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Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc. 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A. _www.adamsmedia.com_ ISBN 10: 1-60550-055-2 ISBN 13: 978-1-60550-055-3 eISBN: 1-4405-4705-7 This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. —From a _Declaration of Principles_ jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters. This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases. For information, please call 1-800-289-0963. # Contents * Introduction * Chapter One: Understanding Your Battery * Chapter Two: Battery Maintenance and Aging * Chapter Three: How to Replace a Battery * Chapter Four: How to Test Your Battery # Introduction No matter if you live in a city, suburb, or rural area, you can find yourself in the uncomfortable position of being stuck in the house, unable to go anywhere because your car won't start. While one type of problem may be the result of bad weather, another type of problem could be the result of neglecting to properly maintain your battery and knowing when to have it replaced. Battery-related problems are one of the most frequent reasons why vehicles won't start, so make sure you don't have your battery in bad shape. ### About the Author Author Cheryl L. Reed holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Drexel University and a teaching credential in early childhood education from Pennsylvania State University. Cheryl spent 25 years as a school teacher and curriculum supervisor in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, and Florida. In addition, she taught a pre-kindergarten program at a state-run day care center. She has more than 40 years of experience working with children of all ages in an educational environment. Cheryl spent her spare time sewing costumes for her dolls. In her spare time today, Cheryl writes and develops curriculum and materials for educational programs. # Chapter One ## Understanding Your Battery The battery in your car is an electrochemical cell. Its main purpose is to make a chemical reaction that causes an electrical current that can power your vehicle. Your car needs electrical current to start the engine, power the ignition, run the starter, run the electrical devices and accessories, operate the lights, and run the cooling system. **Figure 1-1:** Battery cells Some batteries also store power so that if your car is not in use for a period of time and your car battery goes flat, you can use it as an emergency power supply for a small device to give you juice. # Batteries and Alkalines All batteries use a variety of chemicals called _electrolytes_ to create an electrochemical reaction that creates the chemical energy that makes your car move. In order for your battery to work, a chemical reaction must take place inside the battery. If a chemical reaction is not occurring inside your battery, the battery is dead. Electrolytes are stored in two types of containers inside the battery: * The positive plates of the battery are sealed inside the battery using a solution of distilled water and salts of the _alkali metal_ (common examples are lithium, potassium, sodium, and calcium). Alkalines are called this because they give up a hydrogen ion (H) when they are reacted with water to create an alkaline salt, such as lithium hydroxide (LiOH). ̈ * The negative plates of the battery are sealed inside the battery using a solution of salt (sodium, potassium, or lithium) dissolved in distilled water. Batteries using salt (sodium, potassium, or lithium) dissolved in distilled water as an electrolyte have an anode, which is a positive pole and a cathode, which is a negative pole. Salt is a solute; that is, a dissolved substance in the solution. When you have a positive and negative electrode, you have an _electrochemical cell_. Inside the battery, each type of electrolyte is isolated from the other type. This means there is no electrical connection between the positive and negative poles of the battery, but there is an electrical connection between the parts of the battery near the positive and negative sides. This is illustrated in Figure 1-2. **Figure 1-2:** The battery's electrolyte is isolated by being contained in two different containers. ### Dangers of Batteries Like all batteries, the ones in your car are powerful and potentially dangerous if not handled correctly. Many batteries are highly toxic and create serious hazards if a short circuit is created in them. This can create a huge fire, resulting in damage to your vehicle and any nearby people or property. If your battery has not been checked by a professional and replaced when the time comes, a lot of damage may be caused. This damage could make your car useless. If you have to jump start your vehicle, having a battery that is not fully charged can also be very dangerous. If a battery is not fully charged, the jump start could damage the battery. ### Batteries: How They Work There are two types of batteries: rechargeable and nonrechargeable. Rechargeable batteries can be recharged or reused, while nonrechargeable batteries are usually thrown away when they are used up and replaced with a new one.