It is common to see battery-operated portable electronics on a daily basis, including cell phones, watches, remote control, electric bikes, key fobs, and so on.
Batteries have become such an indispensable power source that we can hardly imagine what our life would turn out to be without the presence of these tiny cells.
While cells are a small particle, delivering DC voltage and current to empower small electronic devices like remote controls, a battery pack comprises numerous sections, producing large amounts of electricity desired.
There is a wide range of various battery types on the market, meeting the customers’ energy demand for their gadgets.
While you can come across such batteries as coin cell, button cell, or cell of different battery sizes, there are two main types of batteries: rechargeable batteries and non-rechargeable batteries.
So what are they and their practical applications? How to choose a suitable battery for your device? Keep reading our article to find out the answers!
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All Should Know About Batteries
As mentioned above, batteries are produced to empower various portable electronics, and they are made of numerous cells.
Under the chemical reaction, those cells immediately create an electron flow within a circuit, then an electric current appears.
A battery cell usually comprises three main components: a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and the electrolytes.
The movement and impacts of those three components on each other create the little source of energy that we and several types of machines are thankful for.
Main components of batteries and their operation
In general, a battery is made up of three main bits: two electrodes and one chemical called an electrolyte.
With a view to ensuring our safety, all three components are stored inside a metal outer case.
Besides, a battery is designed with two outer electrical terminals: positive and negative.
These two terminals are where you transmit the electrical current into the three inside bits to generate the needed power.
When there is a current running through the battery, a chemical reaction is likely to happen with the ion formation from the materials in the electrodes.
Meanwhile, the electrons from one terminal start to move to the other side through the outer circuit.
This process only stops with the total transformation of electrolyte and the appearance of the needed power.
Battery types
In general, batteries are classified into two aforementioned main types, rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries.
The primary batteries or non-rechargeable ones cannot be reused when they are depleted.
Alkaline batteries and coin cell or lithium batteries are the most common non-rechargeable batteries in our daily lives, having a long shelf life and a small size.
We can use them for our key fob or hearing aids.
On the contrary, the second batteries can be reused and recycled by a battery charger, ensuring users a huge life span.
This type of battery includes four common types, namely lead-acid batteries, Ni-Cd batteries, Ni-MH batteries, and Lithium-ion batteries.
As it can be recharged and reused like renewable energy, this type of battery often powers electric vehicles like electric bikes, golf carts, electric cars, personal watercraft, and other devices like baby monitors, digital cameras, or emergency light.
Although it comes at an expensive price, the rechargeable battery ensures the user’s long-term use and high efficiency.
How To Choose A Suitable Battery
A battery may directly impact your devices’ operation, but determines the gadget’s longevity.
So when facing a wide range of batteries available on the market, how can you choose a suitable one for your devices?
Here are some factors that you need to consider when buying batteries:
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Choose between chargeable and non-rechargeable batteries
First and foremost, let’s have a second thought about your purposes when buying batteries.
If you are longing for a portable battery to carry elsewhere, you should choose chargeable ones.
Watches, remote controls, baby monitors, and the battery pack in either electric cars or trucks are some examples.
If you own a personal watercraft, this type of battery is also your choice.
On the other hand, with such gadgets as flashlights, smoke alarms, and non-rechargeable batteries are better choices.
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Battery ratings
The capacity of the battery indicates the amount of power delivered to a device.
More importantly, batteries with a high amount of power allow your gadgets to recharge faster without the risk of overloading, and they have low energy density as well.
Therefore, look at battery ratings on the label to make sure that the battery is suited to your applicants.
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Shelf life
Without a shade of doubt, normally, not all market batteries are immediately sold and used.
Instead, they may be on the shelf for a long time.
Remaining unused for a long period may diminish the shelf life of the battery and the operating effectiveness.
That’s why we should pay attention to the shelf life indicated on the battery, and choose the quality one.
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Cost
Batteries seem to be one of the most expensive parts of an electronic gadget.
Nevertheless, not all costly batteries are compatible with your devices and worth your money.
For this reason, before deciding to buy a new battery, let’s visit your applicants’ official stores to get advice and support.
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Durability
Batteries are often directly affected by various factors, making them fail to work properly. In other words, external factors like humidity, temperature, and magnetic fields can impact your batteries’ performance.
Because of this, to have a durable and effective battery, you should consider those factors and choose the suitable one for your home’s condition.
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Safety
Safety is always of our utmost priority, so checking the temperature where the battery will work or be installed is an indispensable step.
When being heated up or exposed to flammable items and sunlight, the battery may explode and cause unwanted accidents.
Useful Guide To Use Batteries
Rechargeable batteries
We often use rechargeable batteries for mobile power devices, so how to use these second batteries in the right way?
- Avoid overcharging: This is one of the most important methods to prolong the lifespan of the battery. Overall, it would be best to unplug or disconnect the discharger’s battery when the battery is charged fully. If not, you may risk heating the battery and reducing its longevity; worse, making it explode.
- Keep the battery away from flammable objects: when recharged, the battery should not be placed on flammable surfaces or items such as pillows, paper, clothes, or curtains. The fire is likely to occur if the battery is heated up or influenced by direct sunlight exposure.
- Buy the right device: normally, each battery is compatible with certain types of rechargers. Some rechargers are quite expensive, yet they are durable and can protect the batteries. Besides, mixing the rechargers and batteries may result in unexpected problems. Therefore, spare some time to check the right charger.
Non-rechargeable batteries
The primary batteries have the same tips and guide as the second batteries.
Besides, there is one more precaution involved in recycling and reusing issues.
As non-rechargeable batteries cannot be reused or recharged, users tend to throw them away when they are depleted.
However, this activity is not recommended, as you may cause serious consequences if you do so.
These negative impacts include harming the environment due to the chemical release and adverse influences on human health.
It is because when directly discharged into the ground, the batteries can release a harmful substance.
Therefore, please gather old batteries and bring them to the collecting site for proper disposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How long does my battery last?
The shelf life of a battery depends on various factors such as discharging frequency and using methods.
Normally, a non-rechargeable battery can last for months if used daily, while the second battery can last for days if used continuously.
The right battery charger with proper charging is the key to the longevity of a battery.
If you fail to purchase a suitable charger or discharge the battery for a long time, even though it has been fully recharged, you risk worsening the battery’s condition.
If worse, the battery may be heated up and exploded.
Therefore, be cautious with the depth of discharge.
Besides, it is common to catch sight of a teenager using his smartphone while it is recharged.
However, this bad habit also plays havoc with the device’s lifespan.
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How can I store my batteries?
We highly advise you to keep your new batteries in a dry and clean container so that they remain new and effective.
Before storing, make sure that the batteries are charged at their full capacity using a battery maintainer.
Don’t forget to check IT regularly and recharge if the battery’s energy falls below 12,6 volts.
In terms of old batteries, reaching the end of their life, you should not throw them away carelessly.
If those cells are released into the environment, they are likely to give off a harmful chemical, negatively impacting living forms.
Instead of throwing, you should return them to the stores or battery drop-off locations to ensure proper disposal.
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Why does my battery fail to work?
There are three common causes of battery failure to work.
The first reason is a high temperature, as it accelerates the grid erosion in a positive plate.
Consequently, the battery cannot start working properly.
Also, improper installation is another cause, ruining both the battery and the device itself.
Finally, if the battery is not stored appropriately or cleaned, it will also be out of order.
For these reasons, when you cannot start your battery, check these causes to find the solution.
The Final Thought
Well, we are sure that after looking through our detailed article about batteries, you have gained a full insight into this power source and its variety.
With just a small battery cell, you are free to carry your gadgets around without worrying about charging plugs or cumbersome wires.
To purchase a suitable battery and avoid harming your device’s lifespan, let’s refer to our tips mentioned above!
Choosing an effectively working battery is no longer an uphill struggle as long as you have enough guidelines and experience.
Moreover, as throwing away batteries carelessly may wreak havoc on the environment and our daily life, you should store used batteries, especially non-rechargeable ones, and bring them to the collecting site for battery recycling.
But now, let’s buy a high-quality battery for your electric bike and have a whale of a time going out!
