HOW DOES A LEAD ACID BATTERY GENERATE ELECTRICITY?
A lead acid battery stores chemical energy. The chemical energy is created by the chemical action between the materials which form the positive and negative plates of the battery and the electrolyte (sulfuric acid). When the battery is connected to an external load such as a vehicle starter, the acid reacts with the battery’s plates and the chemical energy is then converted into electrical energy. THE CHARGING/DISCHARGING CYCLE Just as in a flashlight type dry cell, the lead acid battery chemicals are consumed when electrical power is extracted. When a lead acid battery is discharged, some of the sulfate from the acid adheres to the plates and is lost or consumed. This causes the sulfuric acid to gradually lose strength. But unlike the dry cell battery, the chemical changes in a lead acid battery can be reversed by charging.
