06/29/2020
Nerd word of the week!
Batteries!
Yeah, I'm sure most everyone knows what a battery is. This post is dedicated to helping you understand the different types of batteries.
For those that don't know, a battery is a pH rich acid sandwiched between two conductive metals. These metals are what give batteries different traits. Lastly, a battery is used to store electrical energy in a potential form.
So what are the different kinds of batteries you can find in everyday life? These are the common ones:
-Alkaline batteries
-Lithium-ion batteries
-Cadmium batteries
-Lead acid batteries
-Sealed gel batteries
What's the difference between them, right? Don't they all store electricity?
Yes, they do. The differences are in the materials used in them, and their corresponding properties.
Alkaline batteries use alkali metals and acid to store energy, and are typically single use. The Alkali metals come out the Earth either missing a few ions or with extra ions, as the periodic table can show you. Usually an alkaline battery has one of each in it. As you use the alkaline battery, the extra ions from one metal travel to the other metal that was missing ions. Eventually the metals reach an electrically neutral state, and that's when the battery dies. This is why alkaline batteries are single use. Common uses for these batteries: TV remote, older wireless controllers, flashlights, portable radios or CD players, and film cameras. (AA, AAA, C, D, etc)
Litium-ion batteries use Lithium that's already in an electrically neutral state, and sandwiched between other conductive metals. A Li-ion battery is basically just overcharged lithium, but lithium can't hold more than a specific number of ions. This makes it rechargeable. Lithium-ion batteries are used in most smartphones, laptops, and tablets with a few exceptions. The major drawback of Li-ion batteries is actually the acid used to conduct electricity. It can also overcharge, but the acid doesn't get rid of its charge like the lithium does. So over time, the acid becomes neutral and the battery becomes less effective. This leads to shorter battery life. With heat, the acid can also react directly with the lithium and produce gas bubbles which will swell the battery.
Cadmium batteries aren't used much anymore due to the toxic heavy metal being dangerous to water systems. Cadmium batteries used to be used for computer motherboards, and analog equipment. Cadmium batteries are rechargeable AC batteries, and they were designed for AC signals. They aren't really used anymore, but you still might find them in older audio equipment like amps, receivers, tape decks, and phonographs. Cadmium batteries were like emergency power supplies for power loss. Power loss can cause a lot of feedback and blow speakers, or short out magnetic resonance devices such as tape deck heads and guitar pickups. You can still find cadmium batteries in wireless landline phones, and some RC cars. They're still useful for radio signals and AC waveforms.
Lead acid batteries are short, sweet and to the point. It uses lead and battery acid to store power. The acid holds excess ions and the lead conducts it. This type of battery can hold the most power, as it's only limited by the amount of physical acid inside. The most common use for lead acid batteries are vehicles. You may also find one in a generator that auto-starts on power out.
Sealed gel batteries combine the power capabilities of lead acid with the versatility of lithium-ion. Sealed gel is a highly conductive acid with highly conductive metals suspended in a gel, vacuum sealed into its container. It has high power output, and it's rechargeable. It's most commonly found in power chairs, electric scooters, and toys like power wheels. Unlike Lithium-ion though, gel batteries can't die, or they die for good. If the Lithium loses all it's extra ions, it can still be recharged. If the gel loses its charge, it becomes inert and can't pass extra ions to other gel cells. If the whole battery dies, it dies forever.
That concludes the nerd word of the week. Which battery do you use most?
