If you don’t know much about batteries, you may have been a little confused to find out there are such things as dry and wet batteries. Both of them have important uses but when it comes to dry battery vs wet battery, they also have some crucial differences.
Here we’ll look at what those differences are so you can get all the info you need. By the end, you’ll know all you need to know about wet and dry batteries. Let’s get started!
Dry Battery
A dry battery, or dry cell battery, uses an extremely low-moisture electrolyte, unlike wet cell batteries that use a liquid electrolyte. In dry cell batteries, the electrolytes used are paste-like, which is relatively dry while still containing a small amount of moisture. The 9-volt, C, A, and watch batteries are some of the most commonly used dry cell batteries.
Dry batteries convert chemical energy into electricity to form electrical energy. The process depends on the type of dry cell battery, but these generally use zinc and manganese dioxide, or zinc and carbon.
Its contents are placed within the electrolyte paste in the battery to produce electricity, creating a chemical reaction. It’s the result of carbon or manganese dioxide reacting with zinc. Then, the electricity is transmitted from the battery with positive and negative electrodes.
Advantages and Uses of Dry Batteries
Dry batteries have numerous advantages, but they’re most known for being handy and portable since they are lightweight. Also, they have a higher capacity, so they last longer than wet batteries.
Another benefit is the electrolytes used for dry batteries. They aren’t extremely harmful to the environment compared to wet batteries.
With their compact size, dry batteries are suitable for powering smaller devices like smartphones, flashlights, remote controls, radios, and other devices.
Wet Battery
Wet batteries are also known as wet-cell or flooded batteries. These generate power from an electrolyte solution and a pair of electrodes. Unlike dry cell batteries that use a paste solution, these batteries use a liquid electrolyte solution. Also, wet batteries are the original form of rechargeable batteries.
The first wet batteries were solution-filled glass jars that contained electrodes. Modern versions of these batteries are the size of the average toaster and are used for starting most cars and planes.
They’re common for industrial applications where robust voltage is needed. Plus, wet cell batteries can be primary or secondary cells.
Uses and Advantages of Wet Batteries
Just like the dry type, wet batteries also have their advantages. They contain a huge amount of power and are highly durable, but these are still fairly affordable too. Also, they won’t need frequent replacements.
Since these are often used as rechargeable secondary batteries, they are ideal for motor vehicles. These are also used for aviation, energy storage, electric utilities, and cellphone towers.
If maintained well, wet batteries can have higher charge and discharge cycles. Plus, they’re less prone to damage caused by overcharging.
Comparing Dry Battery vs Wet Battery
Now we know what these two batteries are, let’s take a closer look at the differences between them.
1. Cost
Wet batteries are cheaper than dry batteries and quite inexpensive for their durability and the amount of power they can supply. They also cost less than dry batteries since they’re easier to manufacture.
As for dry batteries, they’re slightly expensive due to the difficult manufacturing process. However, they require less maintenance than wet batteries, making them less expensive to maintain over time.
2. Capacity
Since they carry a bigger charge, wet batteries have a larger capacity. That’s why these are mainly used for large devices and applications like cellphone towers, energy storage, electric utilities, aviation, etc.
On the other hand, dry batteries are smaller, so they carry less charge. As a result, they’re capable of powering smaller devices such as smartphones, toys, clocks, laptops, and other portable electronics.
3. Portability
Since wet batteries are usually huge and designed for powering large devices, they aren’t easy to move and carry around. Dry batteries are generally smaller, in order to power compact devices, making them easier to carry. With that, dry batteries are more portable than wet types.
Aside from the size, what makes moving wet batteries is the liquid electrolyte since spilling or leaking needs to be prevented. The liquid substance contains highly corrosive electrolytes, including sulfuric acid, which can damage anything that comes into contact with it. So, you’ll need to be extra careful when transporting wet batteries.
4. Reusability
Wet and dry batteries both come in rechargeable and non-rechargeable variants. As with all battery types, rechargeable variants are usually more expensive than single-use batteries.
5. Maintenance
While wet batteries are affordable and commonly available, they require some maintenance. You’ll need to maintain the recommended liquid electrolyte level since the battery will deliver reduced performance if it gets too low.
Wet batteries need constant care to prevent the acid from leaking. The vent caps must be closed tightly to avoid the evaporation of acid.
When it comes to dry batteries, these are maintenance-free. You won’t have to check and maintain its electrolyte level. However, unlike wet batteries, they cannot withstand overcharging, so you must keep track of dry batteries when charging.
Final Thoughts
The primary difference between wet and dry batteries is the electrolyte they use to create electricity. Wet batteries use liquid, while dry ones use solid material.
Today, dry batteries are more popular than wet cell batteries, and because of their benefits, they are quickly replacing wet batteries. They’re also safer and highly portable, making their higher price worth paying.
No matter what type of battery you choose, you’ll need to handle these with care to prolong their life. Although dry batteries don’t need regular checking and maintenance, you’ll need to ensure that it’s adequately charged. Always remember that overcharging or undercharging will result in damaged batteries.
When it comes to choosing which one is better, it’s all based on your needs and preferences. If you need to power large devices, the ideal choice is a wet battery. For smaller devices, a dry battery is the best option.