Why they do not make a 32v battery

[piripucha]

After changing more batteries that I would like to remember I was wondering why do battery manufactures do not make a single 32v battery? They make 24volts for airplanes and they are not that big! Down here in South America is getting to be a pain in the neck to get hold of 8volts bat. Just a thought!!

 

[MikeP]

Two reasons, I suspect.

One - no demand,

Two - I don't think they could make one with reasonable AH capacity that someone could actually move!

The 24v airplane batts don't have to start big diesel engines and run house loads.

 

[jim rosenthal]

there are some 16v batteries available for race cars, but I don't think they would do what you want. Not enough plate area and amperage. As to a 32vdc battery, it would be impossible to move and get in there. Even the case for it would weigh more than an 8volt battery.

 

[Robby]

After changing more batteries that I would like to remember I was wondering why do battery manufactures do not make a single 32v battery? They make 24volts for airplanes and they are not that big! Down here in South America is getting to be a pain in the neck to get hold of 8volts bat. Just a thought!!

Most 24V airplane batterys are nicads not lead acid.

 

[REBrueckner]

"I don't think they could make one with reasonable AH capacity that someone could actually move!"

I think that may be correct because while less amps (current) is required to provide a given amount of power ( amps x volts) from a higher voltage battery, maybe the thinner plates that would do the job just don't have the longevity required. Like vibration resistance.

But I could not confirm it for sure: I checked at least half a dozen articles on wet cell lead acid batteries online in Wikipedia and could not find a clear explanation of this issue, but there IS some good information that would be of interest to tecchies with the time.

Two of the better articles were these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_battery

and the latter half of this one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead-acid_battery

 

[mjaanright]

I hope this is a homework question, as both a 0.96v battery and a 0.32 volt motor are very unlikely.

 

[Boatsb]

basic physics would dictate that the number electrons needed would not change weather the "battery bank" is made up of one or 4 pieces. The "battery bank" is the group of 4 8V batteries you use to get 32 volts in this explanation. If you have 4 8V batteries with 100 pounds of lead each working together to get the voltage and amperage you need to spin the engine you would need 4 32V batteries in parallel with 100 lbs of lead each to do the same. So the question really becomes which is easier to move, 400 lbs or 400 lbs? Some batteries are made with 6 cells (12 Volt) and some with 4(8 Volt) and some 3 ( 6 Volt) attached to give the output voltage required. Adding batteries in series increases the number of cells and therefore the voltage. In reality 4 8v batteries are a 32Volt battery split between 4 cases.


I know if you do spend enough time googling this you will find it to be both true and false.

 

[piripucha]

It seems that the limiting factor is weight. I went to the Rolls web site and found that their 8v battery model 8HHG29 has an individual weight of 150 lbs. It measures 27x7x12 inches. That would give me a total weight of about 600 pounds for each 32v bank. They also have a locomotive battery of 32v, the only issue is weight, about 1238 lbs and also the size, 33x27x20 inches. To big and to heavy!! Maybe it would be more practical to upgrade to 36volts, 3 12v batteries in series, but I am sure you can tinker with the Charger and the alternators to handle this voltage.
Well, back to the drawing board.!

 

[MikeP]

Capacity is Capacity - In order to produce X Watts of power for Y minutes, a 12V system, a 24v system or a 32V system needs the same amount of lead/acid to produce that level of power. How the cells are configured doesn't matter. All wet cells produce about 2.1v per cell so whether you put 6 of the cells in one "package" and make it a 12v battery, 4 of them in a package to make an 8v battery, 12 in a package to make a 24V battery doesn't matter. The issue is simply one of convenience. As the voltage goes up, the number of cells go up so the "package" gets bigger. It's much easier to deal with 4 batteries of 150 lbs each than one 600lb battery.

To provide the same watt/hours from a 12V system that a 32V system can provide would take essentially the same total battery weight BUT it would require much larger cables to transmit the power. Higher voltage is more efficient.

Going to a 36v system would be fine but again, to produce the same power that the 32v system did, will require just as much "battery mass." You couldn't just buy 3 cheap batteries, put them in series and have anything useful. They would have to be 3 substantial batteries...close to the same total weight as the 4 8V batteries!

 

[rsmith]

Most 24V airplane batterys are nicads not lead acid.

Mine is lead acid 24v Gill G246 costs about $400 and lasts about 24 months. Dont think you want to go that route.

 

[krush]

because a 32v battery in one casing is a lot of freaking cells.

Gil's sucked in every instance we used them in my club's planes. Go Concord...

 

[rsmith]

because a 32v battery in one casing is a lot of freaking cells.

Gil's sucked in every instance we used them in my club's planes. Go Concord...

Rebats used to be the best but they went the way of the Do Do bird. There is no warning when these A/C batts go. I usualy have one dry on the shelf just incase. When it gets past 18 months I throw it up in the nose compartment as the 340 is always at aft CG to begin with. My plane is all electric (heated props ,windshield, fuel vents,plus all the avionics, radar, blowers etc) plus the 2-100amp alts wacking it with 200a right after startup its pretty hard on the batt.