Flat Battery - Meaning, Causes, and Recharging

Batteries are essential to us. We might not know it, but it has been there for us and let us use so many things without having to worry about energies and things related to it. However, there are times when we would forget about energy and the battery until when it runs out. When it happens, we can only wonder and panic to the flat battery state. Here, we will talk about flat battery, from its meaning, causes, and recharging it.

What does a flat battery mean?

A flat battery is actually not a common term used for the definition of the battery itself. Flat battery means that the battery has nothing at all. No energy for the object, no amps, nothing. It is just an empty shell that can no longer be used.

However, most people (to be specific Americans), do not use the term flat batteries when they describe a battery that has nothing inside it. When they talk about a lifeless battery, they would use the term “dead battery” or “low battery” (low is when there is an extremely tiny bit of energy left).

It is understandable if some people use the term “flat battery” though, as the word “flat” is commonly used for something that is no longer used for that specific time. “Flat tire” is one of the most common examples when the word “flat” is used to describe something as being lifeless, dead, or has little energy.

So, there is no need to be confused with the term. Just understand that flat battery is the same concept with either dead battery or low battery, depending on the situation.

What causes a flat battery?

There are several reasons why you can get a flat battery/ dead battery/ low battery. Here are some of the reasons:

Defective Batteries

When a battery is “flat” for no reason despite the short amount of time of its usage, then it is definite that you received defective batteries since the beginning. It is not an uncommon occurrence though, since it is believed that some manufacturers have at least 7% of defective batteries during their manufacturing process.

However, the problem is when you receive defective batteries, and you have no insurance over it. If it’s small batteries for household appliances then it’s fine, but what if it’s large batteries such as car batteries? So when you buy batteries, it’s best to make sure that your pricey batteries are insured.

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Extreme Temperature

Extreme temperature is one of the big no’s in batteries. Extreme temperature can actually damage your battery so bad to the point where it becomes unusable. It does not matter whether the extreme temperature is either too cold or too hot, but you must never expose the battery to such an environment. Exposing the battery to such an environment can affect the age of the battery and its longevity.

You can solve this issue by putting the battery at room temperature. Make sure that the room has ventilators so the air is not too hot nor too cold. As long as the battery is not overexposed to extreme temperatures, your battery should not be flat.

Reaching the end of its “life”

Although batteries last for a long time that does not mean that the battery will not last forever. Every battery has its own lifespan, whether it’s short of or not. So if you’ve been using the battery for a long time, don’t be surprised that your energetic battery turns into a flat battery.

It should be noted that not all batteries have the same lifespan. Each battery has its lifespan, and it usually ranges from two to five years. The type of battery and the amount of energy used by the object affect the lifespan of the battery. There are other factors too, such as the temperature, electrical load, and so on.

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Extremely heavy electrical load

Believe it or not, but the amount of load the battery gets also matters, especially for car batteries. If you use many features of the car all at once while the engine is turned off can damage the car’s battery.

When you’re parking, make sure that the electrical features of the car have been turned off. If you want to use them, make sure you use them one by one, not all of them at once. If you use all of the electrical features all at once continuously, the battery might be flat or dead despite the remaining lifespan it has.

Faulty Charger

A faulty charger can also damage your battery. A faulty charger can be seen from the way the battery reacts when it is charged. When the battery charges too long, even more than it’s supposed to be, then there is a problem with either the battery or the charger.

When this happens, it’s best to buy a new charger. If you keep using a faulty charger, the battery will end up being damaged too. If it’s a normal battery then it’s fine, but what if it’s a pricey battery that costs you hundreds of dollars?

Can a flat battery be recharged?

A flat battery can be recharged, but it depends on the definition of “flat battery” you have. If your definition of “flat battery” is something that has not been extremely damaged and still has some days left, then yes you can still charge it. Of course, to preventive damage (or even more damage in some cases), make sure you charge it properly according to the manuals. If you do not know how to charge it, it’s best to ask an expert to charge it for you.

However, if your definition of a “flat battery” is something that is completely damaged and has its lifespan finished, then you can no longer charge it again. You can know the battery’s state by looking at the battery’s shape and reaction when you charge it. If the battery hasn’t responded despite being charged for a while, then the definition of “flat battery” here is completely lifeless, damaged, or dead.