A Complete Guide to Battery Sulfation

As an automobile user, it is common to engage in numerous maintenance practices to protect the car or motorbike battery. Yet, most of the time, the battery dies much sooner than expected, and you find yourself browsing through an online battery store all over again. A common cause for the untimely death or early failure of lead acid batteries is sulfation. Sulfation not only damages the battery, but also has a negative impact on the overall performance of the vehicle.

What is battery sulfation?
Battery sulfation takes place inside the lead acid batteries. It refers to a phenomenon in which large sulphate crystals are formed on the lead plates, causing the efficiency of the car batteries to deteriorate. The sulphur ions from the electrolyte, which is sulphuric acid, turn into small crystals. These crystals grow large with time and get permanently deposited on the negative lead plates. The formation of small crystals is natural and is not harmful to the battery system, however, the deposit of large, lead sulphate crystals on the negative plates severely impacts the overall performance of the battery.

Why does it happen?

The unwanted sulfation in the battery is intertwined with battery maintenance and charging practices. If a passenger car battery is not in use and remains discharged for a long period, then it is likely to develop sulphate crystals and damage the battery. Another reason is the time-gap between two consecutive charges. If the duration between two charges is excessively long, then it makes the battery prone to sulfation. The longer the battery remains discharged, all the more chances of sulfation. Undercharging is yet another common cause for battery sulfation. If you avoid full charging of your battery whether it is a car or motorbike battery, and you are used to charging it only as much as is needed for the day, then you are setting it up for long term sulfation. When the battery is only charged up to 80%, it leaves 20% of it to form sulphate crystals. If this becomes a habitual charging practice, the sulphate deposits become permanent and eventually destroys the battery.

How to prevent battery sulfation?




It is always best to take preventive measures in advance rather than waiting for the worst. Taking care of your car’s battery is much easier than having to choose a new battery from an online battery store. Given below are some of the practices that you should imbibe in your battery maintenance regime to protect your battery from undesirable sulfation:
  • Do not allow the car battery to exhaust completely - Deep discharging of the battery makes the sulphate crystals settle permanently on the lead plates. If the sulphate crystals remain settled on the plates for a long time, then it becomes irreparable.
  • Charge the battery regularly – If the passenger car or motorbike battery is being charged at short, regular intervals, then it leaves no room for unhealthy sulphate deposits, thereby, saving your battery from getting damaged.
  • Full charge the battery – Whenever possible charge the battery to its maximum level. When the battery is fully charged, it not only guards against sulfation, but also gives you a higher performance efficiency.
  • Do not undercharge it – Undercharging the battery makes it more prone to sulfation. It might help you save a little time but can lead to major, expensive consequences in the future.
  • Do not leave battery plates exposed to air – When the battery plates are laid out in the open, air molecules come in contact with the electrolyte, speeding up the sulfation process.
How to know if the battery is sulphated?

If you are looking for signs and indications for battery sulfation, take a look at the voltage discharge curve. A battery in good condition will maintain a stable voltage on discharge. A sulphated battery tends to display a faster rate of self-discharge.

You may notice that it takes a longer time to achieve a full charge. You may also find that your battery needs to be charged more often than usual. Sulfation can also make the battery weak and reduce its cranking power. As a result, your car engine could take a while to kick off.

All these factors will eventually damage the passenger car battery or the motorbike battery, resulting in a need to be replaced much sooner than expected. On the other hand, Tata Green batteries provide a warranty period of 68 months and are easily available on online battery stores.

Image Source: underhoodservice.com, wheels24.co.za, upsbatterycenter.com


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reasons A Motorcycle Battery Drains While Riding

Image
There was a time when motorcycles did not need batteries to start, but nowadays a motorcycle is unable t o function if the battery does not provide enough power. Motorcycle batteries power the starter, the lighting system, and all electrical systems and accessories. Since they are the heart of the vehicle, every bike owner needs to know about motorcycle batteries and how to maintain them. Two-wheeler batteries are generally of two types – 1.     Wet cell battery - This battery contains a liquid electrolyte like sulphuric acid. It can be used to power motorbikes for prolongedperiods. Wet cell batteriesare commonly used by three-wheeler vehicles. However, this battery has a little risk of leakage. 2.     Dry cell battery – Although dry cell batteriesare mostly used in mobile phones, laptops, flashlights, etc.they are also used as a battery for two-wheelers . Dry cell batteries are more durable and expensive than wet cell batteries. One dr...
Read more

How to Take Care of Your E-Rickshaw Battery

Image
  E-Rickshaws are slowly proving to be the new way to transport goods and people in some parts of India. This is mainly because of the advantage that it runs on a battery and keeps you from visiting a fuel station ever again. E-rickshaws are also an eco-friendly alternative to local transportation. Battery is the most important component in an e-Rickshaw because that is what fuels it. If you forget to take care of the battery in the e-Rickshaw you are in for trouble and you definitely don’t want to push the vehicle. It is highly advised to keep your e-Rickshaw batteries up-to-date and have regular check on them. Here is everything you must remember while taking care of e-Rickshaw Batteries. Fixing the battery: Battery should be firmly fixed in battery holding cradle ensuring that the cable clamps fit tightly and properly on the terminals. Loosely held batteries bounce and vibrate causing damage to the container and plates. Don’t use cardboards or thermocol, etc. to fix ...
Read more

Reasons Why Your Battery Might Be Failing And How To Fix It

Image
In the daily life of a commuter, automobiles play a huge role. Though two wheelers are known for being convenient for short distance travelling, four-wheeler cars are the most preferred mode of private transport. It is the battery that breathes life into a vehicle, powering all the electrical elements and starting the engine. The estimated life of car batteries is three years; however, battery problems can crop up even before the end of three years. Car batteries are probably the most volatile component in the car because of the electro-chemical mechanisms involved. Not only do car battery manufacturers in India report problems during the warranty period, but manufacturers in Japan and Germany also cite battery failure as the biggest problem among new car owners. In fact, Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club, German for General German Automobile Club, (ADAC) reports that about 52% of the breakdowns in cars over six years is due to batteries. 1) Effects of weather condi...
Read more