Different types of Batteries and How They Work

There is no doubt that batteries are expensive, and they don’t last forever. However did you know that almost all rechargeable batteries can be restored to their former glory, if you know how. You can see that if you learn how to recondition a battery you will save a lot of money, and by reusing these batteries you can keep them out of landfill, and help the environment too.

There are different methods you can use depending on the type of battery you have, below is a summary of the basic procedure for each of the main battery types.

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Lead-Acid Batteries

These are the oldest, and probably one of the best known types of rechargeable battery. Their ability to provide high surge currents means they are ideal for cars or other vehicles. They work by immersing a lead and lead oxide plate in sulfuric acid. A chemical reaction occurs during which the lead plates convert into lead sulfide and the acid converts into water. As a result of this process a current is produced. You can reverse this process by applying a current which converts the lead sulfide back to lead and lead oxide, and the water back to sulfuric acid, this charges the battery.

Over time the plates become contaminated and lose their ability to hold charge. Reconditioning these batteries simply involves reversing this contamination by using additives that perform a desulfation process, using a simple tool which provides high current pulses can also reverse plate contamination.

Ni-Cd Batteries

You are most likely to find these kind of batteries in portable cordless phones, and in the cells you can buy to replace normal alkaline batteries. Ni-Cd stands for nickle cadmium, they are more costly to produce than lead acid batteries because these elements are more expensive. Current is produced by a chemical reaction like in the lead acid types.

Over time the battery’s capacity to hold charge will reduce. Reconditioning of this battery can be achieved by what is called a deep discharge cycle, using a device that effectively shorts out the terminals in a safe way, and fully discharges it before charging. Also overnight cooling in a freezer before charging can restore battery performance

Ni-Mh Batteries

This stands for nickel-metal hydride, they are also available in popular alkaline battery sizes, and can be used as a direct replacement for them. As these batteries can store more charge per area of material than Ni-Cd they can be used in higher power applications such as digital cameras. Large format Ni-Mh batteries are used in automotive (EV) electric vehicles, and hybrids such as the Toyota Prius.

They can be reconditioned similar to Ni-Cd, and large automotive ones can be reconditioned by changing plates or electrolyte inside them. These parts can then be recycled into new batteries, reducing their environmental impact.

Li-Ion Batteries

A lithium-ion rechargeable battery works because lithium ions migrate from the negative electrode to the positive electrode, this process produces an electrical current. Ions move the opposite way during its charge cycle.

Charging creates impurities within the electrolyte that interfere with ion transport. Over time, the cell’s capacity reduces. The rise in internal resistance interferes with the cell’s ability to deliver current. Li Ion batteries don’t have the kind of memory effect that NiCd batteries have, so they can’t be reconditioned. However allowing them to fully discharge by running the device they are in, until it shuts down due to low battery state, every other charge cycle can extend their life considerably.

Learn how to recondition a battery, and you can save money, and reduce your impact on the environment. With the increasing usage of rechargeable batteries in various applications, ranging from home renewable power solutions, to electric vehicles, you could even make a business out of this knowledge.

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If you want to to discover more about how to restore or recondition old batteries that you thought were dead, and were going to throw away. Go to the recondition old batteries guide. Take a look at www.reconditionoldbatteries.blogspot.com for more information.