Batteries on heavy-duty vehicles may seem like complicated components that are difficult to understand, let alone maintain. Truck Parts & Service spoke to some experts and did extensive research to learn the basics of batteries-what they are, how they operate and how they’re maintained.
According to the textbook, Today’s Technician: Medium- and Heavy-Duty Truck Electricity And Electronics, a battery is an electrochemical device that produces electrical energy by a chemical reaction that occurs between two dissimilar materials, or plates.
“These plates are immersed in an electrolyte solution, and when a connection is made between the positive and negative potential of the battery, the energy is released. The battery’s energy in chemical form is released as electrical energy when a load is placed between the negative and positive potential of the battery,” the book explained.
One function of the battery is to stabilize the voltage. The battery provides a reference around which the alternator and regulator control system voltage. Without a battery voltage reference, the alternator can output voltages beyond the safe limit of the truck’s electrical components, according to the book.
If the charging system of the truck fails, the battery has to supply the current that is necessary to keep the truck running for a specific time period. Most batteries will supply 25 amperes to maintain a minimal working voltage for approximately 120 minutes.
When the vehicle is off, there still will be a draw on the battery because of the onboard electronic devices that need to stay on while the ignition is off.
Many components rely on the battery, therefore it must be kept in good condition. Defective batteries can shorten starter life or alternator life, damage properly functioning batteries and internal engine components and may generate expensive road service bills. Today’s Technician: Medium- and Heavy-Duty Truck Electricity And Electronics listed the following functions that show the importance of a properly functioning battery in the electrical system of a truck.
