How to use lead-acid batteries correctly

For the non-rechargeable primary batteries that we commonly use, the international standard IEC 60086-5 "Primary batteries - Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolytes" makes many suggestions on their safe use.

(1) Install the battery correctly so that the polarity markings ("+" and "-") on the battery correspond correctly to the markings on the appliance. If the battery is incorrectly installed in reverse into the appliance, a short circuit or charging may occur, causing the battery temperature to rise rapidly.

(2) Do not short-circuit the battery. When the positive and negative electrodes of a battery come into electrical contact through external materials, the battery short-circuits. For example, an unpackaged battery in a pocket may short-circuit due to contact with metal materials such as keys or coins.

(3) Do not attempt to charge the battery. Charging a non-rechargeable primary battery will generate gas and heat inside the battery.

(4) Do not force discharge the battery. When the battery is forced to discharge, its voltage will be lower than the designed performance and gas will be generated inside the battery.

(5) Do not mix old and new batteries or batteries of different models and brands. When batteries need to be replaced, all batteries should be replaced with new batteries of the same brand, model and batch. When batteries of different brands and models or new and old batteries are used together, some batteries may be over-discharged due to the difference in voltage or capacity between different batteries.

(6) Do not heat or directly weld the battery. When the battery is heated or welded, the heat may cause a short circuit inside the battery.

(7) Do not disassemble the battery. When the battery is disassembled or separated, the battery components may come into contact with each other, resulting in a short circuit.

(8) Do not deform the battery. Do not squeeze, puncture or otherwise damage the battery, as such abuses often cause the battery to short-circuit.

(9) Do not place batteries in fire. When batteries are placed in fire, the accumulation of heat can cause explosion and personal injury. Do not attempt to destroy the batteries except by appropriate controlled incineration.

(10) Do not allow children to access batteries or replace batteries without adult supervision. Batteries that could be swallowed should be kept out of the reach of children, especially those that can fit into the ingestion gauge shown in the figure. If someone ingests a battery, seek medical help immediately.

(11) Do not seal or modify the battery. Sealing or otherwise modifying the battery will block the battery safety valve, so that when gas is generated inside the battery, it cannot be discharged in time. If you think it is necessary to modify the battery, you should try to obtain the manufacturer's advice.

(12) Unused batteries should be stored in their original packaging and kept away from metal materials as much as possible. If the packaging has been opened, they should be placed in an orderly manner and not piled up randomly. Mixing unpackaged batteries with metal materials may cause the batteries to short-circuit. The best way to avoid this is to store unused batteries in their original packaging.

(13) Unless used in an emergency, batteries that are not used for a long time should be removed from electrical devices as much as possible. When a battery does not perform satisfactorily or is expected to be unused for a long time, it is beneficial to remove it from the device. Although batteries currently on the market are equipped with protective casings or other means to control leakage, a partially or completely exhausted battery is still more likely to leak than an unused battery.

When a battery short circuits or other conditions mentioned above occur, gas and heat will be generated inside the battery. If the battery safety valve works properly, the battery will exhaust gas and leak liquid, which may cause damage to electrical appliances. If the battery safety valve does not work properly, the gas generated inside the battery cannot be discharged in time and accumulates inside the battery, which will cause the battery to explode or catch fire, resulting in property loss and personal injury accidents.