Another Battery Question
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,794
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
The simplified layman's version .....
As lead/acid batteries discharge they form lead sulphate. That lead sulphate electrolytically deposits on the plates coating the lead. When the battery charges the process is reversed. However, too much discharge or repetitive discharge can lead to a thick coating of lead sulphate. Lead sulphate is (relative to lead) an insulator ( less conductive). Overtime the thickness of the lead sulphate gets to the point that charging is reduced and eventually no longer happens.
Load testing is a means of determining how far along your battery is in this sulphating process.
The only way to prevent this inmodern cars with electronic systems that consume low amp power when the vehicle is off, is to use a battery float charger or to disconnect the battery.
As lead/acid batteries discharge they form lead sulphate. That lead sulphate electrolytically deposits on the plates coating the lead. When the battery charges the process is reversed. However, too much discharge or repetitive discharge can lead to a thick coating of lead sulphate. Lead sulphate is (relative to lead) an insulator ( less conductive). Overtime the thickness of the lead sulphate gets to the point that charging is reduced and eventually no longer happens.
Load testing is a means of determining how far along your battery is in this sulphating process.
The only way to prevent this inmodern cars with electronic systems that consume low amp power when the vehicle is off, is to use a battery float charger or to disconnect the battery.
