The
lead-
acid accumulator was
invented in the 1860's by
Raymond Gaston Plante, and was the first
electric accumulator
or
rechargeable battery, and is still one of the most used
accumulator types since it offers high power at an affordable
price. The positive
electrode consists of
lead dioxide
while the negative is made from lead. The
electrolyte is a
strong
acid, usually
sulphuric acid. The first lead-acid
batteries used an open glass container, but modern batteries
uses a
sealed and/or
vented
plastic container. Each cell
have a
nominal voltage of between 1.9 and 2.1V.
In
cyclic charging a voltage of between 2.4v to 2.5v per cell
is common, while in
stand-by applications, like in
UPSes and
alarm systems, a voltage of 2.25v/cell is used.
The lead-acid accumulator is simple and cheap to manufacture, but
due to the lead it is heavy and a can pose an
environmental
hazard. The battery might also vent
hydrogen if overcharged(thus
posing an explosion hazard), so
good
ventilation is important where a non-sealed battery is
used. The most common usages for the lead-acid accumulator is in
cars, boats and
emergency power supplies.