What is meant by "specific gravity" of battery electrolyte?

It is the weight of the sulfuric acid-water mixture compared to an equal volume of water. Pure water has a specific gravity of 1.

What is a Battery & How it works? A lead-acid battery is composed of a series of plates immerse in a solution of sulfuric acid. Each plate consists of a grid upon which is attached the active material (lead dioxide on the negative plates, pure lead on the positive plates.) All of the negative plates are connected together, as are all of the positive plates. When the battery is discharged (when it is subjected to an electrical load), acid from the electrolyte combines with the active plate material. This releases energy and converts the plate material to lead sulfate. The chemical reaction between constituent parts of the electrolyte and the spongy lead of the negative plates and The lead dioxide at the positive plates turns the surface of both plates into lead sulphate. As this process occurs the hydrogen within the acid reacts with the oxygen within the lead dioxide to form water. The net result of all this reaction is that the positive plate gives up electrons and the negative plate gains them in equal numbers, thereby creating a potential difference between the two plates. The duration of the reactions producing the cell voltage is limited if there is no connection between the two plates and the voltage will remain constant. What is Battery capacity? The capacity of a battery to store charge is often expressed in ampere hours (1 Ah = 3600 coulombs). If a battery can provide one ampere (1 A) of current (flow) for one hour, it has a real-world capacity of 1 Ah. If it can provide 1 A for 100 hours, its capacity is 100 Ah. Battery manufacturers use a standard method to determine how to rate their batteries. The battery is discharged at a constant rate of current over a fixed period of time, such as 10 hours or 20 hours, down to a set terminal voltage per cell. So a 100 ampere-hour battery is rated to provide 5 A for 20 hours at room temperature. The efficiency of a battery is different at different discharge rates. Charging Lead-Acid Batteries A multi-stage charger first applies a constant current charge, raising the cell voltage to a preset voltage, takes about 5 hours and the battery is charged to 70%. During the topping charge, the charge current is gradually reduced as the cell is being saturated. The topping charge takes another 5 hours and is essential for the well being of the battery. If omitted, the battery would eventually lose the ability to accept a full charge. Full charge is attained after the voltage has reached the threshold and the current has dropped to 3% of the rated current or has leveled off. The final is the float charge, which compensates for the self-discharge. What is the difference between a Cell and a Battery? Strictly, an electrical "battery" is an interconnected array of one or more similar "cells". A car battery is a "battery" because it uses multiple cells. Multiple batteries or cells may also be referred to as a battery pack as a set of multi-cell 12 V batteries in an electric vehicle. A 12 Volt monoblock battery consists of 6 cells, but a plante or 2 Volt tubular battery is a battery though it consists of a single cell. When should I add water to my batteries? How often use and recharge your batteries will determine the frequency of watering. It is best to check your battery water level frequently and add distilled water when needed. Never add tap water to your battery. Tap water contains minerals that will reduce battery capacity and increase their self-discharge rate. And never add acid. Only distilled or de-ionized water should be added to achieve the

recommended electrolyte levels. What are the reasons for failure of batteries? Self discharge of plates and premature capacity loss; excessive float charge current and improper polarization of plates; shorts through separator, mossing or dendrite growth; overcharging of battery from high current and subsequent excessive gassing; excessive heat and loss of water; antimony transfer; low cold cranking performance; poor charge acceptance; inadequate high rate discharge performance. Battery Maintenance Procedure Maintenance is an important issue. The battery should be cleaned using a baking soda and water mix; a couple of table spoons to a pint of water. Cable connection needs to be clean and tightened. Many battery problems are caused by dirty and loose connections. A serviceable battery needs to have the fluid level checked. Use only mineral free water. Distilled water is best. Don't overfill battery cells especially in warmer weather. The natural fluid expansion in hot weather will push excess electrolytes from the battery. To prevent corrosion of cables on top post batteries use a small bead of silicon sealer at the base of the post and place a felt battery washer over it. Coat the washer with high temperature grease or petroleum jelly (Vaseline), then place cable on the post and tighten. Coat the exposed cable end with the grease. Most folks don't know that just the gases from the battery condensing on metal parts cause most corrosion. Battery Do's Think Safety First. Do read entire tutorial Do regular inspection and maintenance especially in hot weather. Do recharge batteries immediately after discharge. Do buy the highest RC reserve capacity or AH amp hour battery that will fit your configuration.

Battery Don'ts Don't add new electrolyte (acid). Don't use unregulated high output battery chargers to charge batteries. Don't disconnect battery cables while the engine is running (your battery acts as a filter). Don't put off recharging batteries. Don't add tap water as it may contain minerals that will contaminate the electrolyte. Don't discharge a battery any deeper than you possibly have to. Don't let a battery get hot to the touch and boil violently when charging. Don't mix size and types of batteries.