What is the function of an automotive battery?

Answer 1

It is a storage cell for electricity. The starter needs a burst of electricity to start the motor. Then, after that, it is used primarily for bursts, and storage. Let's talk tech, here for a minute. The alternater puts out, after the voltage regulator, about 13.5-14 volts. It takes about 12.5 volts to run the engine. (coil). The rest goes to run the radio, heater, light, wipers. ect., with a little bit trickling back into the battery to replace what we took out to start the vehicle. Let's say it is a dark, rainy, cold night. The engine is on, the headlights, maybe even high beams, the wipers are running, and the defroster is running all out. When you stop, the brake lights come on, and the engine rpm's die down, which means the alternator is not putting out enough to power all these things. So, th battery will step up, and help out with some juice until we get rolling again, and the alternator speeds back up. Say you have a kick but stereo, and when the bass comes in, you get a big boom, like some of these other cars. That big boom requires more juice than the alternator can put out in a life time. The battery backs that up so that you get the volume you desire. They are actually now using a coil type system to power those big base box's now. Saturate, and purge.