The service life and performance of lead-acid batteries (such as car starter batteries, electric vehicle batteries, etc.) are closely related to usage habits. Improper operation may lead to capacity decay, plate damage, and even safety hazards. During use, the following operations should be avoided:
1、 Avoid excessive discharge
Definition: Over discharge refers to the depletion of battery power (voltage below 80% of rated value, such as 12V battery voltage below 10.5V).
Harm: It can cause sulfurization of the electrode plate (lead sulfate crystals adhere to the electrode plate and can no longer participate in chemical reactions), permanently reducing the battery capacity.
Example:
Turn on the air conditioning and headlights for a long time after turning off the car.
Forcefully riding an electric bike after running out of battery.
2、 Avoid long-term storage with low power
Low battery state: The battery is not fully charged (especially below 50%).
Harm: The electrode plate is prone to sulfurization, resulting in a significant decrease in capacity and even inability to charge.
be careful:
Long term unused equipment (such as cars, backup power sources) should be fully charged before storage.
Recharge electricity every 1-2 months to maintain a battery level of over 70%.
3、 Avoid frequent charging and discharging with high current
High current operation:
Using fast charging equipment that does not meet specifications during charging (current exceeding battery rating).
Instantaneous high-power output during discharge (such as frequent car starts, sudden acceleration/braking of electric vehicles).
Harm: The active substance on the electrode plate is prone to detachment, which shortens the battery life; May cause battery heating and swelling.
4、 Avoid improper charging
Using the wrong charger: Mixing chargers for batteries of different models and voltages (such as using a 24V charger for a 12V battery) can lead to overcharging or undercharging.
Overcharging: Charger failure or prolonged charging (beyond the specified time) can cause the battery to deflate, the electrolyte to dry up, the shell to swell, and even leak.
Inappropriate charging environment: Charging in high temperature (>40 ℃), low temperature (<0 ℃) or closed environment may cause thermal runaway or efficiency decline.
5、 Avoid physical damage and environmental abuse
Severe vibration or impact: causing the electrode plate to detach, internal short circuit, and the battery may be scrapped.
Inverted or tilted excessively: Traditional electrolyte rich lead-acid batteries can overflow, corrode equipment, and affect performance (maintenance free batteries are relatively tolerant, but still need to avoid severe tilting).
Contact with corrosive substances: If the battery casing comes into contact with acid, alkali, etc., it may be corroded and damaged, leading to electrolyte leakage.
6、 Avoid mixing old and new batteries or batteries of different specifications
Mixing old and new batteries in the same device: The high internal resistance of old batteries can lead to excessive discharge of new batteries, resulting in a shortened lifespan for both.
Mixing batteries of different capacities and brands: inconsistent charging and discharging characteristics can lead to local overcharging or overdischarging, posing safety risks.
summarize
The core maintenance principle of lead-acid batteries is "shallow charging and discharging, timely recharging, and avoiding extreme working conditions". Reasonable use can significantly extend its lifespan (usually 3-5 years, depending on frequency of use and environment), otherwise it may fail within 1-2 years. If the battery is found to have bulges, leakage, abnormal heating during charging, etc., it should be immediately stopped from use and replaced to avoid safety accidents.
