What is a lead-acid battery?

The lead–acid battery is a type of rechargeable battery first invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté. It is the first type of rechargeable battery ever created. Compared to modern rechargeable batteries, lead–acid batteries have relatively low energy density. Despite this, they are able to supply high surge currents.

Are lead-acid batteries a good choice?

Compared to modern rechargeable batteries, lead–acid batteries have relatively low energy density. Despite this, they are able to supply high surge currents. These features, along with their low cost, make them attractive for use in motor vehicles to provide the high current required by starter motors.

What is a lead acid battery used for?

Lead–acid batteries were used to supply the filament (heater) voltage, with 2 V common in early vacuum tube (valve) radio receivers. Portable batteries for miners' cap headlamps typically have two or three cells. Lead–acid batteries designed for starting automotive engines are not designed for deep discharge.

How do you prevent sulfation in a lead acid battery?

Sulfation prevention remains the best course of action, by periodically fully charging the lead–acid batteries. A typical lead–acid battery contains a mixture with varying concentrations of water and acid.

Do lead-acid batteries use relativity?

It was discovered early in 2011 that lead–acid batteries do in fact use some aspects of relativity to function, and to a lesser degree liquid metal and molten-salt batteries such as the Ca–Sb and Sn–Bi also use this effect. 4), and the electrolyte loses much of its dissolved sulfuric acid and becomes primarily water.

How many Watts Does a lead-acid battery use?

This comes to 167 watt-hours per kilogram of reactants, but in practice, a lead–acid cell gives only 30–40 watt-hours per kilogram of battery, due to the mass of the water and other constituent parts. In the fully-charged state, the negative plate consists of lead, and the positive plate is lead dioxide.