How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused Before It Becomes Unusable?
1 Answers
Generally, a car battery should not be left unused for more than three months. If left unused for over three months, it may no longer be functional. A car battery, also known as a storage battery, is a type of battery that works by converting chemical energy into electrical energy. Typically, the most commonly used car battery is the lead-acid battery. This type of battery is primarily made of lead and its oxides, with a sulfuric acid solution as the electrolyte. The battery uses lead plates filled with sponge-like lead as the negative electrode and lead plates filled with lead dioxide as the positive electrode, with a 22-28% dilute sulfuric acid solution as the electrolyte. During charging, electrical energy is converted into chemical energy, and during discharging, chemical energy is converted back into electrical energy. During the use of a car, avoid parking it in an open parking lot for extended periods. If the car is to be parked for a long time, the battery should be removed to prevent it from becoming unusable due to discharge. If the car fails to start multiple times, check other aspects such as the ignition coil in the circuit or the fuel system for issues, rather than repeatedly attempting to start the car, which can cause the battery to over-discharge and burn out. Over time, a battery will slowly self-discharge until it becomes unusable. Therefore, even if the car is not in use, it should be started periodically to recharge the battery. Additionally, the battery terminals should be cleaned regularly and coated with specialized grease to protect them and extend the battery's lifespan.
