What happens if a battery is overcharged?

Overcharging by the battery charging system causes excessive gassing and high internal heat. Too much gassing can lead to the removal of active material from the plates. Too much heat can also oxidize the positive plate material and warp the plates. Undercharging A faulty charging system will not maintain the battery at full charge.

What happens if a battery is left unchecked?

If left unchecked the battery will overheat and will start to evaporate the electrolyte. The overcharging will accelerate the break up of the active material and grids and the battery will lose performance. Examination of the battery will typically show low acid level and usually a black coating on filler plugs and a strong smell.

What happens if a lead plate is corroded?

Corrosion occurs primarily on the grid, and it is known as a “softening and shedding” of the lead off the plates. This reaction cannot be avoided because the electrodes in a lead acid environment are always reactive. Lead shedding is a natural phenomenon that can be reduced but not eliminated.

What happens if a battery is corroded?

In a corroded battery, much of the current gets lost to resistance (in the form of heat) as the grid wires become exposed and/or disconnected from the active materials.

What happens if a battery is not recharged properly?

Additionally if the recharge does not recover the discharge cycle in full, the battery will exhibit loss of performance and concentration of the acid can occur between plates which can lead to corrosion and loss of performance.

What causes defective battery charging?

Defective charging can happen as a result of faulty equipment or as a result of some of the other battery failure modes discussed in this document. PSOC operation is a growing trend due to the growing number of vehicle systems that rely on the battery to function correctly and the deep and micro-cycling that occurs in start-stop vehicles.