1. Purpose and description of the battery

1.1. Lead starter battery (hereinafter referred to as the battery), rated voltage 12 V, filled with electrolyte and charged, in accordance with the requirements of GOST R 53165-2008 and TU 3481-001-57586209-2010, is designed to start internal combustion engines and power electrical equipment of automotive vehicles ...

1.2. The batteries are manufactured in a climatic version of the UHL type, placement category 2 (GOST 15150), while the ambient temperature during operation should be from minus 50 ° C to plus 60 ° C.

1.3. The batteries are manufactured in two versions: direct and reverse polarity, depending on the location of the pole terminals and on the battery capacity (see Figure 1 and Figure 2). The polarity of the battery is indicated in the vehicle manual

.

Picture 1 110 Ah and less

Picture 2- Arrangement of battery pole terminals with capacity more than 110 Ah

1.4. Batteries with a nominal capacity of 110 Ah and less belong to the VL category - with a very low water consumption, since they comply with the requirements of paragraph 9.7 of GOST R 53165-2008
Battery with a nominal capacity of more than 110 Ah, belong to category L - with low water consumption, as it meets the requirements of clause 9.7 of GOST R 53165-2008

1.5. For the production of batteries, an electrolyte is used, prepared from purified water (corresponding to the technical requirements approved by JSC "AKOM") and sulfuric acid battery in accordance with GOST 667 (highest grade).

2. Preparation of the battery for operation (performed by the trading organization)

2.1. Check the battery by external inspection for mechanical damage, cracks, chips, leaks on the case and on the pole terminals.

2.2. Check the voltage at the pole terminals. If the voltage is less than 12.6 V, the battery must be charged. The battery should be charged at an electrolyte temperature of more than 0 ° C. Before starting charging, it is necessary to unscrew the filler plugs (if any) and leave them in the seats of the cover. At the end of the charge, before screwing the plugs, it is necessary to remove them from the filler openings for the outlet of accumulated gases and keep the battery in this state for at least 20 minutes. During charging, periodically check the temperature of the electrolyte and make sure that it does not rise above 45 ° C. The VRLA battery (with a regulating valve) is not intended for adding additional water. It is recommended to start charging with a current of no more than 5% of the nominal capacity for two hours, followed by an increase in the charging current to 10% of the nominal capacity (for example, for a battery with a nominal capacity of 55 Ah, the charging current is 5.5 A). For efficient and full charging of batteries made using Ca / Ca technology, the charger must provide a charging voltage of 16.0 V, for low antimony and hybrid batteries - 15.2 V. The criterion for the end of the charge is the achievement of a density of 1.27 g / cm3, if it is impossible to control the density, the end of the charge can be considered a drop in the charging current to 0.5-1A and its stabilization within 2 hours.

Attention! Explosive gas is generated during charging! The room where charging is carried out must be equipped with supply and exhaust ventilation or ventilated, it is forbidden to smoke and use an open flame in it!

To check the voltage of the open circuit of the battery after charging, it is necessary to turn off the charger, disconnect the tips of the wires of the charger from the pole terminals of the battery, keep the battery for at least 8 hours at room temperature and then measure. Roughly the state of charge of the battery can be determined by the measured voltage at the pole terminals of the battery (at 25 ° C) (see Figure 3)

Figure 3- The relationship between the voltage at the pole terminals of the battery (at 25 ° C) and the degree of its charge

2.3. Check the electrolyte level (if there are filler holes). The electrolyte level is measured through the filler holes of the batteries using a glass tube with an inner diameter of 3 ÷ 5 mm. The column of electrolyte in the tube indicates the height of its level above the upper edge of the plates, which should be within (18 ÷ 45) mm. The electrolyte level is set by the manufacturer depending on the type of battery. For a VRLA battery, the electrolyte level is not checked.

2.4. Check the density of the electrolyte (if there are filler holes). The density of the electrolyte is measured using a hydrometer while simultaneously measuring the temperature of the electrolyte. The electrolyte is taken through the filler holes of the batteries. The density measurement result is brought to a temperature of 25 ° C. To do this, add or subtract the correction indicated in Table 1 to the hydrometer readings (in accordance with the sign of the indicated correction value).
The density of the electrolyte should be within (1.27 ÷ 1.30) g / cm3 at 25˚С (see Figure 4). When the electrolyte density is below 1.26 g / cm3 at 25˚C, the battery must be charged in accordance with 2.2. For a VRLA battery, the electrolyte density is not checked.

Table 1- Corrections to the readings of the hydrometer when bringing the density of the electrolyte to 25 ° C

Temperature electrolyte, ºС	Amendment g / cm 3	Temperature electrolyte, ºС	Amendment g / cm 3
from + 47 to + 50	+0,02	from + 3 to - 10	-0,02
from + 33 to + 46	+0,01	from - 11 to - 25	-0,03
from + 18 to + 32	0	from - 26 to - 39	-0,04
from + 4 to + 17	-0,01	from - 40 to - 50	-0,05

Figure 4- The relationship between the density of the battery electrolyte (at 25 ° C) and the degree of its charge

2.5. If the battery is equipped with an indicator of density and electrolyte level, it is necessary to be guided by the indications, the values ​​of which are given below:

	Green color Electrolyte level and density are normal (battery charged)
	Black color Low electrolyte density (battery needs to be charged)
	White color Low electrolyte level (distilled water must be topped up)

3. Fastening and connecting the battery
3.1. Attach the battery of the correct polarity to the vehicle according to its owner's manual. Connect and disconnect the battery with the consumers turned off. The ignition switch must be in the "Off", "0" position (or "Lock" on foreign cars). Before installing the battery in the car, completely remove the shipping packaging (film) from the battery (if any).

3.2. Before connecting, it is recommended to clean the oxidized surfaces of the contact areas of the battery pole terminals and current-collecting wire lugs. Tightly clamp the ends of the wires on the pole terminals of the battery, then apply a thin layer of technical petroleum jelly (TU 5531-006-54051488-02) to protect against oxidation and maintain contact. The "+" pole terminal is connected first, then the "-" pole terminal. Disconnect in reverse order. Be careful when connecting the wire lugs to the pole terminals! Connecting the "+" wire to the "-" terminal of the battery and vice versa will lead to failure of the electronic control unit and other expensive electrical equipment of the car!

4. Operation and maintenance of the battery
4.1. Before starting the engine, all consumers must be disconnected. When starting the engine, do not load the battery for more than 5 ÷ 10 seconds in one attempt, the break between attempts must be at least one minute. If the engine does not start after three attempts, the fuel supply and ignition system should be checked for proper operation. The battery discharged during an unsuccessful start of the engine must be charged as soon as possible under stationary conditions (according to 2.2). Storing deeply discharged batteries for more than 2 ÷ 3 days is unacceptable, as this leads to a significant decrease in the efficiency of its operation and service life.

4.2. Monitor the health of the car's electrical wiring. Leaks in circuits with faulty electrical wiring, as well as switched on consumers (alarms, clocks, etc.) with the engine off, lead to the battery discharge. The leakage current should be measured at a workshop. When the car is parked for a long time, it is recommended to disconnect the on-board network terminals from the battery terminals, unless prohibited by the car manufacturer.

4.3. Operation of a discharged battery at negative temperatures leads to freezing of the electrolyte and destruction of the battery (see table 2).

table 2- Dependence of the freezing point of the electrolyte on its density

g / cm3	1,10	1,11	1,12	1,13	1,14	1,15	1,16	1,17	1,18	1,19	1,20	1,21	1,22	1,23	1,24	1,25	1,26	1,27	1,28
° C	-8	-9	-10	-12	-14	-16	-18	-20	-22	-25	-28	-34	-40	-45	-50	-54	-58	-68	-74

There is no warranty card;
the consumer removed the component parts used for this type of batteries;
the warranty card is not completed and the seal of the trading organization is missing;
warranty card with corrections;
the date of manufacture has been changed (if available on the battery cover);
there is mechanical or other damage to the battery case (which affected the failure);
there are mechanical or other damage to the battery pole terminals (which affected the failure);
the electrolyte level above the upper edge of the plates is below 10 mm in all battery banks at the same time;
electrolyte level above normal> 35 mm;
when the battery polarity is reversed;
the electrolyte density is below 1.2 g / cm3 in all battery banks at the same time;
freezing of electrolyte in all battery banks at the same time;
the electrolyte is dark, opaque, or colored.

6.4. Warranty obligations (warranty service) are terminated in the event of:

Operation of the battery on vehicles with faulty electrical equipment or inconsistency of the technical parameters of the vehicle with the installed battery;
the requirements of this manual are violated.

6.5. The battery charge for technical examination can be carried out in a trading organization, or in a warranty and service center:

Free of charge - if a factory defect is revealed based on the results of a technical examination;
at the expense of the owner of the battery - in case of violation of the operating conditions.

ATTENTION! Check the top label with the manufacturer's name. If you find that the top label is missing on this battery, please report this violation to the email address of the company "AKOM".

How often this operation should be performed depends on the ratio of the power of the vehicle's generator to the power of the consumers, as well as on the driving conditions. In summer, almost any car can do without additional recharging of the battery. The engine starts easily, the ignition, the electric petrol pump (approximately 8-10A), the radio tape recorder (3-4 A), headlights with dimensions (13 A) are constantly turned on from the consumers. Even at idle speed, a serviceable generator produces 40-45A, which is almost enough to power a minimum number of consumers. And even at working speed, when driving on the highway, for example, the 60-70A produced by the generator is enough for powering consumers and charging the battery.

Much harder in winter. A negative temperature reduces the capacity of the battery, impairs the ability to receive a charge, starting a cold engine requires a large amount of energy. On board, new powerful consumers are switched on: a heater (5-7 A at the first speed and 10-11 A at the second), heated glasses and mirrors (16-20 A), heated seats 5A. The total consumed current is more than 50 A. The generator at idle speed can no longer cope with the power supply to consumers, most of the energy is taken from the battery. And in operating modes, the generator's ability to recharge the car battery turns out to be very modest, in addition, at negative electrolyte temperatures, the battery does not accept a charge. All this leads to the fact that the battery begins to chronically undercharge. The user may not notice this because even a partial charge is usually sufficient to start the engine. But chronic undercharging leads to sulfation of the plates, which reduces capacity and increases internal resistance. This in turn shortens battery life and degrades starting performance. Therefore, in the winter, you need to systematically recharge the battery.

How often should I recharge my car battery?

The frequency of recharging depends on the car, weather, travel conditions. For cars with a well-adjusted starting system, in mild winters with daily short-distance trips, accompanied by systematic standing in traffic jams, it is enough to charge about once a month or two. Of course, if the frost is approaching -30 °, and each start is accompanied by repeated switching on of the starter, then it makes sense to check the battery charge level more often.

And, of course, the battery must be charged immediately if you have discharged it "to zero" by unsuccessful attempts to start the engine. Precisely "immediately", since the density of the electrolyte in the discharged state is low and there is a possibility that it will freeze, damaging the battery. On the other hand, the presence of a lead battery in a discharged state leads to sulfation of the plates.

Electrolyte density reduced to 25 ° С, g / cm3	Freezing temperature, ° С
1.09	-7
1.12	-10
1.14	-14
1.16	-18
1.18	-22
1.20	-40
1.23	-43
1.24	-50
1.26	-58

There are several modes of battery charging: constant current, constant voltage, combined.

Basic states of a deeply discharged battery

1. The battery was in a discharged state for no more than 2 weeks at room temperature and was not used in a car. As a rule, it is recommended to charge such a battery with a current equal to 0.1 of the nominal capacity (6A for a 60Ah battery) until ρ = 1.27-1.28 g / cm³ is reached. The charging process can take up to 24 hours. If it is not possible to control the density of the electrolyte using a hydrometer, then you can focus on the indicator of the state of charge, if it is present in the battery cover. The green light indicates the state of charge ≈ 50% (ρ = 1.23 g / cm and higher). One of the signs of the end of battery charging is "boiling" of the electrolyte and reaching the temperature of the battery case ≈ 40 ° C.

2. The battery was in a discharged state for a long time (deep sulfation of the plates occurred).

What is plate sulfation?

During charging of a normally discharged battery, small lead sulfate crystals are converted without any problems into metallic lead (negative plate) and PbO2 (positive plate), which make up the active mass of the plates. However, if the battery is left in a discharged state, lead sulfate begins to dissolve in the electrolyte until it is completely saturated, and then falls back onto the surface of the plates, but already in the form of large and practically insoluble crystals. They are deposited on the surface of the plates and in the pores of the active mass, forming a continuous layer that insulates the plates from the electrolyte, preventing it from penetrating deep into the active masses. As a result, large volumes of active mass are "turned off", and the overall capacity of the battery is significantly reduced.

The recovery of such a battery is usually carried out using the so-called "step mode":

• start charging with a current of 0.1C20 ≈ 16 hours;
• discharge, for example, with a set of car lamps for 2-3 hours;
• charge with a current of 0.1C20 until fully charged;

The condition of the battery is checked by measuring the open circuit voltage (NRC). The voltage at the battery terminals is measured 6 to 8 hours after the engine has stopped. If the battery life is lower than 12.5 V, the battery needs to be charged. It is advisable to carry out such a check every 3-4 months.

Charging efficiency primarily depends on the type and quality of the charger. More than half of the chargers on sale are not capable of fully charging a modern battery. Chargers designed for automatic operation are often set to a voltage of 14.4 - 14.5 V. When this voltage is reached, the green indicator lights up, signaling the end of charging and the charging current is automatically reduced to almost 0. When buying a charger, pay attention to its characteristics. The charger must provide an output charging voltage of 16.2 V. Before starting to charge the battery, carefully study the charger instructions - it should describe in detail the technical characteristics, all the rules and procedure for performing the work.The battery is considered charged when the electrolyte density in all banks reaches 1.27-1.28 g / cm³, the electrolyte "boils" at the end of charging and the battery body temperature reaches ≈ 40 ° С

Technology is developing very rapidly. No sooner had car owners figured out the differences between AGM and GEL, when a newcomer appeared on the market - EFB batteries. What is it, what are their features and differences, how much do they cost and many other questions, we hope, will be dispelled after reading this material.

What is EBF? Applications, design features and performance of EFB batteries

Enhanced Flooded Battery in English means "improved flooded battery". Lead plates, in contrast to traditional batteries, in EFB are almost half thick, which increases their capacity and charging speed. Each plate is enclosed in a separate envelope made of special microfiber filled with liquid sulfuric acid electrolyte. Such a measure helps to protect the surface of the plates from sulfation, and in the event of shattering of the active mass, from a short circuit and premature failure of the battery. In short, EFB batteries have the following nice features:

• resistance to deep discharges, after which EFBs are able to restore capacity to almost 100%, in contrast to conventional batteries, which lose part of their resource;
• can operate in a wide temperature range from -50 to +60 ° C;
• inrush current indicators have been improved by more than a third;
• evaporation of liquid electrolyte is reduced to almost zero;
• doubling the number of charge-discharge cycles without loss of functionality.

Where are EFB batteries used

Initially, the impetus for the creation of a qualitatively new technology for the manufacture of batteries was the spread of cars equipped with the "start-stop" system on the territory of Europe. When the car stops in the "Stop" mode, the engine is automatically turned off, and when the clutch is pressed and the brake is released, it starts quickly. At such moments, the load from all electrical appliances falls on the battery, and without increasing the charge acceptance, a conventional battery simply does not have time to fully charge in the "Start" mode. An ordinary antimony battery needs to be discharged to zero several times to make it the main raw material for smelting cargo for fishing. Another situation in which EFB batteries will be needed is the use of powerful car audio systems in the car. The main problem is that amplifiers cannot work efficiently at voltages less than 12 V and at times of peak loads (bass or a strong broadband signal) they will emit unpleasant wheezing. EFB technology in batteries is designed to address just such problems. Due to the design features, it perfectly copes with the tasks.

Thus, the main purpose of EFB batteries is frequent use in urban conditions, as well as the use of high-quality car audio systems. And one of the industries where they will be irreplaceable is taxis and other passenger transport, whose drivers love loud music :-).

Review of domestic and foreign models of EFB batteries

Almost all shops that distribute spare parts for cars offer to buy EFB batteries made in Russia or manufactured by large European companies. The cost of the product will depend on the capacity, power and purpose of the battery.

• TAB Magic. Slovenian manufacturer, whose range of models includes a line of batteries made using EFB technology. At the same time, not only batteries for cars are offered for sale, but also for "trucks". The cost starts from 3000, but the main difficulty of the purchase is the absence in stores;
• Varta. The company introduces a series called Blue Dynamic Start-Stop, which includes batteries with EFB technology, which differ in their capacity and price. The minimum cost of such models starts from 3500 thousand for the standard 60 Ah;
• Exide. An American company that has existed on the market since the 19th century, and specializes in the production of high-quality batteries. The EFB line is represented by the Start & Stop series, the cost of which starts from 6000 rubles. for the lowest sample in capacity.

Russian EFB batteries

• AKOM EFB. Products from the Russian plant of the same name. The manufacturer guarantees excellent performance and offers seven types of batteries with a capacity of 55 to 100 A / h. The cost of the products, taking into account the declared parameters, is very competitive. For example, the price of the AKOM EFB 60 battery is about 4000 rubles;

• Ultimatum. A line of batteries from the same manufacturer with improved production technology. Thanks to special additions to the electrolyte, such domestic EFB batteries have improved charge acceptance and service life. The cost of such models starts from 6,000 rubles, depending on the capacity and size;

Since EFB is gaining more and more popularity and demand every year, we should expect this technology to appear in the assortment range of both domestic and foreign manufacturers.

Features of charging EFB batteries

Charging an EFB battery is not fundamentally different from this process for a traditional AMG battery, since the design is very similar. The main rule that should be observed in its implementation is the use of high-quality (better intellectual) memory and strict adherence to the battery instructions. The charger for the EFB battery must provide a charging voltage not exceeding 14.4 V. The device must also have an indication of the current, since it is recommended to monitor it during the charging of this type of battery.

Attention! The whole process should take place at an electrolyte temperature not higher than +45 ° C, exceeding this threshold leads to an increase in corrosive processes.

How to properly charge an EFB battery?

In the operating instructions for a battery of this type from Varta, only two sentences are assigned to this. Connect the charger to the appropriate terminals, observing the polarity. The charging process can be considered completed when the charging readings fall below 2.5 A. If the charger is equipped with current and voltage indication devices, then the end of the process will be considered when both indicators stop changing.

When charging batteries made using EFB technology, it is not recommended to use overdrive mode, as the result may be battery breakdown due to excessive gassing. Also, it is not allowed to open the plugs, since in this case the chemical equilibrium will be disturbed, leading to a change in the functional qualities of the battery.

Difference between EFB and AGM batteries

The modern motorist has the ability to choose from a variety of batteries. This raises the question of which battery is better than EFB or AGM. Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the final word must be said by the owner of the vehicle after weighing all the positive and negative sides. If we compare EFB and, as the closest in design, the former have the following differences:

• increased thickness of each individual plate, ensuring the duration of the work;
• the use of a smaller amount of electrolyte and the use of specially purified lead leads to an acceleration of the accumulation of charge by 45%;
• high reliability under engine operating modes in conditions of frequent stops;
• are cheaper.

The disadvantages of this type of battery EFB include:

• lower power in comparison with, which can affect with a large number of power consumers;
• do not support braking energy recovery technology.

Now many modern cars use the so-called "Calcium batteries", the designation "Ca / Ca", or simply "Ca". These are modern batteries with improved characteristics, but they differ from their older counterparts (antimony and hybrid batteries). Moreover, the charging of these batteries is especially different, that is, they need to be charged differently, the usual cycle used for "old" car batteries WILL NOT FIT! And the old chargers themselves are not good either ...

From the introduction, you understood that now there are only three main technologies for the production of batteries (if you do not take into account gel, AGM and others, they are still not so common):

• Antimony
• Calcium
• Hybrid

I considered the technologies in detail in the article, read it interesting. In short, each of the technologies differs from the other by impurities in lead (minus) and positive (made of dioxide) plates. In the antimony technology, the metal "Antimony" is added in a very small percentage, in the "calcium" one (calcium and a little silver), but the "hybrid" battery combines both antimony and calcium, sometimes silver.

When should you recharge your battery?

Ideally, the battery needs to be recharged several times a month, whether it is winter or summer, both are difficult periods for the battery.

But before you thoughtlessly charge, you need to understand - is it worth doing? And there are several ways to check:

• The very first, and it does not depend on battery technology, is measuring the voltage at the battery terminals. equals - 12.7 V., this is a kind of 100% charge. If your voltage is 11.6 - 11.7 V., this is an already discharged battery, almost to zero. And a voltage of 12.2 indicates a discharge of 50%! An urgent need to recharge, otherwise the process turns on.

• If the battery is serviceable, the process is much easier. However, you need to have a so-called "hydrometer". This is a special device for measuring the density of electrolyte. The density should be within 1.27 g / cm3. If the value is lower, then the battery should also be recharged.
• Well, and, perhaps, the simplest thing - if the battery "does not turn" the engine, first try to charge it.

In any case, no matter how perfect your battery is, it is advisable to monitor it at least once a month. Lives longer.

Normal charging

If we take "antimony" and "hybrid" batteries, then their charging is of the usual regular nature. That is, we just charge the battery with a current of 10% of its capacity (if the battery is 60 Am * h, then you need 6A) and a voltage of 13.8 - 14.5 Volts. After the charge current drops, then the battery is charged, if you have it serviced, you can unscrew the plugs and see if bubbles should go from above.

In general, charging can be different, it's one thing when you recharge the battery, a few hours are enough for you, and many put it at night with a small current, say 2 Amperes. Another thing is when you need to fully charge the battery, here it can stand for "days" at a low current.

Features of Calcium Battery

This technology has a lot of advantages, such as - high starting currents, large capacity, low maintenance (practically no electrolyte evaporation), low self-discharge, etc. But the disadvantages of this battery can be called - instability to deep discharges (literally three to four times and the capacity drops several times), the ability to charge them, they are quite expensive when compared with competitors.

To be honest, the calcium battery is made for dummies, that is, for people who do not understand at all how and what to do with the engine compartment of a car and do not look there for weeks, or maybe months. It is closed in an impermeable case, there is practically no electrolyte evaporation, which means it can work for years.

But the fact is that the car in our conditions is used in different temperature ranges - for example, in winter, extremely low temperatures, which can lead to an undercharge of the battery (after all, a cold battery does not charge well), especially on short trips. And in summer, electrolyte can still escape from high temperatures through the high-pressure valve (stands in all maintenance-free options).

Therefore, the simple truth is that you need to monitor the battery, whether it is calcium or any other, and I emphasize it once again, PREFERREDLY ONCE A MONTH OR MORE OFTEN.

But often in practice everything turns out quite the opposite, we pay attention only when problems arise, for example, the voltage at the terminals drops to 11.8 - 12V., And this, as I said above, is an almost "zero" battery. That is, our "calcievic" needs to be recharged in order to achieve 12.7V, but with a simple "charger" this does not work! But why?

Calcium battery charging

The manufacturing technology of this battery also implies other charging! The thing is that for a calcium battery, you need a special charger, VIMPEL-55 is ideal, with a programmable cycle (not advertising, but it's really good). Also, this "charger" should give out a charge voltage of 16.1 - 16.5V just like that, AND ONLY SO, you can recharge the calcium battery up to 100%. If your charger gives out a maximum of 14.8V, and then the electronics cuts off, then the battery will "fill" only 45 - 50%, if the limitation is 15.5V, then by 70 - 80%, with such indicators you will never reach the electrolyte density in 1.27 g / cm3

Therefore, before trying to restore the "CA" "CA / CA" battery, you need to find a charger that is capable of delivering a voltage of 16.1 - 16.5 Volts. You will not achieve anything with conventional devices

Now you may have a fair question, if such a high voltage is needed for charging, then how in a car? After all, the generator often does not produce such a voltage?

It's true, generators, even modern cars, give out no more than 15 volts! I consulted with auto electricians, and this is what they told me - the generator often maintains the charge level of the calcium battery, that is, the generator simply does not allow it to be discharged. BUT frosts and other "delights" of our Russian roads still drain the battery! And therefore, it must be checked and monitored! IT'S CORRECT TO CHARGE WHEN YOU NEED.

Now we come to the most interesting, namely the algorithm, I took it from the instruction "ORION VIMPEL - 55" (everything is described in detail there).

• We supply a voltage of 16.1 Volts and 10% of the capacity of your battery, that is, if the battery is 60 Am * h, then we supply 6A, if 55 Am * h - 5.5A, etc. We charge in this mode until the current drops to 0.5 Ampere. If the battery is badly discharged, it can take quite a long time, sometimes 2 - 3 hours.
• Next, we need to make the so-called "swing". On "VIMPEL - 55", there are several modes, we need to set the First mode - voltage 16.1V, the third mode - voltage 13.2V, set the current to 3 Amperes. And we connect the charging. What's the point - the voltage rises to 16.1V with a current of 3 Amperes, then when this value is reached, the voltage is cut to 13.2V and there is no current at all, that is, 0 Amperes, this is a kind of respite, the voltage will drop smoothly. After that, the first mode is connected again, that is, it again grows to 16.1V and with a current of 3A, after it is reached, it again drops (third mode) to 13.2V and a current of 0A.

How do you know when the battery is fully charged? The interval of reaching 16.1 Volts, initially can reach several minutes (sometimes 20 - 30 minutes), but as the charge progresses, this voltage will be reached faster and faster. The lower limit, at 13.2V, will initially also reach very quickly, but as the charge progresses, a pause, that is, the voltage drop to 13.2V will stretch for minutes. After the charging interval is a few seconds, less than one minute, and the "drop" to the lower bar for a few minutes, it MEANS your calcium battery - CHARGED! Here is such an easy algorithm, as you can see nothing complicated.

Calcium batteries (Ca / Ca) - a battery, the lead plates of which are doped with calcium. The Ca content is 0.08-0.09% by weight. Similar view,

unlike antimony or hybrid, it is rarely used due to its high cost, although plates with antimony are inferior to plates with calcium. The device is identical to any lead-acid battery in a car.

An overview of the calcium batteries (Ca-Ca) that you can buy in stores

It is necessary to highlight the batteries with the addition of silver - batteries (Ca / Ag). The presence of the precious metal reduces the disadvantages of calcium, highlighting its benefits. Silver-plated plates are more expensive than just calcium ones, due to the high cost of metal and complex technology.

Overview of silver-calcium (Ca-Ag) batteries

The manufacturing process for a calcium battery is slightly different from the standard scheme. The battery grids are stamped because the high temperature during casting destroys the calcium. For stamping, a lead strip is made with the addition of Ca, then it is perforated, creating a complex shape, but retaining the outer frame.

Advantages

Calcium car batteries are distinguished by the following characteristics:

1. During the manufacturing process, increased strength is achieved, creating protection against vibration.
2. About 90% are out of service. Calcium reduces the electrolysis of water, so that the liquid evaporates in small quantities.
3. Plates are not afraid of overcharging, since Ca helps to withstand up to 15 V.
4. Thin plates allow to increase their number in the battery, which significantly increases power.
5. The alloy is considered anticorrosive and protected from external influences.
6. It has a low self-discharge rate, about 70% lower than that of antimony analogs.
7. Durable - with proper operation, the service life is from 5 years.

disadvantages

1. Does not tolerate sharp discharges. In a charged battery, the voltage should be maintained above 12 V, preferably 14.5 V. One deep discharge reduces the capacity by 8-20%, and one full one - by 50%. Losses are difficult to replace, while 3-4 discharges completely kill these batteries.
2. It is afraid of downtime, as well as frequent switching on and off, therefore it is recommended for long trips.
3. The high cost associated with technology and components. A high-quality mechanism costs from 6 to 15 thousand rubles, although there are models for 2000.

Manufacturers

Among the manufacturers, there are several that create high-quality car batteries:

• TUDOR
• Varta
• Exide

Each manufacturer creates them in a large price range. They are characterized by high cost, so you should pay attention to mechanisms that cost from 5 thousand rubles.

Several car factories manufacture and install their own batteries (Ca / Ca), for example, Ford, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota. It is these four companies that most often use calcium batteries in their cars. The average cost is 7 thousand rubles.

To distinguish a fake from the original, you should look at the marking. On the case must indicate the starting current and capacity of the plates, rated voltage and production date.

Exploitation

Calcium batteries operation graphs using the example of AKOM batteries

High-quality and long-term operation requires proper care of the battery. When using transport for city driving - frequent stops with the engine off, it is recommended to carry out preventive charging, for which it is necessary to purchase a special expensive charger.

Incorrect urban driving requires charging every month, while correct charging every two.

Charging rules

The calcium battery is charged until 14.3-14.5 V is obtained, the current should be 10% of the maximum declared by the manufacturer, for example, 5 A should be set for a 50 amp battery; turns off when the current reaches 0.5 A.

The voltage at the terminals is checked with a voltmeter. 12 V and less indicate the need to charge the battery in order to avoid difficult-to-replace capacity losses.

Make sure the battery is at room temperature before charging. Try not to allow heating over 40-45 degrees Celsius. It is contraindicated to allow boiling - it reduces performance and can lead to incapacitation. Turn off the device if gas evolution begins, indicating boiling of the plates.

The lead-calcium battery does not require a hydrometer. The alloy itself maintains the electrolyte in a non-free state. The liquid is stratified - the top is more liquid, and the bottom is more dense.

Full charge with deep discharge

Discharging to 11.5 V or below negatively affects the battery, as a reaction occurs in the electrolyte, creating a precipitate of calcium sulfate, blocking the charge access to the outlet. It is forbidden to carry out a KTC (control-training cycle), which negatively affects the battery.

A full charge is a long process as it is not easy to charge a calcium battery. The following steps are to be completed:

1. Cleaning of sulfated plates. A voltage of 15.8 V is applied, impulsively, no longer than 8 hours. It helps to cleanse the outside of sulfates and partially restores capacity.
2. A check is carried out that the charge is received from the device at a current of 1/10 of the starting current, at 12.6 V.
3. At a temperature of 25 degrees, the main charge is produced. The current is constant, the voltage is growing, not exceeding 14.5 V. Term - until 80% of the capacity is replenished, but not more than 20 hours.
4. Under the same conditions, but now with constant voltage and decreasing current, the capacitance is brought to 100%. This stage lasts up to 10 hours.
5. After the main stage, you need to check the battery to maintain voltage for a couple of minutes.
6. Recond mode, if available, must be turned on to restore maximum capacity. If this is not possible, and the nominal capacity is less than half of the original, it is recommended to purchase a new battery.
7. Recond mode applies high voltage at low current for 30-240 minutes for controlled gassing to aid agitation and separation of the electrolyte.
8. After recovery, a full charge is performed in the buffer mode. At 13.6 V and a current of no more than 10 A for 10 days. The cycle restarts when the voltage drops.
9. At the end, preventive charging is carried out with a constantly decreasing current - from 10 to 2% of the base one. The device supports 12.7 - 14.4 V, but in case of a drop, you must start the cycle from scratch.

Among the chargers should be highlighted:

• Automatic Kedr-Auto-10, costing 1,700 rubles.
• Manual Orion PW-265 and ZPU 135. Their price is 1500 and 4000 respectively. ZPU is a starting device and has a desulfurization function, which affects its cost.

Choose your device carefully as it is not easy to properly charge a calcium battery. A good one should include desulfurization and recovery modes. It is desirable that it also be a starting one, that is, capable of quickly replenishing the battery for a trip and subsequent full charging.