Operation and maintenance of batteries. Repair of storage batteries. Car battery brands

The concept of a rechargeable power supply gives the user a lot of advantages, providing the autonomy of the object and the cyclicity of the sessions of application. There are different types of batteries, which differ in size, internal device and technical characteristics. But most of them operate on a similar principle - the generation of current due to chemical reactions. It is this feature that has determined the subtleties, in view of which the maintenance of batteries and associated components must be carried out.

Battery device

The classic lead-acid unit is a series of batteries connected by a serial connection and enclosed in a housing. The latter is usually made of polypropylene. The choice of this material is due to the resistance of the plastic to chemical influences, the absence of reactions to the current and the relatively high physical strength. As a rule, the device of a car battery assumes the presence of six active plates, the insulation of which provides a plastic separator. Active electrodes, in turn, are made of lead alloys. True, in the newer versions, manufacturers are more likely to use lead-calcium materials, which have a low demand for water and low self-discharge.

Also used are cheaper battery packs with a simplified device. These are the so-called hybrid or combined structures in which two types of electrodes with different polarity charges are combined - these are calcium and antimony plates on a lead basis. This type of battery is notable for its low cost and lack of special maintenance requirements, but it requires large volumes of water.

It is also important to take into account that any battery should be regularly fed with a special device. The most trusted professionals use a pulse charger, whose advantage lies in improved protective properties. For example, if the connection was incorrectly performed before the charging session, the system will signal to the user about the error.

Varieties of AKB

The main difference between modern batteries is their composition - that is, in the elements that provide electrochemical processes. To begin the review of types AKB costs from the mentioned antimonous models. This variety is characterized by the fact that intensive processes of boiling up of water take place in it, which requires frequent replenishment of the liquid resource. An improved variation of this device is a low-antimony battery, the internal organization of which is focused on lowering the electrolysis process. Essentially from these two types the calcium block differs. As a rule, maintenance of the batteries of this version requires minimal effort, since the absence of antimony base practically eliminates the need for frequent replenishment of the liquid resource. But, during the operation of the calcium battery, there are often problems with charging. For example, an incorrectly organized connection can lead to the loss of a significant percentage of the working volume, which is why many users completely change the battery.

In some way, the emergence of gel batteries on the market has become revolutionary. These models are distinguished by the fact that instead of a liquid electrolyte, the body contains a dense gel base. In addition, the device of a car battery of this type provides for the use of a special porous material as insulators of active elements. As a result, the entire operation process is facilitated, since the unit can be tilted and even subjected to vibrations. The most promising type of battery is a lithium-ion cell. The active substance in this case is the oxides of ions, which also gives many advantages. Such batteries have a low self-discharge threshold, high specific capacity and are characterized by the ability to produce considerable stress.

Battery pack operation

Even when buying a new battery, you should prepare for a thorough inspection of the product. This mainly concerns the revision of the case, on which there should be no defects. Usually manufacturers cover blocks with protective films, but even their presence does not guarantee the absence of rejection on the surface of the case. Now it is worth mentioning another question: do I need to charge a new battery? By default, modern batteries come with an optimum level of charge, which should not be below 12 volts. That is, there is no need to replenish the battery. And even if the charge level is lower, it does not mean that you should use a charger - more likely the battery you purchased or was already in use, or just low-quality.

Using an impulse charger, it is possible to correct the level of the energy potential to an optimum state, but, again, the brand batteries do not need replenishment before the first use. Next, during operation, it is important to monitor the performance of the battery. As noted above, you can use blocks with a charge level of at least 12 volts. But this is the extreme limit, because experts call a sufficient level of 13-14 volts. That is, and with a lack of charge, and when recharging the battery is not suitable for use.

Now it's worth returning to the question of whether you need to charge a new battery and in what cases. The fact is that even high-quality and working batteries in the absence of long service give the effect of self-discharge. Most likely, in the case of new devices it will be minimal, but for further productive work it is still necessary to recharge.

How is the battery checked?

Depending on the type of battery pack and its purpose, a specific inspection schedule is established. For responsible objects, for example, a daily inspection of the battery can be approved. Here, the question of who has the right to conduct maintenance of batteries and repair it is also important. Usually such events are entrusted to the responsible personnel, which realizes the operational control over the power supply of the facility. However, in the case of car batteries, this measure can be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and an ordinary user in private.

During the inspection, not only the appearance of the device is checked. It is also important to estimate the density, temperature and stress in the electrolyte medium. To perform these operations, you may also need a special instrument - a voltmeter. The frequency of such a check can be daily, but in the case of the same automotive components, manufacturers recommend that they inspect once a month. In this case, it is not worth taking a superficial approach to assessing the state of the hull. In this part of the inspection, integrity, leakage and overall cleanliness are checked. Separate attention is devoted to terminals, jumpers and clamps - signs of corrosion and defects are visually inspected.

Maintenance

The above measures can also form a list of works in the framework of preventive control in the case of household batteries. But in factories this is not enough and involve a deeper analysis of the battery's performance. In particular, electrolyte samples are taken, which are further investigated for the presence of iron, chlorine and other impurities. In addition, the maintenance of the battery involves performing performance tests on the element. In the process of this check, a specialist can identify the warping processes and the increase in the activity of positive electrodes, which can negatively affect the function of the device.

Of course, in the case of batteries for production needs, and when servicing household models, it is important to properly perform and charge the unit. Before starting this operation, you must remove the battery, inspect it, clean it if necessary and mark the polarities of the terminal connection points in advance. Then connect the charger. In the future, the order of maintenance of the battery will depend on its capacity and the type of electric generator. Although it is most convenient to use automatic or semi-automatically battery chargers compatible with the battery, experts still recommend a manual method.

The main task of the user is to catch the moment of full charging, since the overcharge is also not a positive result of the operation. Usually stop the process after reaching a voltage of 14.6 volts. In this respect, automatic models are advantageous, which themselves determine the optimal state of the battery in terms of filling their capacity. Another thing is that the slightest mistake in connecting may disrupt the correctness of the indication. Manufacturers, however, are working on this kind of protection, the presence of which increases the cost of the device. It is noteworthy that the AKB, whose price on average is 4-7 thousand, in this case will correspond to the charger. Automatic modern generators may well cost the same 5-7 thousand.

Current repair of the battery

Measures to repair problems in the context of routine repairs are usually available for execution by experienced users. But to begin with it is necessary to be defined with that in what cases the current repair is generally required. There are several signs when a block needs third-party help. Most faults of this kind arise because of internal problems with the electrodes. You can understand this even by external signs - for example, when the color of the plates changes from dark brown to orange with pale areas. In this case, it is necessary to repair the batteries, which can be reduced to the replacement of individual electrodes.

It happens that you need to replace the electrolyte. For example, such a need arises in the case of excessive gassing due to contamination of the active working medium with particles of slurry, copper and iron. Do not attempt to clean if the concentration of foreign bodies is too high. The best option is to change the electrolyte, before which you will need to check its overall quality. A frequent problem is excessive sulfatization, which may result in a short circuit. The probability of such a phenomenon depends on how correctly the batteries are charged . Repair and maintenance in this case will be reduced to preventing and correcting the processes of warping the electrodes. The pre-positively charged plate must be carefully straightened in order to give the initial state. With regard to the fight against sulphation, it is most often the maximum that the user can make if it is available - this is the correction of electrodes, positive or negative.

Overhaul of batteries

Serious repair operations with household battery packs are not performed as often as compared to industrial analogues. Firstly, this is not always economically feasible, and secondly, there is a low probability that such measures can really fix the problem that has arisen. One way or another, overhaul also takes place, and it should be prepared initially. If a damaged battery has undergone damage to internal components, it may be necessary to replace electrodes or electrolyte. Actually, sometimes you can get by by fixing the damaged electrode. Eliminate the problem by cutting out the element and laying it on a wooden board. Further on the plate should be put another board with a little pressure. After a while, the element can be returned to its place in a cleaned state.

The operation for renewing the electrolyte is a little more complicated. Before this action, the unit must be discharged within 10 hours before reaching the voltage level of 1.8 V. Then, the existing electrolyte should be poured and the container filled with distilled water, and then leave the battery for 4 hours. At the end of this time, the water pours out with a replacement by a new one Electrolyte. At this stage, you can proceed to fully charge the device. After replenishment of energy, preventive maintenance of storage batteries is carried out, which again reduces to evaluating the external state of the unit, operating parameters, etc. Overhaul can also provide for the operation of replacing the tanks, lugs of electrodes, racks and other functional components of the battery.

Safety measures for maintenance

First of all, any physical handling of the battery should be carried out with extreme caution. If the gel devices in this plan are not so dangerous, then a sharp tilt at a large angle of traditional batteries can trigger a spill of electrolyte. Therefore, experts strongly do not recommend exposing the body to a slope of 45 ° or more. In addition, car batteries should be serviced in gloves and preferably at a distance from heat sources. Here it is important to take into account that during the same charging, the mixture of oxygen with hydrogen will be explosive, therefore one should not allow the risk of getting into the working zone even the slightest spark.

If an electrolyte spill is allowed, the affected areas of the body and clothing should be rinsed with plenty of water, and then treated with an additional solution of ammonia and soda. In the process of performing manipulations to disconnect and connect the unit, it is necessary to ensure a complete cessation of the current supply to consumers. Then you can perform the installation. Again, maintenance of gel-type batteries in this regard is not so dangerous, in comparison with alkaline models. But in both cases it is important to ensure correct connection and physical fixation of the case. It is desirable to use a high-quality tool in working with the battery. This also applies to mechanical clamping tongs for terminals, and electrical appliances, by which the technical characteristics of the filling are checked.

Famous brand of batteries for cars

In the automotive battery segment, there are many Russian companies that differ in quality from the European models. For example, you can mark the brands Tyumen, "Beast", "Akteh", etc. The cost of such products varies on average from 4 to 6 thousand rubles. In this case, not always the battery, the price of which exceeds the bar of 6 thousand rubles., Have higher technical indicators. Unless we are talking about modern models like AGM, which cost about 10 thousand. But in this case the price rises largely due to the merits of the design performance.

In terms of reliability, one of the best battery packs, many users call the Korean model Medalist in the performance of 56077. Among the advantages of this version there is increased power and current quality. That is, this option does not spoil the special advantages, but the declared characteristics will work in full, which is not common. Good working properties demonstrate in their development and other brands of batteries for cars, including "A-Mega" and the popular "Warta", which does not lose its position. These products differ not only in their optimal electrochemical properties, but also in their performance characteristics - for example, maintaining their performance even in conditions of severe frost.

Conclusion

With all the shortcomings of the battery packs as such, nowadays, not only motorists, but also users of some engineering systems, rarely manage without them. Yet, as an autonomous power source, this is one of the best solutions. Another thing is that the operation, maintenance of batteries, as well as their repair can be a lot of trouble. Knowing the intricacies of performing these operations will not only provide an efficient function of the batteries, but also help create a pledge for long-term operation while preserving the working resource. To increase the longevity of the feeding device will also allow the right operation of the consumer directly, in which quality the same car can act.