Page 14 - ImpactBattery
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- February 07, 2013
True or false: Lithium-air batteries will shortly revolutionize the electric and hybrid car industries.
The beliefs of naysayers to the contrary, some feel that lithium-air batteries have the potential to provide 20 times more power than the commonly used lithium-ion variety. That is, if they ever get them working.
How Does the Lithium-Air Battery Operate?
Lithium-air batteries utilize oxygen from the air around them to pull in electrons. The use of an external substance precludes the need to store all components inside, and that makes these batteries lighter and less complex. It may sound good, but it isn't all that easy.
The Trouble with External Air
In these batteries, while the anode contains lithium, the cathode contains ion-generating air. In order to produce ions inside the battery, the oxygen must get there in the first place. Once it's inside, something needs to prevent it from reacting negatively with the battery's internal components and causing premature failure.
At present,
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- February 05, 2013
Camping in a recreational vehicle is worlds apart from tent camping, and new RV owners are often faced with an enormous influx of information. It's easy for some important data to get lost in the shuffle, but there are a few tips that can help you avoid the most common pitfalls.
Know Your Facts and Figures
Before you hit the road for the first time, there are a few vital statistics that you should know about your new recreational vehicle. Some of the most important facts and figures include the:
- Exterior dimensions
- Amp service that the rig is wired for
- License plate number
- Tank capacities
While you might be able to get away without knowing some of that information, your trip will go a lot smoother if you're prepared. Knowing the dimensions of your RV will allow you to avoid low bridges and other tight spots, and the size of your tanks capacities will dictate how long you can dry camp.
When you arrive at your destination, knowing the amp service your RV is wired for will allow you to select
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- January 29, 2013
Deep cycle batteries are suitable for a variety of different applications that require sustained delivery of power over an extended period. Start, Light and Ignition (SLI) batteries are designed to briefly deliver substantial cranking amps through numerous cycles. In contrast, a deep-cycle battery typically discharges 50-70 percent of its capacity before needing to be recharged.
Construction
There are two types of deep-cycle batteries including flooded lead acid and valve regulated lead acid. Each battery includes thick plates that serve as electrodes, usually consisting of lead or a lead antimony alloy. The electrodes are fashioned into plates and then inserted into the battery casing. Electrolyte liquid fills the cells, which are separated by a porous divider. A 12-volt battery configuration includes six electrode plates that supply about 2 volts each.
The thickness of the plate determines the total quantity of reserve energy stored in the battery. Plate density allows for slow current
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- January 28, 2013
[caption id="attachment_1674" align="alignleft" width="150"] Maintain your motorcycle[/caption]
Motorcyclists have a lot to worry about whether it's other vehicles or even getting their Class M licenses. Maintenance may not sit at the top of the priority list for most bikers, but it should. While a motorcycle battery may not be a major concern for those who ride every day, those whose bikes see occasional use should check their batteries regularly. Cold weather environments will also diminish battery life, so those who store their bikes in areas open to the elements should be especially cognizant of their batteries.
Exploring the Tender
The easiest way to maintain a battery is with a charger. A charger, or tender, connects to a standard outlet and delivers amps to the battery to compensate for periods of inactivity. While most people drive their cars every day, bikes often sit for long periods of time, which wears down the battery. A tender will keep the battery in near-factory condition
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- January 24, 2013
The most common type of battery for vehicles and heavy machinery is the lead-acid battery, but within this broad category are several specific types. The most commonly used type of lead-acid battery is the flooded, or wet-cell, battery. Other types of lead-acid batteries include the gel battery and the absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery. While gel and AGM batteries are always sealed, wet-cell batteries come in both sealed and unsealed versions. All three types of these sealed batteries have some important differences that can play a role in deciding which one to purchase.
Lead-Acid Battery Basics
To gain a complete understanding of the differences between sealed lead-acid batteries, it is first necessary to understand the similarities. Each battery is composed of several cells, and inside each cell are two metal plates. The positive plates are made of pure lead while the negative plates are lead oxide. These plates are submerged in a solution that is approximately 33.5% sulfuric acid. Electricity
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- January 22, 2013
The Mysterious 'T' shaped Honda Shadow Battery
This peculiar battery was first introduced in 1983 in the HONDA VT750C Shadow Bike. It defied the traditional rectangular shape with a front profile that looked like the letter T. The original Honda Shadow Battery part number was the HYB16A-AB. It was a wet battery with a vent tube, 150 Cold Cranking Amps and capacity of 16 Ampre Hour. This Honda Shadow battery is found more readily in various VT1100 series motorcycles from 1985 through 2000. It must be noted that not all of the VT1100 bikes use this T shaped battery so it is important to check the exact model and year. It can be confusing. The advent of the sealed lead acid and advanced AGM battery has created a bit of confusion as to which battery can be used with or is required in these Honda Shadow motorcycles. Many forum posts on HondaShadow.net and other fan favorites have made reference to which battery should be used...sadly some are leading their buddies astray. We will attempt to
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- January 22, 2013
How to Test a Battery for Drain Using a Voltmeter
When a battery unexpected loses its charge after being unused for a short period of time,
the culprit is often a malfunctioning electronic system that is attached to the battery. This situation is referred to as parasitic battery drain or parasitic load, and it most often occurs in vehicle batteries. Car and motorcycle batteries have dozens of electrical systems attached to them, and they may be drawing a charge off the battery when they are supposed to be shut off. To fix this problem, it is first necessary to determine whether parasitic battery drain is actually the problem, but this test requires the use of a voltmeter or a digital multimeter.What is a Voltmeter?
A voltmeter is a device that can be attached to an electrical circuit to test how many volts of electricity are moving through it. The meter consists of a base unit, a display, a positive test probe and a negative test probe. Older meters are purely analog and use moving-needle
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- January 21, 2013
Airsoft guns are firearm replicas that simulate the appearance and recoil action of their
authentic counterparts. While historical re-enactors and gun enthusiasts use the replicas for recreational purposes, the military and law enforcement use the weapons for training
sessions.The electric models have rechargeable batteries, which supply the power that fires non-lethal plastic projectiles. Understanding the these devices will enable you to select an airsoft battery that meets your requirements.
Types of Airsoft Batteries
Some airsoft gun owners use 8.4v or 9.6v Nickel-Cadmium, or Ni-CD, batteries. Although these economical batteries charge and discharge quickly, they can sustain irreversible damage if you accidentally overcharge them. Improper charging causes the cells to split and leak, which can ruin your gun. These cellular changes impair the battery’s ability to take and hold a charge as well.
Like Ni-CD devices, Nickel-Metal Hydride, or Ni-Mh, batteries are available in 8.4v for
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- January 18, 2013
Lead-acid Batteries
Although lead-acid batteries have many disadvantages when compared to other types of batteries, these types of batteries are among the most common batteries on the planet. One of the major reasons for the prevalence of lead-acid batteries is their ability to be recharged multiple times. The internal reaction that creates electricity is reversible, allowing a spent battery to be restored to a functional state over and over.
Over time, however, lead-acid batteries lose their ability to hold a charge. This gradual loss of charging capacity is due to a process called sulfation. While discharging, the lead dioxide plates within the battery react with the sulfuric acid electrolyte, causing lead sulfate to build up on the plates. As lead sulfate builds up within the battery, it loses its ability to provide electricity. When the battery charges, the voltage of the charging mechanism causes the lead sulfate to return to its original state. Over repeated charges, however, some of these lead sulfate deposits crystallize and harden, making them hard to remove. These crystallized deposits interfere with the battery's operation, making the battery harder to charge. Eventually, the sulfate deposits
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- January 18, 2013
[caption id="attachment_1554" align="alignright" width="300"] Don't be Scammed! Make sure the battery is truly NEW.[/caption]
I tend to be outspoken when something just rubs me wrong. I get to a point where I can't keep my mouth shut and feel obligated to share the irritating news as well as the little known truth that makes the story so disturbing. This particular annoyance involves the 12V 35Ah battery. We sell bunches of these mainly to elderly people installing them into their mobility scooters. It is a very popular battery and it fits 60-75% of most scooters (our version is by Universal Power Group; SKU number is UB12350. There are many good brands to choose from besides ours).Here is the rub that got me angry. I discovered that certain companies (that sell heavily on Amazon) offer these batteries at steeply discounted prices. In-and-of-itself, that is not the issue. The fact is, these example UB12350 batteries are often several years old and were sold to these companies at steeply