As far as efficiency and reliability are concerned, nothing can beat Lithium-ion batteries. However, for off-grid storage systems, the lead-acid battery can be a better choice for a number of reasons. Basically, both types of storage units can store energy in an effective manner, but both have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Given below are some points of comparison between the two. Read on to know more.

Cost

Cost is one of the main factors that draw a line between the two. If you get two batteries of the same capacity, the Lithium-ion battery will cost you three times more. Based on the size of the system you want to install, this can increase your expenditure significantly.

Although lead-acid batteries have relatively lower price tags, they cannot last as long as their counterpart.

Capacity

The capacity of a battery pack refers to the amount of energy it can store. The great thing about these batteries are that they have a higher energy density than their counterpart. Therefore, these units can store more energy without occupying additional space. So, you can install more of these units in less space.

Depth of Discharge

The depth of discharge of a battery is the percentage of the power that can be drained without causing any damage to the unit. The disadvantage of lead-acid batteries is that they cannot be drained by more than 50%. On the other hand, Li-ion batteries can be safely drained up to 85% of their capacity.

Efficiency

Another good comparison point is the efficiency of these units. Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries offer 95% more efficiency. In other words, 95% of the power stored in these units can be used. On the other side, the other type of battery offers only 85% efficiency.

Lifespan

Just like solar panels, batteries continue to degrade with the passage of time. As a result, they lose their efficiency. After recharging a battery, when you discharge it completely, it is considered one discharge cycle. As far as the number of discharge cycles is concerned, lead-acid batteries cannot beat Lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, the latter offers a much longer lifespan.

Should you Install a Lead-Acid Battery or a Lithium-Ion Battery?

If you need to install a backup system, you can go for either a lithium-ion battery or a lead-acid battery. However, since the former offers a lot of advantages, you may not want to go for Lead-acid battery packs. Although lithium-ion units have a higher cost, they offer a great return on investment for many reasons explained above.

However, if you don't want to use your battery packs quite often, your ideal choice may be lead-acid batteries.

It was a brief comparison between Lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries. Hopefully, this comparison will make it easier for you to make the right choice. Therefore, if you can afford it, you can spend more money and install lithium-ion battery systems.

As far as efficiency and reliability are concerned, nothing can beat Lithium-ion batteries. However, for off-grid storage systems, the lead-acid battery can be a better choice for a number of reasons. Basically, both types of storage units can store energy in an effective manner, but both have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Given below are some points of comparison between the two. Read on to know more.

Cost

Cost is one of the main factors that draw a line between the two. If you get two batteries of the same capacity, the Lithium-ion battery will cost you three times more. Based on the size of the system you want to install, this can increase your expenditure significantly.

Although lead-acid batteries have relatively lower price tags, they cannot last as long as their counterpart.

Capacity

The capacity of a battery pack refers to the amount of energy it can store. The great thing about these batteries are that they have a higher energy density than their counterpart. Therefore, these units can store more energy without occupying additional space. So, you can install more of these units in less space.

Depth of Discharge

The depth of discharge of a battery is the percentage of the power that can be drained without causing any damage to the unit. The disadvantage of lead-acid batteries is that they cannot be drained by more than 50%. On the other hand, Li-ion batteries can be safely drained up to 85% of their capacity.

Efficiency

Another good comparison point is the efficiency of these units. Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries offer 95% more efficiency. In other words, 95% of the power stored in these units can be used. On the other side, the other type of battery offers only 85% efficiency.

Lifespan

Just like solar panels, batteries continue to degrade with the passage of time. As a result, they lose their efficiency. After recharging a battery, when you discharge it completely, it is considered one discharge cycle. As far as the number of discharge cycles is concerned, lead-acid batteries cannot beat Lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, the latter offers a much longer lifespan.

Should you Install a Lead-Acid Battery or a Lithium-Ion Battery?

If you need to install a backup system, you can go for either a lithium-ion battery or a lead-acid battery. However, since the former offers a lot of advantages, you may not want to go for Lead-acid battery packs. Although lithium-ion units have a higher cost, they offer a great return on investment for many reasons explained above.

However, if you don't want to use your battery packs quite often, your ideal choice may be lead-acid batteries.

It was a brief comparison between Lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries. Hopefully, this comparison will make it easier for you to make the right choice. Therefore, if you can afford it, you can spend more money and install lithium-ion battery systems.

Batteries are an essential part of a vehicle and should not be overlooked. Without a healthy battery, the car stands still. We are responsible for how long they can support our vehicle. To extend their lifespan, we need to properly maintain them. Maintenance-free batteries are slowly taking over lead-acid batteries but it is important to understand that the basic principle remains the same. We will discuss all the important aspects of a battery in this article.

How does a battery work?

Lead acid car batteries are energy storing devices made up of lead and lead dioxide plates. These plates are submerged into an electrolyte solution. The percentage of water is 65% and sulphuric acid contributes 35% to this solution. When the battery is used to start the car, it gets discharged. The sulphuric acid in the electrolyte solution gets depleted leaving a higher proportion of water. The sulfate is returned to the acid during the charging process. The battery provides high current required by the starter motor to crank the engine of the car. Once the engine is started, the battery is again recharged by the engine driven charging system. In this process, the alternator takes necessary energy from the rotation of engine through a belt to charge up the battery. When the engine is running, the alternator generates electricity for the electrical equipment of the car.

What makes a battery weak?

When the car is exposed to direct sunlight in summers for longer periods of time, it accelerates the process of corrosion and evaporates the electrolyte. This reduces the life of a battery making it weaker. So, avoid getting your car heated by sunlight by parking in a suitable shade.

A battery must be fitted properly to avoid any sort of vibrations. These vibrations over time shake the plates around which in turn make the internal connections lose. As a result, the battery would not get properly charged.

Once you start the car, make sure to drive it for enough time for the battery to get recharged again. The alternator takes time to recharge the battery after it has released its energy while starting the engine. Otherwise, the battery will stay undercharged which is not sufficient to provide high current to the starting motor.

Keeping the headlights or music system on while the engine is shut down drains the battery over time. Avoid plugging in a charger for a longer period of times to prevent the battery from discharging.

Corrosion on battery terminals is as harmful to the battery as anything else. Always clean the battery terminals carefully once or twice in a month. Make sure to wear gloves and eye protection. The white powder on terminals is toxic and should not be allowed to come in contact with the skin.

Signs that indicate battery replacement:

There are a couple of signs that may indicate your battery is getting weak and needs a replacement.

·        The bright headlights of the car become slightly dim when the engine is turned off.

·        The starter motor turns slowly when you start the car due to the low current provided by the battery.

There are a few visual signs that indicate the battery needs a replacement.

·        An internal short circuit or overcharging leads to a swollen battery. If you see signs of bulging anywhere around the battery, replace it.

·        Examine the battery case carefully for any damage to the battery case.

How to start an engine with a weak battery?

It is not recommended to use a weak battery. However, in an emergency case, jumper cables can be used when you are stuck during your trip along the roadside. Always keep a set of jumper cables in your car if you think the battery is not in supreme condition. Jumper cables let you jump-start your vehicle with the help of another car. Although it is a very simple technique but safety measures must be taken to avoid any danger. Following steps will guide you to jump-start the vehicle:

·        Make sure both batteries have the same voltage rating i.e. 12 V

·        Turn off the ignition switch after parking it close enough to the other car in neutral position.

·        Never jump a frozen battery. It can easily explode.

·        Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses.

·        Carefully identify and connect the positive terminals of both batteries to each other.

·        Make sure the other end does not touch the car's body to avoid any dangerous spark.

·        Clamp the negative cable to the negative terminal of the good battery.

·        Connect the other end of the negative cable to a metal part of the car with a weak battery.

·        Finally the start the car with the good battery.

·        Give it 5-7 minutes to charge the weak battery.

·        Now start the ignition of the car with a weak battery.

·        Carefully remove the cables in reverse order. Remove the negative cables first followed by removing the positive cable from the car with the good battery. In the end, remove the positive cable from the car with a weak battery.

How to check battery's health?

For proper maintenance of battery, schedule once a month to check the status of the battery. Nowadays there are tools that can help measure the present condition of the battery. Following are the most commonly used tools for this purpose:

Battery load tester:

Battery load tester is used to check the voltage rating of the running battery. It has a display meter with voltage readings up to 16V along with the battery health indicator. It has positive and negative probes. Inside, there is a high current capacity coil that provides the necessary load with a toggle switch. Battery voltage can be tested easily by following these steps:

·        Turn off the car engine.

·        Connect the positive probe of the load tester with the positive terminal of the battery.

·        Similarly, connect the negative probe with the negative terminal.

·        Make sure both probes are properly connected with the battery terminals.

·        The meter will show a voltage reading in accordance with the health of the battery.

·        Now, turn on the load toggle switch for 05-07 seconds to measure the battery voltage on load.

·        A healthy battery ideally shows 12.5 volts.

·        If the meter needle deflects anywhere near the "weak" indication, immediately replace the battery.

·        Safely remove the probes in reverse order.

Hydrometer:

The hydrometer is another tool to measure battery health. It measures the specific gravity of electrolytes but can only be used on batteries with removable caps. Hydrometers usually have a built-in thermometer. Follow these easy steps to measure the remaining battery life:

·        Start with removing caps from the top of the battery.

·        Dip the tip of the hydrometer in the first cell of the battery.

·        Squeeze and release it from behind to let the electrolyte enter into the cylinder of the hydrometer.

·        Read the specific gravity of electrolyte as indicated.

·        Note the reading for all cells one by one.

·        Make a comparison of readings with those one given on hydrometer.

·        Usually, readings between 1.265 and 1.299 indicate a charged battery. Any reading under this bracket show signs of a weak battery.

·        Another method to examine battery health is to use a multimeter. This process is similar to the one we used for the battery load tester.

How to replace a battery?

A car battery can be easily replaced at home without any complication by following these simple steps:

Removing the old battery:

·        Start with removing negative terminal of battery usually marked as black or with (-) symbol to avoid any arcing with the wrench.

·        Disconnect the positive terminal usually marked as red or with (+) symbol.

·        Remove the "hold down clamp" of battery

·        Batteries are heavy in weight so lift it up carefully.

·        Clean the battery tray if it is corroded.

Connecting new battery:

·        Carefully lift in the new battery in its position.

·        Properly connect the "hold down clamp" first.

·        Connect the battery terminals in reverse order by connecting the positive terminal first.

·        Connect the negative terminal of the battery.

·        Make sure the connections are not loose.

·        Battery must be fixed properly to avoid any vibrations.

·        Terminals must be in a clean condition.

·        Add some petroleum jelly on both terminals as it reduces the process of corrosion.

The old battery can be sold to a battery shop from where you have purchased the new one. These car batteries are also recycled to prevent dangerous chemicals from getting into the atmosphere. Old lead plates can also be recycled into various other products.

How to maintain your battery?

To extend the battery life, it should be well maintained. Schedule the maintenance of the battery every month. It includes the following few things:

Cleaning battery and its terminals:

Cleaning of a battery involves removing the corrosion or any white powder from the terminals and the surface of the battery. For this purpose, use warm water and add a tablespoon of baking soda to it. Carefully remove the battery (as mentioned in the replacement section) Make sure the removable caps are properly tight. Always use rubber gloves because the white powder is toxic and should not be allowed to come in contact with the skin. Thoroughly apply the solution over the battery case. Clean the terminals properly. Use a brush to reach narrow spaces. Let the solution for a couple of minutes and then wash it with cold water. The terminals will be corrosion free after this practice. Install the battery back to its position with care.

Inspection of Electrolyte level:

Electrolyte level inside a battery can be examined visually by removing the caps on top of the battery. The lead plates must be dipped properly into the electrolyte solution. If you see a decreased level of electrolyte in any of the cells, add some water into it. Let the solution get mixed properly.

Using a battery charger/maintainer:

If your car is idle for a long period, use a battery charger to keep the battery properly charged. Batteries soon become dead if you don't charge them. A battery charger can be of great help to keep the desired voltage output from the battery. Usually, it comes in different modes as per requirement i.e. charging, boost charging and maintainer. It can also be used to maintain battery voltage. Carefully plug in the charger into a socket. Connect the positive cable with the positive terminal of the battery and the negative cable to the negative terminal. Turn on the switch and let the battery charge properly.

Always inspect the battery before leaving on a trip. Overlooking the condition of the battery might bring you trouble in the middle of nowhere. A 10-15 minutes inspection might help you save a lot of time during your journey. If you know any other important aspect related to batteries, do mention in the comments section below.

Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery technology is one of the fastest growing trends in the tool community, and certainly for good reason. Lithium Ion batteries have the best energy to weight ratio, meaning they pack the most power with the smallest amount of bulk. They also experience no memory effect or, lazy battery effect. This occurs when a battery can no longer accept a maximum charge for having been repeatedly recharged without being fully used (a common symptom of Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries). Li-Ion batteries, conversely, have absolutely no memory and can continually accept a maximum charge. Additionally, Lithium Ion batteries have a very slow rate of charge loss while the battery is disengaged.

What is the difference between Lithium Batteries and Lithium Ion Batteries?

The difference is in the chemistry; a Lithium battery is a disposable power source composed of lithium metal compounds - the key word, here, being disposable; Lithium batteries can not be recharged. Lithium Ion batteries, on the other hand, are intercalated, meaning the lithium ion inside the battery moves between two internal electrodes. This movement, or reversibility of the lithium ion accounts for the battery's rechargeability.

What are the benefits of Lithium Ion Technology?

-- Lithium Ion batteries hold a lot of power and are surprisingly light-weight, especially with consideration to other rechargeable batteries.
-- Li-Ion batteries combine single cell technology with a greater energy reservoir than Nickel Metal Hydride and Nickel Cadmium batteries. They store more power for their size than both NiCad and NiMH.
-- Li-Ion batteries hold their charge for significantly longer than other comparable batteries, and provide steady power until that charge is completely gone. Other batteries gradually and consistently loose power as you work. Li-Ion batteries stay strong until the last push.

Are there disadvantages to using Lithium Ion Batteries?

The disadvantages with using Li-Ion battery technology are generally few and far between, and technological advancements are making them even less so. Manufacturers have recently improved the Lithium Ion recipe to reveal a more reliable battery. Still, every giant has its weaknesses:

-- Li-Ion batteries are sensitive to intense hot and cold temperatures. In extreme temperature conditions, the battery will degrade more quickly.
-- Li-Ion batteries degrade regardless frequency of use.
-- The Li-Ion battery's built-in computer chip tells the battery to refuse a charge once the batteries power falls below a certain point. If this occurs, the battery is beyond repair.

Although these defects are more applicable to the older Lithium Ion batteries, the possibility of seeing these problems is still worth noting. Fortunately, these said defects are fairly rare, and easily avoided.

-- Store Li-Ion batteries (and other batteries as well) in a cool, dry place.
-- Use your Li-Ion batteries often.
-- Be certain Li-Ion batteries have a full charge before storing them, and pull them out every so often to use and recharge. Watch the batteries power level to be sure it doesn't fall below the charge limit.

General Li-Ion Battery Tips:

-- On occasion Lithium Ion batteries require more than one charge (sometimes 2 to even 10) to accept a full charge. The first time you charge your battery, leave it to charge over night. This ensures you'll have maximum power for your first use.
-- To maintain proper balance in your battery, leave it charge over night about once per week for the life of the battery.
-- When buying a new Lithium Ion battery, make certain you are buying a fresh one. There's a chance a battery has been degrading on the shelfs of manufacturer's and distributor's so be certain you are buying a new one. Most manufacturers provide a date code on the battery or packaging. Check dates before you purchase, and be confident you are getting a fresh, high-performance battery.

Nowadays, lithium batteries are found in a lot of devices, such as digital cameras, laptops, mobile phones and a lot of other electronic devices. If you want to maintain your battery pack and extend its life, we suggest that you follow the tips given below. These tips will also protect your smartphone and other devices from damage. Read on.

Charge your batteries first

Once you buy a battery pack, make sure you charge it for 12 hours before putting it in your device. As a matter of fact, all manufacturers recommend charging these batteries for at least 12 hours before first use.

Actually, if you have a lithium ion battery, this approach is very important. Unlike the regular Ni-MH Ni-CD batteries, lithium-ion batteries are pre-activated. Since they have a low self-discharge rate, make sure you charge your batteries first.

As soon as the charger gives you the indicator, you can remove the batteries and put them in your device. Here, it's also important to note that these batteries need to go through at least 3 cycles before reaching their full capacity.

Use the right charger

All of us take good care of our electronic gadgets but we tend to ignore the outcomes of using the wrong charger. When you buy a charger, make sure you opt for the original charger. If you can't get the original one, we suggest that you choose a high-quality charger with overcharge protection. Buying a low-quality unit is not a good idea as it may result in shorter run time, battery failure or fire/explosion.

Don't overcharge

Typically, low-quality chargers end up overcharging the battery. What happens is that the substance inside the battery heats up, which may reduce the lifespan of the battery. Therefore, it's better that you fully charge your battery. In some cases, overcharging may cause the battery to explode.

Don't touch the metal contacts

For highest performance, make sure you clean the battery contacts on a regular basis. When you carry the batteries with you, you might want to prevent the contacts from touching metal stuff like your car keys. This is important if you don't want to face a short circuit. If this happens, you may end up damaging your battery. In a worse scenario, fire or explosion can also occur.

Don't use the battery in extreme temperatures

Usually, lithium-ion batteries can work well only if the temperatures are in a certain range. If used in extreme temperatures for a long time, the backup time and useful cycles will decrease.

Don't store your battery without charging

If you leave your battery without charging for more than 3 months, you may cause damage to it. Ideally, in this situation, make sure you partially charge your battery pack before putting it in your drawer for a few months. Ideally, it should be charged at least 30% of capacity.

Long story short, if you are going to buy a lithium-ion battery pack, make sure you follow these tips. By following these tips, you can extend the lifespan of your battery.