Sep 24, 2020 Pageview:20541
Car batteries have several cells inside them. These cells make up the voltage of a battery. The cells inside the battery play the most crucial role inside the battery.
The battery functionality and reactions depend entirely on the battery cells. It is crucial to ensure that your battery is in the right condition to kill the cells.
A dead cell is a significant headache for many motorists. You can get stranded in a location because of a dead cell(s) in your car battery. Therefore, it is wise to learn what might be causing the cells of your battery to die. This article will assist you to avoid those unnecessary deaths.
It will also help you get the best methods of battery maintenance. A car’s battery maintenance is not a joke. Apart from ensuring that your battery is clean, there are other vital aspects that you need to consider.
Therefore, let us first look at the symptoms of dead cells in the battery. Later in this article, we shall look at the causes of lousy cells and fix the issue of dead cells in your battery.
Most car batteries have a capacity of 12V. This means that the battery has six cells that can produce 2 volts each. Also, each cell has an electrolyte of sulfuric acid and water for the case of lead-acid battery type. When one cell fails, then you will notice some changes in your battery’s functionality.
These symptoms of a dead cell in a car battery include:
Slow-cranking
The immediate sign of a lousy battery cell is the slow cranking of the starter. The moment you start getting slower than the normal cranking, then you should act immediately. The engine will crank like it is having problems turning over.
The bad battery cell does not allow the battery to sustain the required amount of direct current voltage. A right amount of amps are drawn by the car during starting. A lousy cell reduces the amps considerably. Without enough current required, the car will have issues starting.
Demands
When the car is running, a smaller amount of current is used. But when starting the car, there is a higher consumption of current. You may experience a dead cell issue when starting the car, but the car works correctly when you jump the vehicle.
When you turn off the car and let it stay for some time, the bad cells drain the battery's charge. When you turn on the car again, you can hear several clicks. This implies that the car must be jumped again, or the battery is dead.
Recharging
Charge your car battery fully and then check the amount of current available using a voltmeter. The voltage of a standard battery must be 12 volts or more than this. If your battery's reading is below 10.5 volts, then that is a clear indication that one or more of your cells are dead.
The dead cell will always prevent the battery from holding a full charge. Thus, it is a good idea to measure the voltage of your battery regularly.
Electronics
Apart from starting the car, the battery supplies power to your car's electronics when the vehicle is off. If your car's electrical components do not work once the car is switched off, then that is a sign that your battery has a problem.
The bad cell always drains the remaining current in the battery. All of these signs mentioned above indicate an issue with the battery's ability to hold a charge, which implies a dead battery cell.
A battery can start developing a shortened cell because the cell plates shed debris overtime. This debris falls into cavities at the bottom of the cell. When the cavity is filled with this debris, the debris will contact the bottom edge of the cell plates, hence shorting the cell.
There exist some steps that you should follow to fix a dead cell problem in a battery. Many shops buy dead batteries because they have professionals who can recondition the dead cells in a battery.
Reconditioning of batteries is one of the best ways to extend the life and save considerable vehicle maintenance. You can do battery reconditioning at home using simple tools and simple procedures.
You will require Epsom salt, goggles, Neoprene Rubber Gloves, distilled water, a screwdriver, battery charger, a plastic funnel, Turkey Baster, and a drill.
Reconditioning Procedure
The reconditioning process should be done in a well-ventilated area. The place should be free from any form of fire since acids in the battery can easily catch fire.
Heat the distilled water should be about a half a gallon to the boiling point. Then add Epsom Salt to the boiled water and stir till the salt dissolves.
Clean the outer parts of the battery using baking soda and clean water to prevent contamination. The main aim of using baking soda is to neutralize battery acids. Also, remove the corrosion from the terminals and cable connections.
Remove the battery's covers using a screwdriver. Begin by removing the top cover and the plastic caps. Then drill the holes at the impressions. Use a damp towel to eliminate debris surrounding the battery holes. Do not use a metal funnel to fill the batteries with the solution prepared. The lead plates in the battery should be immersed in the solution. You can then replace the covers.
?You can then connect the battery terminals to the battery charger and leave it to charge slowly for up to 24 hours. You can go through this process two or three times to improve the lifespan of the battery.
I think you can now bring your battery back to life with the procedure learned above. This will assist you to save cash that could have been spent in replacing the battery.
Also, frequently check your car battery. You can salvage it from dead in case you notice something unusual while checking it. Make sure also that you check the batteries voltage frequently.
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