BU-804c: Acid Stratification and Surface Charge Explore simple guidelines to prolong lead acid batteries by proper use. Acid Stratification The electrolyte of a stratified battery concentrates at the bottom, starving the upper half of the cell. Acid stratification occurs if the battery dwells at low charge (below 80 percent), never receives a full charge and has shallow discharges. Driving a car for short distances with power-robbing accessories engaged contributes to acid stratification because the alternator cannot always apply a saturated charge. Large luxury cars are especially prone to acid stratification. This is not a battery defect per se but is application related. Figure 1 illustrates a normal battery in which the acid is equally distributed from top to bottom. Figure 1: Normal battery. The acid is equally distributed from the top to the bottom of the battery, providing good overall performance. Courtesy of Cadex Figure 2 shows a stratified battery in which the acid concentration is light on top and heavy on the bottom. The light acid on top limits plate activation, promotes corrosion and reduces the performance, while the high acid concentration on the bottom makes the battery appear more charged than it is and artificially raises the open circuit voltage. The unequal charge across the plates reduces CCA (cold cranking amps), and starting the engine is sluggish. ![]() ![]()
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