Is your battery power packed and energetic?

Transcription

1 Is your battery power packed and energetic? 1. What is a battery? A battery is a self-contained, chemical power pack that can produce a limited amount of electrical energy wherever it is needed. Unlike normal electricity, which flows to your home through wires that start off in a power plant, a battery slowly converts chemicals packed inside it into electrical energy, typically released over a period of days, weeks, months, or even years. The basic idea of portable power is nothing new; people have always had ways of making energy on the move. Even prehistoric humans knew how to burn wood to make fire, which is another way of producing energy (heat) from chemicals (burning releases energy using a chemical reaction called combustion). By the time of the Industrial Revolution (in the 18th and 19th centuries), we had mastered the art of burning lumps of coal to make power, to fuel steam locomotives. But it can take an hour to gather enough wood to cook a meal, and a locomotive's boiler typically takes several hours to get hot enough to make steam. Batteries, by contrast, give us instant, portable energy. Turn the key in your electric car and it leaps to life in seconds! 1.1 MAIN PARTS OF A BATTERY The basic power unit inside a battery is called a cell, and it consists of three main bits. There are two electrodes (electrical terminals) and a chemical called an electrolyte between them. For our convenience and safety, these things are usually packed inside a metal or plastic outer case. There are two more handy electrical terminals, marked with a plus (positive) and minus (negative), on the outside connected to the electrodes that are inside. The difference between a battery and a cell is simply that a battery consists of two or more cells hooked up so their power adds together. When you connect a battery's two electrodes into a circuit (for example, when you put one in a flashlight), the electrolyte starts buzzing with activity. Slowly, the chemicals inside it are converted into other substances. Ions (atoms with too few or too many electrons) are formed from CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI JANUARY

2 the materials in the electrodes and take part in chemical reactions with the electrolyte. At the same time, electrons march from one terminal to the other through the outer circuit, powering whatever the battery is connected to. This process continues until the electrolyte is completely transformed. At that point, the ions stop moving through the electrolyte, the electrons stop flowing through the circuit, and the battery is flat. 1.2 USE OF DRY CELL BATTERIES PORTABLE ENERGY In the absence of portable dry cell batteries there are no cellphones, laptops, or flashlights. No electric cars or robot vacuums. No quartz watches, pocket calculators, or transistor radios. And, for those of us who need a helping hand with our daily lives, no heart pacemakers, hearing aids, or electric wheelchairs. Life without batteries would be a trip back in time, a century or two, when pretty much the only way of making portable energy was either steam power or clockwork. Batteries handy, convenient power supplies as small as a fingernail or as big as a trunk give us a sure and steady supply of electrical energy whenever and wherever we need it. Although we get through billions of them every year and they have a big environmental impact, we couldn't live our modern lives without them. You might think a battery looks just about as dull as anything you've ever seen. But the minute you hook it up to something, it starts buzzing with electricity. That dull little cylinder turns into your very own micro power plant! 1.3 TYPES OF BATTERIES Batteries come in all different shapes, sizes, voltages, and capacities (amounts of stored charge or energy). Although they can be made with all sorts of different chemical electrolytes and electrodes, there are really only two main types: primary and secondary. Primary batteries are ordinary, disposable ones that can't normally be recharged; secondary batteries can be recharged, sometimes hundreds of times. You can recharge secondary batteries just by passing a current through them in the opposite direction to which it would normally flow (when it's discharging); you can't normally do this with primary batteries. 1.4 PRIMARY BATTERIES- ZINC- CARBON The cheapest, ordinary, everyday batteries you get for things like flashlights are zinc carbon ones. Disposable zinc-carbon batteries date back to about 1865, when they were invented by French engineer 2 CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI OCTOBER 2017

3 Georges Leclanché; that's why they're sometimes referred to as Leclanché cells. Although they're inexpensive, they don't store that much energy or last that long. "Zinc-carbon" is essentially a description of how the battery is made: the positive electrode is made from a carbon rod surrounded by powdered carbon and manganese (IV) oxide; the negative electrode (the outer case) is a zinc alloy; and the electrolyte is a paste of ammonium chloride. When a zinccarbon battery is wired into a circuit, different reactions happen at the two electrodes. At the negative electrode, zinc is converted into zinc ions and electrons, which provide power to the circuit. At the positive electrode, manganese (IV) oxide turns to manganese (III) oxide and ammonia. 1.5 ALKALINE BATTERIES Alkaline batteries look much the same as zinc carbon ones, but pack more punch: they store more energy and last longer, which is why they cost more. They stay charged for several years, which makes them a very dependable source of power. Although they look exactly the same as zinc carbon ones, they use different chemicals and different reactions take place inside them. The positive electrode is based on manganese (IV) oxide and the negative electrode is made of zinc, but the electrolyte is a concentrated alkaline solution (potassium hydroxide). Power is produced through two chemical reactions. At the positive electrode, manganese (IV) oxide is converted into manganese (III) oxide and hydroxyl ions. At the negative electrode, zinc reacts with the hydroxyl ions to release the electrons that power the circuit. 1.6 SIZES OF BATTERIES When the battery dies in your flashlight, you go out and buy a replacement. Typically, you just buy one the same size, so it'll fit inside the case. But batteries are like boxes: just as bigger boxes can hold more stuff, so the size of a battery is actually a measurement of how much electrical energy it can store. Why? Bigger batteries contain more chemical electrolyte and bigger electrodes so they can release more energy (or the same energy over a longer period). AAA, AA, C, and D-sized batteries are all rated at 1.5 volts, but they're all different sizes. The bigger ones (D and C) hold more stored energy than the smaller ones (AA and AAA). If you want a more precise idea of how much electrical energy a battery holds, look on the side for a measurement in mah (milliampere hours, which is a measurement of stored electric charge often printed on small batteries) or Watt hours (a measurement of electrical energy used on bigger batteries). CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI JANUARY

4 1.7 POWER OF BATTERIES Voltage is the other important measurement marked on batteries. The higher the voltage, the more current a battery will produce when it's connected into a given circuit, which is why this kind of voltage is sometimes called an electromotive force (EMF). The power something like a lamp or electric motor produces (or consumes) is proportional to the voltage across it, so a bigger voltage usually means more power. In other words, high-power gadgets (ones that need more energy and electrical "force") tend to need higher voltages than low-power ones, which is why, for example, cordless power drills (with powerful electric motors) need higher-voltage batteries than simple flashlights (which only have to power little light bulbs or LEDs). 1.8 DEVICE SELECTION GUIDE 2.0 Categories and types of batteries Primary batteries are designed to be used until exhausted of energy then discarded. Their chemical reactions are generally not reversible, so they cannot be recharged. When the supply of reactants in the battery is exhausted, the battery stops producing current and is useless. Secondary batteries can be recharged; that is, they can have their chemical reactions reversed by applying electric current to the cell. This regenerates the original chemical reactants, so they can be used, recharged, and used again multiple times. Some types of primary batteries used, for example, for telegraph circuits, were restored to operation by replacing the electrodes. Secondary batteries are not indefinitely rechargeable due to dissipation of the active materials, loss of electrolyte and internal corrosion. 2.1 WHAT IS COMPARATIVE TESTING? Comparative Testing is a formal process by which different brands of a product are tested for Quality, and for conformance to the minimum standards laid down by Bureau of Indian Standards. Such a test also reveals, if a particular tested brand exceeds such minimum standards, whether there can be potential health and safety hazards and verification of special claims by manufacturers, if any. The results for all the tested brands are published in a Comparative Test Report which would provide consumers information to make an informed choice. 4 CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI OCTOBER 2017

5 CONCERT has undertaken this project of Comparative Testing for South India under a grant from Department of Consumer Affairs Government of India for the year Dry Cell Batteries, which has become a household product for most of us, has been selected as one of the products for this year. In fact every family purchases Dry Cell Batteries for their day to day use. We present the results against the major criteria that in our opinion is fair and without any subjective element. The user is encouraged to study the results and make his buying decisions based on his requirements and judgment. 3.0 SELECTION OF BATTERIES FOR TESTING i. Most commonly used size for a number of applications by most consumers, is type R6 batteries. In this category laclanche Type R6 batteries are used for photo flash & Pocket calculators etc., Under heavy duty battery R6, four brands were selected. a. Nippo Gold b. Godrej GP c. Panasonic gold plus d. Eveready ii. Under alkaline manganese dioxide batteries LR 6 type which can deliver larger currents useful for motorized toys / games, remote controls, video cameras, hand held computers, four brands were selected a. Eveready Ultima b. Sony c. Godrej GP d. Duracell SELECTION OF TEST LABORATORY The following laboratory was shortlisted for conducting the tests: National Test House (SR), Tharamani, Chennai PARAMETERS FOR THE FOLLOWINF TESTS WERE DONE AS PER IS: 9128:1999 FOR HEAVY DUTY BATTERIES AND IS: 15063:2001 FOR ALKALINE BATTERIES S.N Requirements 1 Dimension 2 Marking 3 Materials and construction 4 Terminals 5 Initial life test for discharge 5 (i) Photoflash 5 (ii) Toy and heavy duty lighting 5 (iii) Cassette player and tape recorder CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI JANUARY

6 5.0 DESIGNATION FOR BATTERIES As per IS: the term battery would also be used to denote a complete single cell. The cells and batteries should be designated by letters followed by a number. The letters used relating to the shape or composition of the cell are: F for flat cell, R for round cell, S for square or rectangular cell, PJS for inert cell, SAC for sack cell, AWC for air depolarized wet cell having caustic soda as electrolyte, and AW for air depolarized wet cell having ammonium chloride as electrolyte. The number which follows the letters is an imperial number and indicates the size variations for a given shape. Dry batteries for specific applications like flash lights transistor Radio, Photo Flash and hearing aids; multipurpose batteries are also manufactured to benefit consumer s choice. 6.0 TECHNICAL DESIGNATIONS AND COMMONLY USED NOMENCLATURES The cells/batteries are designated by a code comprising of four parts: No. of cells assembled in a battery in parallel (In case of a cell, this space is left as a blank). This denotes the size code of the round cell. L denotes alkaline manganese dioxide cell and R denotes round cell. No. of cells assembled in a battery in series (In case of a single cell, this space is left as a blank). Cell Codes and Corresponding Description and Common Names S1 No. Code Description Commonly Used Name (1) (2) (3) (4) i) LR03 Alkaline round cell of size code 03 AAA ii) LR6 Alkaline round cell of size code 06 AA iii) LR14 Alkaline round cell of size code 14 (c) iv) LR20 Alkaline round cell of size code 20 D v) 6LR61 Battery constructed with 6 round cells of size code 61 connected in series 9V CONSTRUCTION OF BATTERIES - MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION The chemical system of the cell / battery shall be: a) Manganese dioxide ( cathode); b) Zinc ( anode); and 6 CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI OCTOBER 2017

7 c) Potassium hydroxide solution in water (electrolyte). The internal design of the cell / battery and the choice of material shall be such that the product meets the following criteria: a. The terminals shall be free from corrosion; b. Terminals should maintain positive contact with external circuits; c. There shall not be any distortion / dents d. There shall not be any leakage of electrolyte during normal storage and use under normal discharge conditions; and e. There shall be a system of venting to prevent explosion due to generation of hydrogen gas inside the cell during storage/discharge/ usage. The terminals arrangements shall be of type CD AND FC as given in IS: MARKING The following information shall be printed on the outside of the cell or battery: a. Manufacturer s name and/or trade-mark and type number, if any, ( where a manufacturer or supplier is supplying the same type of batteries from more than one factory, the factory of origin shall be indicated, by mutual agreement between the purchaser and the supplier ); b. Designation in accordance with this standard; c. Application for which the battery is suitable-in words or by depicting suitable pictorial marking; d. Nominal voltage; e. Country of origin; f. Date of manufacture if desired by the purchaser; and g. Batch number in case it is not marked NOTE: The batch number marked on the individual battery should be the same as the batch number marked on outer carton so that the two can be correlated to find out the actual date of manufacture. In addition, the following markings shall also be done on the outer carton: a) Month and year of manufacture, and b) Batch number. MARKING OF TERMINALS Each terminal shall be clearly marked with the relevant nominal voltage and polarity, where applicable. The batteries may also be marked with the ISI Certification Mark that is governed by the provisions of CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI JANUARY

8 the Indian Standards Institution (Certification Marks) Act and the Rules and Regulations made there under. The ISI mark on products covered by an Indian Standard conveys the assurance that they have been produced to comply with the requirements of that standard under a well-defined system of inspection, testing and quality control which is devised and supervised by ISI and operated by the producer. ISI marked products are also continuously checked by ISI for conformity to that standard as a further safeguard. Details of conditions under which a license for the use of the ISI Certification Mark; may be granted to manufacturers or processors, may be obtained from the Indian Standards TESTS DONE ON PACKAGING AND LABELLING All the brands were verified for label marking information as per clause 6 of IS: All the brands had trade name and type number All the brands had designation as R 6 for Heavy duty batteries also known as carbon, zinc batteries and LR 6 for alkaline batteries. Brands Nippo Gold, Panasonic described their product as Extra HD battery In all the 8 brands tested, the nominal voltage was marked as 1.5 V The country of origin was given as follows however the importers address in India was also provided. o Eveready India o GodreJ GP Vietnam o Panasonic India (Japan Technology) o Sony In Indonesia for Sony cap of Japan o Duracell China All the brands were marked AA to denote product type for consumer information Month of manufacturer and month of Import, best before use packed month, were indicated. Customer care contact number and and website details were present. Each terminal were marked clearly as + and - in all the products. Zero mercury and zero cadmium were noted in Eveready ultima. Godrej GP, alkaline batteries. Panasonic declared as to contain no lead, mercury and cadmium. Long life was given in Nippo Gold and Panasonic Caution note was given in Godrej GP in detail 8 CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI OCTOBER 2017

9 Do not ingest Do not recharge, disassemble, dispose off in fire, solar on batteries Don t short circuit batteries and carry unpacked batteries in your pocket or bag. Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the batteries. Do not mix new and used batteries, different chemistries or brands that may explode leak and cause damage. Check batteries periodically and remove them when not in use for a long period Insert correctly (+/-) Store in a cool dry place Caution note serial no 2 and 5 was given in brands. Eveready Ultima and Sony Brand Nippo Gold carried ISI mark with IS: 9128 but no CML number was present Sony battery gave a life span of 8 years longer lasting Other general claims like new improved, ultra, India s number one brand were present QUALITY PARAMETERS The quality parameters were tested among 12 batteries constituting one sample. The tests were done as per IS reaffirmed in 2009 with amendment No.3 for HD Batteries. For alkaline batteries, tests were done as per: reaffirmed in The average ambient conditions of the lab during the tests were as follows. For both HD and Alkaline batteries, room temperature C relative humidity 60 to 65%. All the 8 samples met the requirements as per the specifications laid down in IS: 9128 and IS: for HD Battery and Alkaline battery respectively. However a comparative statement of test results are given for the information of consumers. The important test from the view point of a consumer for acceptance for discharge of power in consumer utilities like photoflash, toys, heavy duty lighting, personal cassette player and tape recorders are given for perusal. CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI JANUARY

10 8.0 RESULTS OF HEAVY DUTY BATTERY a. MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION S.N TEST DONE REQUIREMENT in mm TEST VALUES BRANDS TESTED Nippo Gold Godrej GP Panasonic Eveready Result i. Diameter P ii. Height P iii. Terminal + CP & FC - + CP & FC - + CP & FC - + CP & FC - + CP & FC - P b. INITIAL LIFE TEST FOR DISCHARGE OF POWER FOR 3 CELLS iv. v. vi. Photoflash, resistance, Ω duration 15 sec /1 min 1 hour / 1 day Toy HD lighting at resistance, Ω 4 continuous duration Cassette player and tape recorder at resistance Ω 10 duration 1 hour/day 5 days/ week End volt 0.75 average cycles min 60 End volt 0.9 average minutes minimum 50 End volt 0.9 duration 300 minutes minimum P P P Remarks: All the 4 brands meet the requirements as per IS: CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI OCTOBER 2017

11 RESULTS OF ALKALINE BATTERIES a. MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION S.N TEST DONE REQUIREMENT in mm BRANDS TESTED TEST VALUES Eveready Ultima SONY Godrej GP Ultra alkaline Duracell vii. Diameter P viii. Height P ix. Terminal CP + FC - CP + FC - CP + FC - CP + FC - CP + FC - P b. INITIAL LIFE TEST FOR DISCHARGE OF POWER FOR 3 CELLS x. xi. xii. Photoflash, resistance Ω 1.8 duration 15 sec/1 min 24 hrs /1 day Flash lights resistance Ω 3.9 duration 4 min / hr 8 hrs /day Cassette player and tape recorder at resistance Ω 10 duration 1 hour per day 5 day per week End volt 0.9 average cycles min 336 End volt 0.9 average mins 5 hrs min End volt 0.9 average minutes 11.6 hrs (minimum) P 6 hrs mts hrs 04 mts- 16 mts 5 hrs 52 mts- 6 hrs 6 hrs 20 mts 24 mts P Result Remarks: All the samples meet the requirements of the specification of IS: 15063: Legend- P Denotes Pass P CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI JANUARY

12 9.0 TIPS FOR CONSUMERS Do's DO read the instructions on your device before installing batteries. Only use the size and type of battery specified in the instructions. DO insert the batteries properly. Follow the symbols showing the correct way to position the positive (+) and negative (-) ends of the batteries. DO keep battery contact surfaces clean by gently rubbing with a clean pencil eraser or cloth. DO immediately remove exhausted batteries from your device and dispose of properly. DO remove all batteries from the device at the same time and replace them with new batteries of the same size and type. DO preserve battery life by switching off a device and removing the batteries when it is not being used, and is not expected to be used for extended periods of time. DO practice proper battery storage by keeping batteries in a cool, dry place at normal room temperature. It is not necessary to store batteries in a refrigerator. Don'ts DON T dispose of batteries in a fire they may leak or rupture. DON T disassemble, crush, puncture, or otherwise damage batteries. This can result in leakage or rupture. DON T carry loose batteries in a pocket or purse with metal objects like coins, paper clips, etc. This can short-circuit the battery, leading to high heat or leakage. DON T recharge a battery unless it is specifically marked "rechargeable." Attempting to recharge a non-rechargeable (primary) battery could result in leakage or rupture. Don't use rechargeable alkaline batteries in nickel metal hydride battery chargers. DON T store batteries or batterypowered devices in hot places elevated temperatures can lead to capacity loss, leakage or rupture. DON T mix old and new batteries, or mix different types or makes of batteries. This can cause leakage or rupture, resulting in personal injury or property damage. DON T give batteries to young children 12 CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI OCTOBER 2017

13 TRAVELING WITH BATTERIES: IT S SAFE! Planning a trip? You don t need to leave your batteries at home. Batteries and battery-powered devices are safe to fly with if you follow these simple guidelines. Pack spare batteries in carryon baggage. In the passenger compartment, flight crews can better monitor safety conditions to prevent an incident, and can access fire extinguishers, if an incident does happen. Keep spare batteries in the original retail packaging, to prevent unintentional activation or short-circuiting. For loose batteries, place a strip of insulated tape across the battery's contacts or place each battery in its own protective case, plastic bag or package to protect them from contact with metal objects, such as coins, keys or jewelry. Take steps to prevent crushing, puncturing or putting a high degree of pressure on the battery, as this can cause an internal shortcircuit, resulting in overheating. As per the U.S. Department of Transportation, batteries pose little risk contained in the devices they power and that taking the battery out of the device does not enhance safety." For additional information and the latest in battery and batterypowered device transportation, please visit gov/. CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI JANUARY

14 COMPARATIVE TEST TEAM FOR CFL BULB The CONCERT Lead: Mr.Rm.Subramanian, Senior Manager, (Retd.) Eveready Industries India Ltd. The EAC members: Mr. G.Santhanarajan, Project Director, CONCERT Mr.Navil.H.Mohta, Project Consultant Edited by: Mrs. Nirmala Desikan, Chairman & Managing Trustee, CONCERT Web Designing: Mr.Baskar Roa, Webmoksha 14 CONCERT TRUST REPORTS OF CAI OCTOBER 2017