Over time, wireless electronic gadgets are becoming common and are becoming a part of the basic needs of humans. All these electronic gadgets are equipped with batteries as wireless gadgets cannot perform without a power supply. So, these batteries are used with these gadgets to make them functional.
A battery is an electrochemical cell that can store energy when charged electrically and act as a source of power when needed. A battery is a collection of more than one cell so that its power can be increased.
The choice of the battery depends on the electronic gadget with which it is going to be used. Batteries are available in different sizes and shapes depending on their applications. With the advancement of technology, the chemistry used in the manufacturing of batteries has also changed. Like in modern cars, a start stop battery is now being used because of the different advantages that it provides. These batteries are designed to meet the environment and human needs.
Various characteristics determine whether a particular battery is good for use or not. Here, we will consider some most important ones.
Physical requirements
The physical requirements are very important when looking for a battery. It is because the batteries are designed according to their use and also on the models like in the case of cars. The physical requirements include
- Size
- Shape
- Weight
Location of the terminals
The location of the terminal is very important because if it is not exactly then there are chances that the battery cannot fit properly as you have to make some changes to make it adjustable. During this, there are chances that due to improper fitting it can be damaged as a result of excessive vibrations, and also the metal strips can come in contact that causes damage to the battery.
Power capacity
It is the measure of the energy stored in a battery. It is expressed in watt-hour. A battery with a good power capacity can deliver energy for a long time without being charged. It depends on various factors
- The specific gravity of the electrode
- The porosity of the active material used
- Rate of discharge and,
- Porosity of separators
- Cycle Life
The cycle life of a battery is measured for a certain discharge and charge ratio. The operating life of a battery is affected by the depth and rate of cycles. Higher DOD means that lower cycle life. Therefore, the cycle life of a battery should be high as it defines the quality of the battery.
Temperature
As we know certain chemical reactions take place in the battery and these chemical reactions are temperature dependent. In case you are moving to a place where the temperature is low then the performance of your battery will be lowered. It mostly happens in winter when many people complain that their batteries are not performing well and they have to replace them often which is annoying. Therefore, a good quality battery is the one in which the chemical reaction taking place in the battery are least affected by the temperature. There are various batteries like LiFePO4 battery that is least affected by a change in temperature as the chemical reactions taking place in these batteries are not temperature-dependent. So, these batteries are best for areas where temperature decreases more often.
Shelf life
The shelf life of a battery is the period for which it can be kept safe without being charged. If the batteries are kept uncharged for a long period then they began to deplete because of the certain undesired chemical reactions that take place within them.
Various factors cause the death of a battery.
- Short circuit
- Over Discharging
- Physical shocks and vibrations
- Extreme Temperature
- Application requirement
The battery must be able to meet the application’s requirements. It means that it must produce the right amount of current with the right voltage.
