A wet battery, also known as a flooded lead-acid battery, typically has a rectangular or square shape with a series of lead plates submerged in an electrolyte solution.
Visual Characteristics:
- Case: The battery case is usually made of hard plastic and features a vent cap for releasing gases during charging.
- Terminals: The battery has two large terminals on the top, one marked positive (+) and the other negative (-).
- Electrolyte: The electrolyte is a clear, watery solution of sulfuric acid.
- Plates: The lead plates are arranged in alternating positive and negative pairs, separated by porous separators to prevent short circuits.
Examples:
- Car batteries: These are the most common type of wet battery, typically found in automobiles.
- Motorcycle batteries: Smaller wet batteries designed for motorcycles.
- Deep-cycle batteries: Used in applications like golf carts, marine vehicles, and solar energy systems.
Key Features:
- Relatively inexpensive.
- High starting power.
- Requires maintenance due to water loss through electrolysis.
- Can be damaged by freezing.
Safety Considerations:
- The electrolyte is highly corrosive.
- Avoid spilling the electrolyte.
- Wear protective gloves and eye protection when handling wet batteries.
