Batteries are fascinating to me, as they power portable devices like dolls, video game handhelds, and electronics like laptops and mobile phones/tablets. They also generate electricity which is fascinating to learn about, and this is why I love technology. 👨🏻💻
What is a battery?
A battery is an electronic component that provides a steady stream of electrons to power a device. A car needs a battery for example, to start up and work. This blog post goes into detail about batteries, the different types of batteries, and how they work. 🔋
Types of batteries
There are many different types of batteries. Let’s see what they do and how they work.
Lead-Acid
A lead-acid battery is a type of battery that comes in box form. It may look like a single box unit, but it consists of several units known as cells. These cells distribute the electric current responsible for providing power.
In the positive electrode (+), a paste of lead-dioxide exists, and in the negative electrode (-), a paste of lead sulfate exists.
When the lead-acid battery is being discharged, the lead-dioxide is used up in the positive electrode, and the lead sulfate is being used up in the negative electrode, which generates electricity that flows from the battery.
While the vehicle is running, the alternator in the engine forces the current in the battery to reverse, regenerating lead-dioxide in the positive electrode and lead-sulfate in the negative electrode.
Over time, the lead-sulfate will eventually build up on the electrodes, and will become so hard, that the recharge cannot take place. Current research is trying to make rechargeable batteries last longer, thus limiting e-waste.
A lead-acid battery will occasionally flat and must be recharged by an external source of electric current. ⚡️
Nickel-Cadmium
A Nickel-Cadmium battery is a cylindrical battery that is made of nickel and cadmium. They work rather like a car battery.
A charger is used to make the electric current that discharges the battery occur in reverse. 🔌
Alkaline (Single Use)
This type of battery cannot be recharged, so it can only be used once until it runs out.
This type of battery is usually cylindrical, and contains acid and zinc inside.
Popular battery brands of alkaline batteries include Energiser and Duracell. 🔋
Lithium-Ion
Lithium batteries are batteries that contain lithium inside, and are rechargeable. Lithium batteries will usually last for 300-500 charge cycles (a charge cycle is when you recharge the battery via the charger up to 100%)
You shouldn’t charge these batteries up to 100% because it will not last as long. Instead, charge it up to around 50-80%, as this does not exhaust the battery so much.
Lithium batteries can last between 3-5 years, although they can last much longer depending on the device.
Button
Button batteries can last for many many years because they draw very little power, making them ideal for saving game data on game cartridges, and calculators.
Depending on the device used and the amount of power drawn from the battery, these batteries can last for an amazing 25 years!
Source: Science Quest books
Lilli
