are ideal for power tools, electric bicycles and other power applications. The combination of cathode materials: a third of nickel, manganese and cobalt provides unique properties and also reduces the cost of the product due to the reduction in cobalt content. Other subtypes like NCM, CMN, CNM, MNC and MCN have excellent value metal triplets from 1/3-1/3-1/3. Usually, the exact ratio is kept secret by the manufacturer.



Figure No. 12.

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)– in 1996, phosphate was used as a cathode material for lithium batteries at the University of Texas (and others). Lithium phosphate offers good electrochemical performance with low resistance. This is made possible with nano-phosphate cathode material. The main advantages are high current flow and long service life, in addition, good thermal stability and increased safety.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries are more tolerant of full discharge and are less susceptible to aging than other lithium-ion systems. LFPs are also more resistant to overcharging, but like other lithium-ion batteries, overcharging can cause damage. LiFePO4 provides a very stable discharge voltage of 3.2V, which also allows you to use only 4 cells to create a 12V standard battery, which in turn allows you to effectively replace lead-acid batteries. Lithium iron phosphate batteries do not contain cobalt, which significantly reduces the cost of the product and makes it more environmentally friendly. Provides high current during the discharge process, and can also be charged at rated current in just one hour to full capacity. Operation at low ambient temperatures reduces performance, and temperatures above 35ºC reduce service life slightly, but the performance is much better than that of lead-acid, nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride batteries. Lithium phosphate has a higher self-discharge than other lithium-ion batteries, which may necessitate balancing battery cabinets.



Figure No. 13.

Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum Oxide (LiNiCoAlO2)– Lithium nickel cobalt oxide aluminum (NCA) batteries were introduced in 1999. This type provides high energy density and sufficient power density, as well as a long service life. However, there are risks of ignition, as a result of which aluminum was added, which ensures higher stability of the electrochemical processes occurring in the battery at high discharge and charge currents.



Figure No. 14.

Lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12)– Batteries with lithium titanate anodes have been known since the 1980s. The cathode is made of graphite and has similarities to the architecture of a typical lithium metal battery. Lithium titanate has a cell voltage of 2.4V, can be quickly charged, and provides a high discharge current of 10C, which is 10 times the rated capacity of the battery.

Lithium titanate batteries have an increased cycle life compared to other Li-ion types of batteries. Possess high security, and are also able to operate at low temperatures (down to –30ºC) without a noticeable decrease in performance.

The disadvantage is the rather high cost, as well as a small specific energy indicator, about 60-80Wh/kg, which is quite comparable to nickel-cadmium batteries. Applications: Electrical power units and uninterruptible power supplies.



Figure No. 15.

Lithium polymer batteries (Li-pol, Li-polymer, LiPo, LIP, Li-poly)– Lithium polymer batteries differ from lithium-ion batteries in that they use a special polymer electrolyte. The excitement for this type of battery since the 2000s lasts until today. It is based not without reason, because with the help of special polymers it was possible to create a battery without liquid or gel-like electrolyte, this makes it possible to create batteries of almost any shape. But the main problem is that solid polymer electrolyte provides poor conductivity at room temperature, and exhibits better properties when heated to 60°C. All attempts by scientists to discover a solution to this problem were in vain.

Modern lithium polymer batteries use a small amount of gel electrolyte for better conductivity at normal temperatures. And the operating principle is based on one of the types described above. The most common is the lithium-cobalt type with a polymer gel electrolyte, which is used in most cases.

The main difference between lithium-ion batteries and lithium polymer batteries is that the microporous polymer electrolyte is replaced by a traditional separator. Lithium polymer has a slightly higher energy density and makes it possible to create thinner cells, but the cost is 10-30% higher than lithium-ion. There is also a significant difference in the structure of the body. If lithium-polymer uses thin foil, which makes it possible to create batteries so thin that they look like credit cards, then lithium-ion is assembled in a rigid metal case to tightly fix the electrodes.

Figure No. 17. Appearance of a Li-polymer battery for a mobile phone.

Characteristics of lithium-ion batteries

There is no maximum cell capacity in the table because lithium-ion battery technology does not allow for the production of high-power individual cells. When high capacity or constant current is required, the batteries are connected in parallel and series using jumpers. The condition must be monitored by a battery monitoring system. Modern battery cabinets for UPS and solar power plants based on lithium cells can reach a voltage of 500-700V DC with a capacity of about 400A/h, as well as a capacity of 2000-3000Ah with a voltage of 48 or 96V.

Parameter\Type
Element voltage, Volt;
Optimal temperature, °C;
Service life, years at +20°C;
Self-discharge per month, %
Max. discharge current
Max. charge current
Minimum charge time, h
Maintenance Requirements
Cost level

Nickel-cadmium batteries

The inventor is the Swedish scientist Waldemar Jungner, who patented the technology for the production of nickel-cadmium type in 1899. In 1990, a patent dispute arose with Edison, which Jungner lost due to the fact that he did not own the same funds as his opponent. The company "Ackumulator Aktiebolaget Jungner", founded by Waldemar, was on the verge of bankruptcy, however, having changed its name to "Svenska Ackumulator Aktiebolaget Jungner", the company nevertheless continued its development. Currently, the company founded by the developer is called “SAFT AB” and produces some of the most reliable nickel-cadmium batteries in the world.

Nickel-cadmium batteries are a very durable and reliable type. There are serviced and maintenance-free models with capacities from 5 to 1500Ah. Typically supplied in the form of dry-charged cans without electrolyte with a nominal voltage of 1.2V. Despite the similarity in design with lead-acid batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries have a number of significant advantages in the form stable operation at temperatures from –40°C, the ability to withstand high inrush currents, and also optimized models for fast discharge. Ni-Cd batteries are resistant to deep discharge, overcharging and do not require instant charging like the lead-acid type. Structurally, they are manufactured in impact-resistant plastic and are well tolerated mechanical damage, not afraid of vibration, etc.

Operating principle of nickel-cadmium batteries

Alkaline batteries, the electrodes of which consist of nickel oxide hydrate with the addition of graphite, barium oxide and cadmium powder. As a rule, the electrolyte is a solution with a 20% potassium content and the addition of lithium monohydrate. The plates are separated by insulating separators to avoid short circuits; one negatively charged plate is located between two positively charged ones.

During the discharge process of a nickel-cadmium battery, interaction occurs between the anode with nickel oxide hydrate and electrolyte ions, forming nickel oxide hydrate. At the same time, the cadmium cathode forms cadmium oxide hydrate, thereby creating a potential difference of up to 1.45V, providing voltage inside the battery and in the external closed circuit.

The process of charging nickel-cadmium batteries is accompanied by oxidation of the active mass of the anodes and the transition of nickel oxide hydrate to nickel oxide hydrate. At the same time, the cathode is reduced to form cadmium.

The advantage of the operating principle of a nickel-cadmium battery is that all components that are formed during the discharge and charge cycles are almost insoluble in the electrolyte, and also do not enter into any side reactions.

Figure No. 16. Structure of a Ni-Cd battery.

Types of Nickel-Cadmium Batteries

Today, Ni-Cd batteries are most commonly used in industrial applications that require powering a variety of applications. Some manufacturers offer several subtypes of nickel-cadmium batteries that provide best job in certain modes:

discharge time 1.5 – 5 hours or more – serviceable batteries;

discharge time 1.5 – 5 hours or more – maintenance-free batteries;

discharge time 30 – 150 minutes – serviceable batteries;

discharge time 20 – 45 minutes – serviceable batteries;

discharge time 3 – 25 minutes – serviceable batteries.

Characteristics of nickel-cadmium batteries

Parameter\Type	Nickel-cadmium / Ni-Cd
Capacity, Ampere/hour;
Element voltage, Volt;
Optimal discharge depth, %;
Permissible discharge depth, %;
Cyclic life, D.O.D.=80%;
Optimal temperature, °C;
Operating temperature range, °C;
Service life, years at +20°C;
Self-discharge per month, %
Max. discharge current
Max. charge current
Minimum charge time, h
Maintenance Requirements	Low or no maintenance
Cost level	average (300 – 400$ 100Ah)

High technical characteristics make this type of battery very attractive for solving industrial problems when a highly reliable backup power source with a long service life is required.

Nickel-iron batteries

They were first created by Waldemar Jungner in 1899, when he was trying to find more cheap analogue cadmium in the composition nickel cadmium batteries. After much testing, Jungner abandoned the use of iron because the charge was carried out too slowly. A few years later, Thomas Edison created a nickel-iron battery that powered Baker Electric and Detroit Electric electric vehicles.

The low cost of production has allowed nickel-iron batteries to become in demand in electric vehicles as traction batteries; they are also used for electrification passenger cars, power supply of control circuits. In recent years, people have started talking about nickel-iron batteries. new strength, as they do not contain toxic elements like lead, cadmium, cobalt, etc. Currently, some manufacturers are promoting them for renewable energy systems.

Operating principle of nickel-iron batteries

Electricity is stored using nickel oxide-hydroxide used as positive plates, iron as negative plates and liquid electrolyte in the form of potassium hydroxide. Nickel stable tubes or "pockets" contain the active substance

The nickel-iron type is very reliable because... withstands deep discharges, frequent recharges, and can also be in an undercharged state, which is very detrimental to lead-acid batteries.

Characteristics of nickel-iron batteries

Parameter\Type	Nickel-cadmium / Ni-Cd
Capacity, Ampere/hour;
Element voltage, Volt;
Optimal discharge depth, %;
Permissible discharge depth, %;
Cyclic life, D.O.D.=80%;
Optimal temperature, °C;
Operating temperature range, °C;
Service life, years at +20°C;
Self-discharge per month, %
Max. discharge current
Max. charge current
Minimum charge time, h
Maintenance Requirements	Low maintenance
Cost level	medium, low

Used materials

Research by Boston Consulting Group

Technical documentation TM Bosch, Panasonic, EverExceed, Victron Energy, Varta, Leclanché, Envia, Kokam, Samsung, Valence and others.

Electric battery – special device, which accumulates electricity and provides autonomous power supply to equipment. During its operation, a transition from one type of energy to another occurs, as well as the reversibility of the described process.

In most cases, the electrochemical method is used. Among the names of an electric battery is a secondary chemical current source, since it requires charging before use.

Battery types

Batteries are divided by type depending on their chemical composition, which affects their performance properties.

• nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) - the oldest type of rechargeable battery, characterized by the need to comply with the “full discharge” - “full charge” cycle (they have a memory effect) and are sensitive to cold (they do not release energy well in the cold), but can be stored discharged and characterized by low self-discharge, now used mainly in power tools
• Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) - a very common type of simple and cheap compact rechargeable battery, the memory effect and sensitivity to cold are slightly lower than nickel-cadmium batteries, but they need to be kept charged and have a higher self-discharge, now they mainly used in radiotelephones
• lithium-ion (Li-Ion) - a more modern type of battery, almost not subject to the memory effect (reduction in capacity), which allows you to charge them at any time and do not have to completely discharge them, there is sensitivity to cold, but it is not critical, you need to maintain the charge at storage, they are often used in cameras
• lithium polymer (Li-Pol) - a lightweight version of lithium-ion batteries that has the same properties, but with significantly less weight, which has found application in compact mobile devices and drones
• lead-acid (SLA) - large powerful batteries capable of quickly delivering enormous energy (current), which is used in engine starters (starters) and uninterruptible power supplies, require periodic recharging during storage

Batteries also differ in voltage in volts (V), capacity in ampere-hours (Ah) or milliamp-hours (mAh), and physical size (type).

Battery classification

All batteries can be divided according to purpose into several main groups:

• household (rechargeable batteries)
• for radiotelephones
• for flashlights
• automotive
• for UPS
• industrial

Now let's look at them in a little more detail, including standard sizes and the best manufacturers.

To ensure the normal functioning of equipment, batteries of different sizes are used. The main area of ​​their use is powering small household devices.

Rechargeable batteries are used for the most various devices– radio mice, keyboards, cameras, simple flashlights, watches, and other small electronics.

They have different sizes:

• AA (finger) - the most common format of round batteries with a length of 5 cm, a voltage of 1.2 V and a capacity of 1000-3000 mAh
• AAA (mini-finger) - also widespread, have a length of 4.4 cm, the same voltage of 1.2 V, but a smaller capacity of 500-1500 mAh
• crown - a rarer rectangular battery with a voltage of 9 V, used in some electrical appliances (for example, multimeters)

There are other, rarer battery formats:

• CS (Sub C) – short round battery
• C (R14) – medium coin cell battery
• D (R20) – large round battery

They are not very common and are used in some specific devices and old cameras.

The best popular manufacturers of rechargeable batteries include Panasonic, Varta, Ansmann, Sanyo. There are also many other famous brands, but they are more often counterfeited.

This can be a monolithic battery or individual elements. Such devices are small in size and light in weight. Batteries for radiotelephones are often convenient ready-made assemblies of conventional Ni-MH rechargeable batteries.

Also, some phones use non-standard branded batteries. Among the manufacturers we can recommend Panasonic and Robiton.

Flashlight batteries are available on the market in a wide range and the choice depends on the specific model.

The most popular are:

• AA (14500)– batteries for large flashlights (length 5 cm, diameter 1.4 cm)
• AAA– ordinary Ni-MH cells with a nominal voltage of 1.2 V and a capacity of 500-1100 mAh
• CR123A 16340– designed for compact flashlights (length 3.4 cm)

There are also special batteries for powerful flashlights and stun guns.

They have their own unique sizes, which must be selected depending on the flashlight model:

• 10440
• 18650
• 26650

These batteries differ in physical size and capacity. They are basically lithium polymer, which makes them very light. Among the manufacturers, Panasonic, Robiton, and Fenix ​​have proven themselves well.

We won’t talk much about car batteries; we’ll only touch on the differences from all the others that you need to know.

These are large serviceable lead acid batteries with liquid electrolyte. They are capable of quickly delivering enormous current, but it is necessary to monitor their charge and electrolyte level (top up as necessary). You cannot store a lead-acid battery discharged, as it will fail in about six months.

Batteries for computer UPSs are designed to provide short-term power to equipment in the event of a temporary power outage. They are also lead-acid, but unlike automobile ones they are maintenance-free, and the electrolyte in them is thickened in the form of a gel, which prevents leaks.

Otherwise, these batteries are similar to car batteries; they can quickly drain high current and require periodic recharging. Different UPSs use batteries with different voltages (12 or 24 V), different capacities(7, 9, 12 Ah) and different physical sizes. There are also models in which several batteries connected together are installed.

Choose a battery of the same voltage and size as in your UPS; the capacity can be slightly larger if desired (for example, 9 Ah instead of 7 Ah) - this will extend the operation of the PC from the UPS. Among the manufacturers we can recommend SCB, Yuasa and Delta.

The batteries in UPSs for gas boilers and other critical equipment have a higher capacity compared to models used when operating computer equipment. After all, they are designed to maintain the functioning of heating devices for a day or more.

Such batteries are often external and connected to the UPS using special terminals, and the UPS itself must output voltage in the form of a pure sine wave, which is important for electric pumps used in heating systems and other voltage-sensitive equipment.

Industrial batteries

Usually huge batteries with high capacity. Can be of different voltages, including high voltage. We will not say anything more about them, since this is not the topic of our site.

Conclusion

In order for the battery to hold a charge well and last long enough, it must be from a reliable, trusted manufacturer and, of course, original, and not a cheap fake. It is also important in what conditions and for how long the batteries are stored.

Therefore, it is best to purchase batteries in specialized stores that pay special attention to Special attention their quality. High-quality batteries for a variety of purposes from the best manufacturers can be purchased at https://voltacom.ru/catalog/power/akkum.

Charger Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 2C 20000mAh
Charger Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 2 10000mAh
Charger Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 5000mAh

A car battery is a seasonal product, although it is used all year round. When the birds are singing outside and warm oil is splashing inside the engine, it is not difficult to crank the crankshaft - even a half-dead battery can do it. But in the cold it is not easy for the starter, and it strives to turn into a purely active resistance, consuming a very large current. As a result, the battery tends to fail, and the owner will have to go to the store.

How to choose a battery

If you do not want to contact the service or the help of the seller, then the selection algorithm should be as follows.

You need to take a battery that is guaranteed to fit in the niche allocated to it, be it the engine compartment, trunk or something else. Agree: it’s stupid to miss by a couple of centimeters! At the same time, we determine the polarity: we look at the old battery and figure out what is on the right and what is on the left? It goes without saying that if the car is not European, then the terminals themselves may differ from most usual ones - both in shape and location.

After that, choose a brand. Here we definitely advise you to be guided by the list of our winners of recent years and never “peck” at newcomers or outsiders. Even if their labels are the most beautiful. Here are some of the names that usually did not let us down: Tyumen (Tyumen batteries), Varta, Medalist, a-mega, Mutlu, Topla, “Aktech”, “Beast”.

We conduct comparative tests of various car batteries every year. The latest results, where we compared 10 batteries, can be seen. Those interested can also familiarize themselves with the examinations of previous years: , , , etc.

The brand of the battery usually determines its price. approximate cost European car batteries with dimensions 242×175×190 mm in 2014 ranged from 3,000 to 4,800 rubles. for a regular battery, and from 6300 to 7750 rubles. - for AGM. The declared current and capacity will be obtained by themselves - based on the dimensions.

Important: if you had an AGM battery installed, then you should only change it to an AGM battery, and not to a “regular” one. Reverse replacement is quite acceptable, but not economically feasible.

Now we charge the battery - even the one we just bought! Our experience shows: in stores, under the guise of a brand new battery, they happily sell you an “almost new” battery, from which they have only just had time to wipe off the dust. We charge it, connect it instead of the old battery, and - the key is to start!

For those interested in technical details

Is it useful to “warm up” the battery by turning on the headlights before starting the engine in cold weather?

Why do you need a peephole indicator?

This indicator allows you to roughly estimate the density and level of electrolyte to find out whether your car battery needs to be recharged. By and large, this is a toy, since the eye is only in one jar out of six. However, many serious producers at one time they were forced to introduce it into the design, since the absence of a peephole was perceived by consumers as a disadvantage.

Is it possible to assess the condition of a car battery by the voltage at the terminals?

It's approximately possible. At room temperature, a fully charged battery, disconnected from loads, should produce at least 12.6–12.7 V.

What is hidden behind the term “calcium battery”?

Nothing special: this is a regular advertising ploy. Yes, the “Ca” (or even “Ca - Ca”) icons on car batteries are increasingly present today, but this does not make them any easier. But calcium is a much less heavy metal than lead. The thing is that we are talking about very small (fractions or units of percent) calcium additions to the alloy from which battery plates are made. If it is added to both positive and negative electrodes, then the same “Ca - Ca” is obtained. All other things being equal, such car batteries are more difficult to boil, which is important for maintenance-free batteries. Such batteries have less self-discharge during storage. Therefore, “ordinary” batteries with additions of previously traditional antimony (they are usually indicated by the presence of plugs) are almost never found on sale today! Note that not everything about them is so bad: for example, they withstand deep discharges much better!

Why do car batteries produce the declared current for such a short time when tested?

Indeed, if the capacity is 60 A h, then arithmetic dictates: a current of 600 A should be delivered for approximately 0.1 hour or 6 minutes! But the real count is only tens of seconds... The thing is that the battery capacity depends on the current! And at the specified current, the battery capacity is no longer 60 Ah, but much less: approximately 20–25! The inscription 60 Ah only means that for 20 hours at a temperature of 25ºC you can discharge your battery with a current equal to 60/20 = 3A - and nothing more. At the same time, at the end of the discharge, the voltage at the battery terminals should not drop below 10.5 V.

Why choose a battery with a stated current of, say, 600 A, if the real need is half that?

The declared current is also an indirect indicator of the quality of the car battery: the higher it is, the lower its internal resistance! In addition, if we take an extreme case, when, God forbid, the oil has thickened so much that the starter can barely budge the crankshaft, then this is where the maximum possible current may be needed.

Is it true that if you install a car battery with a larger capacity than the standard one on your car, it will not be charged enough, and the starter may fail?

No it is not true. What will prevent the battery from charging fully? It is appropriate to draw an analogy: if you scooped up a glass of water from a bucket or from a huge barrel, then to restore the original level of liquid you will need to add the same glass from the tap - both into the bucket and into the barrel. As for the expected breakdown of the starter, its current consumption will not change, even if the battery capacity increases by a factor of a hundred or a thousand. Ohm's law does not depend on ampere hours.

Talk about future breakdowns is only appropriate for extreme sports enthusiasts who are accustomed to getting out of the swamp on the starter. At the same time, the latter, of course, gets very hot, and therefore a small battery, which runs out faster than a large one, can save it from fatal overheating by dying first... But this is a hypothetical case.

Let us immediately note one interesting nuance. IN Soviet times on a number army trucks It was strictly prohibited to install a car battery larger capacity! But the reason was precisely that when the engine did not want to start, drivers often turned the starters until the battery was completely discharged. The starters overheated greatly and often failed. And the higher the battery capacity, the longer it was possible to mock the poor electric motor. It was to protect starters from such bullying that there was once a requirement not to exceed the battery capacity above the “standard” one. But now this is irrelevant.

The million dollar question: what is measured in ampere hours?

At least not the battery capacity! This is a common misconception even among professionals. Which, however, are lost when asked how the product of current and time gives capacitance? Because the correct answer is: ampere-hour is a unit of measurement. charge! 1 Ah = 3600 C. And capacitance is measured in farads: 1F = 1C/1V. Those who don’t believe in this can turn to any reference book - for example, Boshev’s.

As for batteries, the confusing terminology is still alive. And what is actually a charge is called capacitance in the old fashioned way. Some textbooks are twisted - they say, “capacity evaluate in ampere hours." They don't measure, they evaluate! Well, well, at least this way...

By the way, in Soviet times it was incomparably easier to choose a battery - only by ampere-hours. Let's say, for a Volga you had to look for a 60 Ah car battery, for a Zhiguli -55 Ah. Polarity and terminals on domestic cars were the same. Today, it is not worth focusing only on ampere hours, since products different manufacturers with the same capacity they can differ quite significantly in other parameters. Let's say, 60 Ah batteries can have an 11% spread in height, 28% in declared current, etc. Prices also live their own lives.

And one last thing. If instead of “Ah” you see the inscription “Ah” (on the label, in an article, in an advertisement - it doesn’t matter) - do not mess with this product. Behind it are uneducated and indifferent people who do not have a basic understanding of electricity.

What is an AGM battery?

The main area of ​​application of AGM is cars with Start-Stop modes. This battery even says: Start Stop!

The main area of ​​application of AGM is cars with Start-Stop modes. This battery even says: Start Stop!

Formally speaking, an AGM car battery is the same lead-acid product that many generations of motorists are accustomed to, but at the same time it is much more advanced than its ancestors and in soon will completely push them out of the market.

AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) is a technology for manufacturing batteries with absorbed electrolyte, which is impregnated with the micropores of the separator. Developers use the free volume of these micropores for closed recombination of gases, thereby preventing water from evaporating. Hydrogen and oxygen leaving the negative and positive plates, respectively, enter the bound environment and recombine, remaining inside the battery. The internal resistance of such a battery is lower than that of its “liquid” predecessors, since the conductivity of the fiberglass separator is better compared to traditional polyethylene “envelopes”. Therefore, it is capable of delivering higher currents. A tightly compressed package of plates prevents the active mass from crumbling, which allows it to withstand deep cyclic discharges. Such a car battery can work even upside down. And if you break it into pieces, then even in this case there will be no toxic puddle: the bound electrolyte must remain in the separators.

Today's areas of application of AGM are cars with a “Start-Stop” mode, cars with increased energy consumption (EMERCOM, ambulance), etc. But tomorrow, a “simple” car battery will slowly become history...

Are AGM and regular batteries interchangeable?

An AGM car battery replaces a “regular” one 100%. Is such a replacement necessary if the car only needs a serviceable standard battery - another question. But the reverse replacement, of course, is incomplete - it can be used in practice only in a hopeless situation and as a temporary option.

Is it true that a 50 Ah AGM car battery can be used instead of a regular 90 Ah battery?

Sorry, this is nonsense. How can you almost halve the charge and say that there will be no difference? Lost amp hours cannot be compensated by any technology, not even AGM.

Is it true that a high current from an AGM battery can destroy a car's starter?

Of course not. The current is determined by the resistance of the load, and in this case, the starter. And even if a car battery can produce a current of a million amperes, the starter will take exactly as much as from a regular battery. He cannot break Ohm's law.

On which cars is it undesirable to use AGM?

There is no such restriction. Even if we consider ancient machines with absolutely faulty relay regulator and unstable voltage in the network, then in this case the AGM car battery will die not earlier than usual, but even later. The voltage limit above which trouble can occur is approximately 14.5 V for regular batteries and 14.8 V for AGM.

Which car battery is more susceptible to deep discharge - AGM or regular?

Regular. After 5-6 deep discharges they can become completely “offended”, while for AGM this number is practically unlimited.

Can an AGM car battery be considered completely maintenance-free?

This is a matter of established terminology, which works more in favor of PR than science. Strictly speaking, this term is incorrect - both for AGM batteries and for any other car batteries. Only a AA battery can be called completely maintenance-free, but any lead-acid car battery, generally speaking, is not. Even the technology leader - the AGM battery - is sealed, let's say, 99%, but not 100%. And such a battery still needs to be maintained - check the charge, recharge if necessary, etc.

How are gel batteries different from AGM?

At least because gel car batteries... do not exist! The question is generated by the established incorrect terminology: gel batteries used, for example, in electric forklifts or scrubber dryers. The electrolyte in them, unlike conventional car batteries with liquid acid, is in a thickened state. In batteries with AGM technology the electrolyte is bound (impregnated) in a special fiberglass separator.

Note that the most popular Optima battery is also AGM, and not gel at all.

What is battery reserve capacity?

This parameter shows how long a car with a damaged alternator will last on a cold rainy night. An expert will say differently: how many minutes will it take for the voltage at the terminals of a battery delivering a current of 25 A to the load to drop to 10.5 V. Measurements are carried out at a temperature of 25 °C. The higher the result, the better.

We hope that our tips will help you choose the right battery and refresh your memory of interesting “battery” information.

Good luck on the roads!

A battery is a device in which energy is accumulated and stored. Most of these devices work by converting electrical energy into chemical energy and vice versa. This process allows you to charge and discharge the device. In this case, the equipment can be used as a charger, power source, control or compensation unit.

Batteries are needed to operate a variety of devices, from simple TV remote controls to nuclear power and the space industry. All these devices are divided depending on different technological characteristics and features of use. Battery performance is characterized by capacity, voltage, internal resistance, self-discharge current and service life.

What types of batteries are there? All existing devices can be divided into several types:

• electrochemical;
• magnetic;
• mechanical;
• thermal;
• light

Electrochemical batteries

This type of equipment is divided into several large groups:

• electrical;
• gas;
• reversible fuel cells;
• alkaline;
• capacitors.

Electrical devices are the most common type of battery. The work uses lead, nickel, iron, zinc, silver and other types of plates made from alloys. Acids, solutions of magnesium, cadmium salts and other elements are used as electrolytes.

The design of such devices is most easily explained using the example of lead-acid batteries. The equipment operates using a reversible reaction between a liquid (in this case an acid) and a metal – lead. Thanks to the reversibility of chemical processes, it becomes possible to reuse the battery through discharge-charge. When current is passed in the direction opposite to the discharge process, the battery is charged; if the equipment is connected in the opposite direction, it is discharged.

The chemical reaction proceeds according to the following scheme:

• anode: Pb+SO42_2е-⇄PbSO4;
• cathode: Pb2+SO42-+4H++2е-⇄PbSO4+2H2O.

How does this happen in reality? If you connect a light bulb to the plates, then the movement of electrons in the battery will begin, that is, an electric current will arise, and a chemical reaction will take place. Due to this, lead sulfate is formed on the plates. After connecting power sources, the reaction will go in the opposite direction. The acid will be broken down and plaque will be removed. Then, when the light bulb is turned on, the process again goes in the opposite direction.

Important! When charging, the electrode plates cannot be completely cleaned. Some of the plaque will still remain on the surface. This leads to the fact that the capacity of the equipment gradually decreases.

All types of rechargeable batteries and electrochemical batteries can be divided into three large groups:

1. Repairable - differ from other batteries in that they can be disassembled. On the other hand, these devices require constant checking of the electrolyte level. In addition, models are more susceptible to depressurization, which, in turn, can lead to an increase in the concentration of acid vapors;
2. Maintenance-free - it is impossible to repair anything in the design of this equipment or refill electrolyte. If any problems arise with the operation of the battery, the battery must be completely replaced;
3. Low maintenance - the equipment provides access to the electrolyte level and it is possible to add it when the battery dries out.

There are certain types of lead-acid batteries:

• Lead-Acid
• Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA),
• Absorbent Glass Mat Valve Regulated Lead–Acid (AGM VRLA),
• GEL Valve Regulated Lead–Acid (GEL VRLA),
• OPzV.

Lithium-ion batteries use electrodes made of aluminum (cathode) and copper (anode) foil, which are impregnated with lithium electrolytes. Additionally, lithium cobalt oxide and graphite are used. The charge is lithium ion, which is positively charged and intercalates into the crystal lattices during a chemical reaction. During battery operation, ions overcome the separator barrier on their way to the electrode. For high-quality work, a separating separator (usually paper) is additionally used. This element is necessary to prevent the movement of ions in a random order.

In modern lithium-ion batteries, additional elements are introduced into the cathodes and anodes. Therefore, the abbreviations of the names refer to the substances involved in the chemical decomposition reaction:

• LiCoO2 – lithium-cobalt batteries have a high specific energy, but have low thermal stability;
• LiMn2O4, LMO – lithium-manganese models are necessary for high-power power tools and vehicles. When lithium-manganese batteries operate, the charge current increases significantly due to the formation of three-dimensional spinel structures, which improves the flow of ions. But the potential of these batteries is lower than that of lithium-cobalt batteries;
• LiNiMnCoAlO2 or NCA - the use of nickel, manganese and cobalt in the cathode in one battery helps to increase the specific power or energy. Due to this, it is ensured optimal characteristics for different operating modes. In addition, reducing the cobalt content reduces cost without sacrificing quality;
• LiFePO4 - here phosphate is used for the cathode. Lithium iron phosphate batteries have a long service life and increased safety;
• Li4Ti5O12 – lithium titanate battery has an increased resource and the ability to operate at temperatures down to -300C;
• Li-pol, Li-polymer, LiPo, LIP, Li-poly - these batteries use polymer as an electrolyte. Therefore, polymer battery designs can be of any shape.

The next type is gas batteries, based on the use of the electrochemical potential of gases. During operation of the device, gas is released on the electrodes, which is absorbed by the adsorbent. Most often, activated carbon is used for this. The design consists of a carbon electrode, an adsorbent and a permeable membrane.

Reversible fuel cells are carbon nanotubes containing catalysts that are immersed in an electrolyte. When charged, water decomposes into hydrogen and oxygen, and when discharged, the reverse reaction occurs. The systems use highly purified hydrogen.

The figure shows three projections of a model of a homemade gas battery, where:

1. capacity;
2. electrolyte (in this case it is distilled water with salt in the proportion of 1 glass of water / 1 tablespoon of salt);
3. rods (a rod from batteries or a flashlight will do);
4. bags;
5. activated carbon inside bags.

One of the electrode outputs is marked to indicate a positive charge. For charging, a 4.5 V power source is used, charging is carried out until a voltage of 2.5 V is reached.

Alkaline batteries use powdered zinc as an anode, manganese dioxide as a cathode, and potassium hydroxide as an electrolyte. Batteries of this type are a cylindrical body with a brass rod in the middle. This rod removes the negative potential from zinc powder impregnated with an alkaline electrolyte. All this paste is surrounded by a separator, also impregnated with electrolyte. Next is the active mass in the form of graphite or soot. The mass is mixed with manganese dioxide. Next comes the shell, which protects the battery from short circuiting. The positive terminal is a nickel-plated steel cup, and the negative terminal is a steel circle. An important advantage of alkaline batteries is that the electrolyte is practically not consumed during operation.

Next view electric batteries- These are capacitors that have the ability to quickly discharge and charge. These elements have a constant or variable capacity. Capacitors are used to reduce voltage interruptions, isolate an alternating or direct component, and, therefore, obtain the necessary constant current values.

Mechanical batteries

This type of battery can be divided into 3 large groups:

1. elastic, where an increase in potential energy occurs during elastic deformation;
2. inertial - work on kinetic energy;
3. gravitational – they function due to the potential energy of the relative positions of bodies.

The first group includes hydraulic and pneumatic accumulators, as well as rubber motors, spring accumulators and pressure accumulators.

Flywheels and gyroscopes are inertial.

Gravity systems are large systems, for example, a pumped storage power plant.

Thermal accumulators

Despite the fact that these batteries are called thermal, the main devices here are cooling elements for household and portable refrigerators, as well as devices used in the cold chain for the transportation of medicines and biological tissues.

The principle of operation is that the main substance (usually carboxymethylcellulose is used for this) is cooled to the desired temperature. The battery then gradually releases the accumulated cold to the environment and objects.

Light batteries

This is the name given to solar panels that have already become familiar, in which solar energy is converted into direct electric current. The type and principle of construction of devices depends on the required power of the equipment. Solar panels are essential for portable electronics and building power systems.

Magnetic batteries

These devices are also called spin accumulators because they use a tunnel magnetic junction (TMC) to operate. The design consists of alternating magnetic and non-magnetic films, into which MnAs nanomagnets are embedded. Due to this alternation, TMS occurs, which leads to the appearance electromotive force. Thus, quantum tunneling of electrons occurs, and magnetic energy is converted directly into electrical energy. This type of equipment is just beginning to be introduced into production, so most spin accumulators are separate laboratory samples or are produced in small batches.

The need for more powerful and specialized energy storage and storage devices is constantly growing. Therefore, modern production constantly offers new types of batteries and accumulators.

Video

Good afternoon to all newbies. Today we will talk about voltage batteries. Batteries are chemical current sources in which, as a result of reversible chemical reactions, internal energy is converted into electrical energy. It is because of the reversibility of this reaction that batteries can be charged and discharged. Batteries are designed to store electric current and have found wide application in a variety of fields. It’s hard to imagine our life without them; they surround us everywhere. designed for repeated use and have a fairly long service life. The simplest battery- these are two electrodes that are made of different metals and are absorbed into an electrolyte (acid) solution. One of the electrodes is called the cathode, and the other the anode.

In practice, lead and lithium batteries are most often used. A lead-acid battery is made of two lead plates that are absorbed into sulfuric acid. Batteries have different voltages, for example one block (bank) lead battery gives a voltage of 2 volts, one block of lithium-ion battery - 3.7 volts, - 1.2 volts. The creator of the first battery is considered to be Alessandro Volta (from his last name the meaning of the voltage value - volt) was derived. The voltaic pole had a simple design - copper and zinc circles, and between them a piece of watts dipped in a solution of water and table salt. Today there are a huge number of varieties of current batteries, a complete list of them is given at the end of the article.

Batteries are made in different capacities and voltages, depending on the consumption of the device for which they are intended. Battery voltage is measured in volts, current in amperes, and power in watts. For example, if it is known that the battery current is 10 amperes/hour, and the voltage is 6 volts, and you need to find out its power, then according to Ohm’s law we get 6 volts * 10 amperes = 60 watts. Thus, knowing two parameters, you can easily find out the third. There comes a time when the battery runs out. As the chemical energy is depleted, the battery voltage and current drop and the battery stops working. The battery can be charged from any source of direct or pulsed current. The standard charging current is 1/10 of the battery's rated capacity (in amperes/hours).

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