Electric sprayers have been widely used in many fields such as agriculture, horticulture, and environmental sanitation and disinfection due to their convenience and high efficiency. And lead-acid batteries, as an important power source for electric sprayers, play a crucial role.
The lead-acid batteries used for electric sprayers mainly consist of positive plates (usually lead dioxide), negative plates (made of spongy pure lead), separators, electrolyte (sulfuric acid solution), and the outer casing. Its working principle is based on the electrochemical charging and discharging process of lead-acid batteries. During charging, the external power source drives an electric current through the battery. The lead dioxide on the positive plate reacts with sulfuric acid in the electrolyte to form lead sulfate and water, while electrons flow in the external circuit. The spongy pure lead on the negative plate also reacts with sulfuric acid to form lead sulfate, and electrical energy is stored in the form of chemical energy. During the discharging process, that is, when the electric sprayer is in use, the above reactions proceed in reverse. The lead sulfate is converted back to lead dioxide and spongy pure lead on the positive and negative plates respectively, and electrons are released at the same time. These electrons drive the motor of the electric sprayer to operate through the external circuit, which in turn drives the spraying device to work and realizes the spraying operation.
- Capacity and Endurance: Lead-acid batteries are available in a variety of different capacity specifications to meet the needs of electric sprayers with different usage durations. Generally speaking, a larger-capacity lead-acid battery can provide longer-lasting power support for electric sprayers, enabling the spraying operation to be carried out continuously for a long time without frequent charging. This is especially important for large-area operation scenarios, such as pest control in large orchards or irrigation and fertilization in large areas of farmland.
- High Safety: Lead-acid battery technology is mature and has a good record of stability and safety. Compared with some new battery technologies that may need further verification in terms of stability, lead-acid batteries are not prone to dangerous situations such as overheating, fire, or explosion during normal use and charging, providing reliable protection for users. They can operate stably even in outdoor operations under high-temperature environments or during long-term continuous use.
- Cost Advantage: Among various battery types, the manufacturing cost of lead-acid batteries is relatively low, which makes electric sprayers equipped with lead-acid batteries competitive in the market in terms of price. For the vast majority of users, especially individual farmers or small horticultural practitioners, the lower procurement cost means that they can obtain electric sprayer equipment in a more economical way, lowering the usage threshold and promoting the popularization and application of electric sprayers in more scenarios.
- Charging Specifications: To ensure the service life and performance of lead-acid batteries, a matched charger should be used for charging, and the charging time and voltage should be operated in accordance with the instructions. Avoid overcharging or overdischarging. Overcharging may cause the battery to heat up and lose water, affecting the battery capacity and life; while overdischarging may cause the plates to sulfate, resulting in irreversible performance damage.
- Storage Environment: Lead-acid batteries should be stored in a dry, ventilated, and cool environment, avoiding direct sunlight and humid environments to prevent the battery casing from being corroded or the plates from getting damp and rusting. If the electric sprayer is not used for a long time, it is recommended to conduct a charge-discharge maintenance on the battery at regular intervals to maintain the battery activity.
- Regular Inspection: Regularly check whether there are abnormal phenomena such as bulging or leakage on the appearance of the battery, and check whether the battery connection wires are firm. If any problems are found, they should be dealt with in a timely manner or the relevant battery components should be replaced to ensure that the battery can provide power for the electric sprayer in a good state.
Although lead-acid batteries contain heavy metal components such as lead, with the continuous development of environmental protection technologies, there are currently strict environmental control measures in formal production and recycling channels. Waste lead-acid batteries will be disassembled through a professional recycling process, and recyclable materials such as lead will be extracted for reprocessing to minimize environmental pollution and also conform to the concept of sustainable development.