Battery - How It Works - Monaco 2002 Diplomat Service Manual

Electrical Systems - House
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BATTERY
- HOW IT WORKS
8 • 2 2 2
NOTE: Check all related fuses before assuming you have
encountered an electrical problem or situation. Spare fuses
should be kept on hand and can be purchased from an auto
parts stores. A fuse description label is on the distribution
panel cover.
WARNING: If a fuse blows replace the fuse with same
amperage rating and type. Installing higher amperage fuses
can damage the wiring or the item the fuse is protecting, or
may cause a fire. If the fuse repeatedly blows after replacing
it do not continue to replace it. Have the problem diagnosed
and corrected by a qualified technician.
Batteries come in different sizes, types, amp hours, voltages and chemistries.
There are nearly as many descriptions of battery types and how they should be
used as there are people willing to offer advice on them. Although it is not pos-
sible to cover batteries in their entirety, there are guidelines that can be fol-
lowed to ensure that the batteries are well maintained.
The operation of the battery is based on a chemical reaction. The battery is a
container of lead plates, insulators and a solution of distilled water and sulfuric
acid. The solution, when mixed together, is known as "electrolyte." The 12 Volt
battery is actually six batteries in one case. When charged, each cell has a volt-
age of 2.1 Volts. When six cells are hooked together this makes a 12.6 Volt bat-
tery (fully charged).
Electrons are stored on the negative plates. When a load (eg. a light bulb) is
put between the positive and negative terminals, the electrons move from the
negative plate to the positive plate through the "load" and then back to the
ground terminal. At this time the sulfuric acid leaves the water and adheres onto
the plates of the battery. The electrolyte solution keeps the electrons from flowing
while the battery is in the "at rest" position.
Charging the battery moves the sulfuric acid back into solution with the
distilled water. A battery left in a low or discharged state will cause the acid to
"sulphate." In attempting to recharge the battery, the acid has become hardened
and no longer will leave the plates and enter into the liquid solution with the
distilled water. The lowered acid to water ratio has a direct affect on the bat-
tery's ability to release the stored electrons (power output) and the length of
time it can perform (reserve capacity). Batteries left in a discharged condition
will readily freeze. This can crack the case allowing the solution to spill, it can
also warp the plates. The acid acts like an "antifreeze" for the battery. This is
why batteries should not be left or stored in a "discharged" condition.
D I P L O M A T