GMC 1976 ZEO 6083 Maintenance Manual page 385

Figure 9-Two Volt Battery Cell
When this simple element is put in a container
filled with a sulphuric acid and water solution called
"electrolyte", a two-volt "cell" is formed . Electricity
will flow when the plates are connected to an electri-
cal load (figure 9) .
An element made by grouping several positive
plates together and several negative plates together
with separators between them also generates two
volts but can produce more total electrical energy
than a simple cell (figure 10).
When six cells are connected in series, a "bat-
tery" of cells is formed which produces six times as
Figure 10-Battery Element (Compound)
ENGINE ELECTRICAL
6Y- 5
Figure 1 1-Typical 12-Volt Battery Cell Arrangement
much electrical pressure as a simple cell, or a total
of 12 volts (figure 11).
If the battery continuously supplies current, it
becomes run-down or discharged . This is where the
generator gets into the act. The generator restores
the chemical energy to the battery. This is done by
sending current through the battery in a direction
opposite to that during discharge. The generator cur-
rent reverses the chemical actions in the battery and
restores it to a charged condition.
STATE-OF-CHARGE
INDICATOR
Figure 12-Internal View of Maintenance-Free Battery