What Are The Different Kinds of Batteries and How Do We Maintain Them?

Why are batteries important?

Batteries are a daily necessity for every human. What powers cars? How do our mobile phones come to life? What is your camera’s source of life? Over time, batteries are one of the most used sources of energy to power gadgets or even some things as big as establishments. In due time, with progressing technology and gadgets, people are continuously improving on how to keep our devices alive for long periods of time. This is where multiple inventions came into play, such as power banks, chargers with multiple ports, and long-lasting batteries. Ultimately, batteries play a huge role in our day-to-day lives, and it’s important for us to also know how to maintain them properly.

The different kinds of batteries

There are numerous kinds of batteries to be aware of if we want to properly care for them. Batteries come from different kinds of sizes, usage, and applications. Let’s get to know each one, shall we?

Rechargeable batteries

Rechargeable batteries are your lifesavers. If they run out of juice to power up your device, simply place it in a charging port and it will regain power for you to once again, fire up your device.  

• Non-Spillable/Sealed Lead Acid – Mostly used in boats, wheelchairs, scooters, golf carts, ride-on electric toys, boats, RVs, military aircraft, portable tools, field equipment.

• Lithium-ion (Li-ion) – This type of battery is probably one that you are familiar with.  since it is used on cell phones, tablets, laptop computers, wireless accessories, power tools, video cameras, handheld electronics, electric, and hybrid automobiles.

• Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) – This kind of battery is mostly associated with devices such as older cell phones, older laptop computers, power tools, handheld electronics, toys, R/C hobby vehicles, and medical equipment.

• Nickel Metal Hydride – Similar to Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), this kind of rechargeable battery can also be used on older phones, older laptop computers, power tools, cameras, handheld electronics, R/C hobby vehicles.

Non-Rechargeable Batteries

Unlike rechargeable batteries, these kinds of batteries are only good for one-time use. Once it’s out of power, it needs to be discarded.

• Alkaline & Zinc Carbon – These batteries are mostly used for smoke detectors, cameras, toys, watches, and handheld electronics. 

• Lithium (Primary) – Meanwhile, the most common uses for a lithium battery are more vast. These kinds of batteries are most commonly used in watches, cameras, handheld electronics, tire-pressure sensors, alarms, memory backup, high-temperature applications, pacemakers, remote car locks, and smoke detectors. 

• Mercury – Unlike the other batteries that can be used in a lot of mediums, Mercury is commonly used in three devices. These are cameras, medical devices, and the military. 

• Silver Oxide – Aircraft and torpedoes are one of the heavy-duty equipment that they power. However, this battery is also useful in some small objects such as watches, cameras, hearing aids, and cameras. 

• Zinc Air – One of the most essential batteries saturated in the market since it powers hearing airs and watches.

Industrial Batteries

Industrial batteries are most commonly used in machinery, railroad, and backup power for data centers, utilities, and telecommunications.  

• Absolyte – They are rechargeable batteries that can power big places and transportations such as telecommunication systems, railroad switchgear, signals, solar arrays, and uninterruptible power supply. 

• Large Flooded Cell – This type of battery also powers big machines and heavy-duty objects. Use it in stationary power, telecommunication systems, utility systems, and uninterruptible power supply.

• Nickel Iron – One of the more durable types. Feel confident in using nickel-iron batteries in rugged environments such as railroad signals and mining operations. 

• Wet Nickel Cadmium – This kind of battery also makes heavy-duty equipment work. This big-time battery can power two of the most needed application in the government, and that is marine and aviation apps.

• Steel Case – A popular type of battery for industrial-powered equipment. Power forklifts, industrial machinery, and motive power are one of the popular things that this battery powers.

Vehicle Batteries

These batteries are used for vehicles to power up some of their appliances once the engine is down. Like any other batteries, they have the capacity to power vehicles for a long time, but eventually, it’s power also runs out. This is why car owners also need to change batteries depending on the usage of the car. 

• Electric Automotive – These kinds of batteries power electric vehicles and micro-mobility devices. 

• Hybrid Automotive – The usage of hybrid automotive batteries is pretty spot-on. Auto hybrids are the ones that they solely power.

• Automotive Lead Acid – This battery sports multiple uses in terms of powering ride-on vehicles. Motorcycles, boats, and outdoor equipment can also be powered by this battery.

• VRLA – Stands for valve-regulated lead-acid battery. Similar to automotive lead-acid, the VRLA battery can also power a number of things such as automobiles, motorcycles, boats, wheelchairs, emergency lighting, and an uninterruptible power supply. 

Why do we need to properly maintain and analyze batteries?

This is so we can spot failures in advance and know how safe the battery is for usage. A common hazard in batteries is explosion and leakage. This can take place when the battery is under too much strain and pressure. Like our mobile batteries, they tend to slow down or fluctuate when we charge them too often or saturate their usage too much. Moreover, using them while charging is also a known fact to damage your batteries in advance. 

Determining battery deficiencies in advance stands to be important since these can cause low-performing devices if not spotted immediately. The ultimate care you could give to your battery is with the use of Fluke’s 500 Series Battery Analyzer, you’ll be able to measure internal battery resistance, DC and AC voltage, DC and AC current, ripple voltage, frequency, and temperature. The Fluke 500 Series Battery Analyzer is the ideal test tool for maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance testing of individual stationary batteries and battery banks used in critical battery backup applications

With the Fluke’s 500 Series Battery Analyzer, you’ll be able to:

• Choose between automatic or manual sequence testing of batteries strings with automatic measurement storage including voltage, resistance and temperature 
• Automatically capture values during testing
• Configure multiple reference values and thresholds for resistance and voltage.
• Quickly compare trends, analyze results and create reports with included battery management software.
• Will allow you to download data and remote display while measuring.

Get your own at a certified Fluke distributor: https://presidium.ph/product-category/products/fluke-industrial-group-tools/battery-analyzers/

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