1 Answer
The biggest cause of **lead-acid battery failures** is **sulfation**.
### **What is Sulfation?**
Sulfation happens when **lead sulfate (PbSO₄) crystals build up on the battery plates**, reducing the battery's ability to charge and discharge properly. This occurs when:
1. **The battery is left discharged for a long time.**
2. **The battery is undercharged repeatedly.**
3. **The battery is overcharged, causing water loss and concentration of acid.**
### **Other Common Causes of Lead-Acid Battery Failure:**
1. **Overcharging** – Leads to excessive heat and water loss, damaging the plates.
2. **Undercharging** – Causes permanent sulfation over time.
3. **Deep Discharges** – Reduces battery life, as lead-acid batteries are not designed for frequent deep cycling (unless they are deep-cycle batteries).
4. **Water Loss (for flooded batteries)** – If electrolyte levels drop too low, the plates are exposed to air and get damaged.
5. **Corrosion** – Terminals and internal connections can degrade over time.
6. **Physical Damage or Vibration** – Can break internal connections or crack the casing, leading to leaks.
7. **Extreme Temperatures** – High heat speeds up chemical reactions, leading to water loss, while extreme cold slows reactions, reducing battery performance.
To **extend battery life**, regularly check charge levels, avoid deep discharges, keep terminals clean, and top up distilled water if needed (for flooded types).
### **What is Sulfation?**
Sulfation happens when **lead sulfate (PbSO₄) crystals build up on the battery plates**, reducing the battery's ability to charge and discharge properly. This occurs when:
1. **The battery is left discharged for a long time.**
2. **The battery is undercharged repeatedly.**
3. **The battery is overcharged, causing water loss and concentration of acid.**
### **Other Common Causes of Lead-Acid Battery Failure:**
1. **Overcharging** – Leads to excessive heat and water loss, damaging the plates.
2. **Undercharging** – Causes permanent sulfation over time.
3. **Deep Discharges** – Reduces battery life, as lead-acid batteries are not designed for frequent deep cycling (unless they are deep-cycle batteries).
4. **Water Loss (for flooded batteries)** – If electrolyte levels drop too low, the plates are exposed to air and get damaged.
5. **Corrosion** – Terminals and internal connections can degrade over time.
6. **Physical Damage or Vibration** – Can break internal connections or crack the casing, leading to leaks.
7. **Extreme Temperatures** – High heat speeds up chemical reactions, leading to water loss, while extreme cold slows reactions, reducing battery performance.
To **extend battery life**, regularly check charge levels, avoid deep discharges, keep terminals clean, and top up distilled water if needed (for flooded types).