Batteries

The purpose of a battery in an aircraft is to provide an emergency source of power when the
generator is not running and to provide power to start the engine.

A battery is made up of a number of cells which convert chemical energy into electrical energy.

Primary Cell
A primary cell consists of two electrodes immersed in a
chemical called an electrolyte.
The electrolyte encourages electron transfer between the
electrodes until there is a potential difference between
them.
When the electron transfer ceases the cell is fully charged
and the potential difference is approximately 1.5 volts
between the two electrodes.

When the positive and negative terminals are connected to

an external circuit electrons flow from the negative terminal
to the positive terminal through the circuit.

As this circulation of electrons continues, the negative electrode slowly dissolves in the electrolyte
until it is eventually eaten away and the cell is then “dead” and is discarded.

Primary cells cannot be recharged.

Secondary Cells
Secondary cells work on the same principle as primary cells but the chemical energy in the cell
can be restored when the cell has been discharged by passing a “charging current” through the
cell in the reverse direction to that of the discharge current.

In this way the secondary cell can be discharged and recharged many times over a long period of
time

During recharging electrical energy is converted into chemical energy which is retained until the
cell is discharged again.

The Capacity of a cell is a measure of how much current a cell can provide in a certain time.

Capacity is measured in Ampere hours (Ah) (DGCA)

A cell with a capacity of 80 Ah should provide a current of 8 A for 10 hours, or 80 A for 1 hr.

Capacity is normally measured at the 1 hour rate.

Cells in Series Cells in Parallel

positive terminal of one cell is connected to the positive terminals are joined together and the
negative terminal negative terminals are joined together

total voltage is the sum of the individual cell total voltage is that of one cell
voltages

But the capacity is that of one cell. capacity is the sum of the individual cell
capacities.

Lead Acid Battery

One of the most common types of
secondary cell is the Lead Acid cell.

The active material of the positive plate

is lead peroxide and the negative plate
is spongy lead, both plates are
immersed in an electrolyte solution of
water and sulphuric acid.

The container is glass or hard plastic

with a filler cap to allow replenishment
of distilled water, which is lost through
evaporation during use.

The state of charge of a lead acid cell can be determined by measuring the strength of the electrolyte
solution.

Hydrometer which measures the specific gravity (SG).

A fully charged cell will have a SG of 1.27, a discharged cell will have a SG of 1.17.

When the SG has fallen to 1.17 and the voltage to 1.8 volts the cell should be recharged.

To charge a cell it is connected to a battery charger which applies a slightly higher voltage to the
cell and causes current to flow in the reverse direction through the cell.

While this is happening the lead sulphate which had been deposited on the plates is removed and the
SG of the electrolyte rises to 1.27. The voltage ‘on load’ should have returned to just above 2 volts.

The on load/nominal voltage of each cell of a lead acid battery is 2 volts.

The off load voltage of each cell of a lead acid battery is 2.2 volts.

Electrolytes are highly corrosive and if spilled in aircraft can cause extensive damage.

The neutralizing agent to be used for an acid electrolyte is a sodium bicarbonate solution.

Alkaline Battery (Nickel Cadmium, NiCad)

Lead acid batteries are still used in some smaller aircraft but have been largely replaced by Nickel
Cadmium (alkaline type) batteries.

The plates are nickel oxide and cadmium and the electrolyte is potassium hydroxide.
The SG of the electrolyte is 1.24 - 1.30.

The on-load voltage of one cell is about 1.2 volts.

Unlike the lead acid battery, the relative SG of the nickel-cadmium battery electrolyte does not
change and the voltage variation from “fully charged” to “fully discharged,” is very slight.

The terminal voltage remains substantially constant at 1.2 volts throughout most of the discharge.

Battery Checks
The Capacity of a battery is the product of the load in amperes that the manufacturers state it will
deliver, and the time in hours that the battery is capable of supplying that load.

The capacity is measured in ampere hours (Ah).

A 40 Ah battery when discharged at the 1 hour rate should supply 40 amps for the 1 hour. This is
known as the ‘rated load’.

A Capacity Test, a test to determine the actual capacity of aircraft batteries, is carried out every 3
months and the efficiency must be 80% or more for the battery to remain in service.

This capacity will ensure that essential loads can be supplied for a period of 30 minutes
following a generator failure.

Battery Charging
A Constant Voltage Charging system is employed with most lead acid batteries to maintain the
battery in a fully charged condition during flight. With this system the output voltage of the generator
is maintained constant at 14 volts for a 12 volt battery and 28 volts for a 24 volt battery.

The generator voltage exceeds the battery voltage by 2 volts for every 12 volts of battery potential.
NOTE: After starting an engine using the aircraft’s battery, whether it is a lead acid battery or an
alkaline battery, the generator, when it is on line, recharges that battery.

This is indicated by the high initial reading on the generator’s ammeter (load ammeter) or the battery
ammeter (centre zero). This reading should quickly reduce as the battery is recharged, but if the
charge rate increases, or remains high, it could be an indication of a faulty battery.

A high charge rate could result in a battery overheating and subsequent damage.

SHELF LIFE:

Lead acid batteries are stored in a charged state to prevent deterioration of the battery by
sulphation.

NiCad batteries can be stored in a discharged state with no detrimental effect to the battery and
therefore have a longer storage life or ‘shelf life’.
Questions - Batteries 1
1. Battery voltage is tested with:
a. a megometer
b. a voltmeter on rated load
c. an ammeter with a rated voltage
d. a hygrometer
2. Two 12 V 40 Ah batteries connected in series will produce:
a. 12 V 80 Ah
b. 12 V 20 Ah
c. 24 V 80 Ah
d. 24 V 40 Ah
3. Two 12 V 40 Ah batteries connected in parallel will produce:
a. 12 V 80 Ah
b. 24 V 80 Ah
c. 12 V 20 Ah
d. 24 V 40 Ah
4. A battery capacity test is carried out:
a. 6 monthly
b. 2 monthly
c. 3 monthly
d. every minor check
5. An aircraft has three batteries each of 12 volts with 40 Ah capacity connected in series. The
resultant unit has:
a. a voltage of 36 and a capacity of 120 Ah
b. a capacity of 120 Ah and a voltage of 12
c. a capacity of 36 Ah and 120 watts
d. a voltage of 36 and a capacity of 40 Ah
6. An aircraft has a battery with a capacity of 40 Ah. Assuming that it will provide its normal
capacity and is discharged at the 10 hour rate:
a. it will pass 40 amps for 10 hrs
b. it will pass 10 amps for 4 hrs
c. it will pass 4 amps for 10 hrs
d. it will pass 40 amps for 1 hr
7. Battery capacity percentage efficiency must always be:
a. 10% above saturation level
b. above 70%
c. 80% or more
d. above 90%
8. The method of ascertaining the voltage of a standard aircraft lead acid battery is by
checking:
a. the voltage on open circuit
b. the current flow with a rated voltage charge
c. the voltage off load
d. the voltage with rated load switched ON
9. A battery is checked for serviceability by:
a. using an ammeter
b. measuring the specific gravity of the electrolyte
c. a boric acid solution
d. using an ohmmeter
10. In an AC circuit:
a. the battery is connected in series
b. a battery cannot be used because the wire is too thick
c. a battery cannot be used because it is DC
d. only NiCad batteries can be used

Questions - Batteries 2
1. The specific gravity of a fully charged lead acid cell is:
a. 1.270
b. 1.090
c. 1.120
d. 0.1270
2. The nominal voltage of the lead acid cell is:
a. 1.2 volts
b. 1.5 volts
c. 1.8 volts
d. 2.0 volts
3. A lead acid battery voltage should be checked:
a. on open circuit
b. using a trimmer circuit
c. with an ammeter
d. on load
4. In an aircraft having a battery of 24 volts nominal off load and fully charged the voltmeter
would read:
a. 22 volts
b. 24 volts
c. 26 volts
d. 28 volts
5. The system used to maintain aircraft batteries in a high state of charge is the:
a. constant current system
b. constant load system
c. constant resistance system
d. constant voltage system
6. If you connect two identical batteries in series it will:
a. double the volts and halve the capacity
b. reduce the voltage by 50%
c. double the volts and leave the capacity the same
d. double the volts and double the amps flowing in a circuit with twice the resistance
7. The nominal voltage of an alkaline cell is:
a. 2.2 volts
b. 1.8 volts
c. 1.2 volts
d. 0.12 volts
8. The specific gravity of a fully charged alkaline cell is:
a. 0.120 - 0.130
b. 1.160
c. 1.240 - 1.30
d. 1.800
9. The electrolyte used in the lead acid cell is diluted:
a. hydrochloric acid
b. sulphuric acid
c. boric acid
d. potassium hydroxide
10. The electrolyte used in an alkaline battery is diluted:
a. saline solution
b. sulphuric acid
c. cadmium and distilled water
d. potassium hydroxide solution

Questions - Batteries 3
1. The number of lead acid cells required to make up a twelve volt battery is:
a. 8
b. 12
c. 6
d. 10
2. A voltmeter across the terminals of a battery with all services off will indicate:
a. electromotive force
b. resistance
c. a flat battery
d. residual voltage
3. The voltage of a secondary cell is:
a. determined by the number of plates
b. determined by the area of the plates
c. determined by the diameter of the main terminals
d. determined by the active materials on the plates
4. The level of the electrolyte must be maintained:
a. just below the top plate
b. above the plates level with the filler cap
c. one inch below the top of the plates
d. just above the top of the plates
5. To top up the electrolyte add:
a. sulphuric acid
b. distilled water
c. sulphuric acid diluted with distilled water
d. boric acid
6. Non-spill vents are used on aircraft batteries to:
a. prevent spillage of electrolyte during violent manoeuvres
b. stop spillage of the water only
c. prevent the escape of gases
d. prevent spillage during topping-up
7. The capacity of a lead acid battery is:
a. determined by the area of the plates
b. determined by the active materials on the plates
c. determined by the size of the series coupling bars
d. determined by the number of separators
8. Acid spillage in an aircraft can be neutralized by using:
a. caustic soda
b. soap and water
c. soda and water
d. bicarbonate of soda and water
9. When the battery master switch is switched off in flight:
a. the generators are disconnected from the bus bar
b. the ammeter reads maximum
c. the battery is isolated from the bus bar
d. the battery is discharged through the bonding circuit diodes
10. When the generator is on line the battery is:
 a. in parallel with the other loads
b. in series with the generator
c. in series when the generator is on line and is relayed when the generator is off line
d. load sharing

Answers - Batteries 1
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Answers - Batteries 2
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a d d c d c c c b d

Answers - Batteries 3
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