The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Electricity cannot always be generated where and when it is needed, so batteries are used in instances where direct current is needed and/or there is no access to a power outlet, or a cord becomes cumbersome. A battery is a device where chemical energy is converted to electrical energy.

Many different types of batteries are available for a wide variety of applications, from storing solar power for satellites in space to powering heart pacemakers fitted inside peoples' chests. All batteries contain one or more cells, but the terms "battery" and "cell" are often used interchangeably. A cell is the working chemical unit inside a battery. Each cell has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. These do not touch each other but are immersed in a solid or liquid electrolyte. When a battery is connected to an electric circuit, a chemical reaction takes place in the electrolyte causing ions (electrically charged atoms) to flow through it. This movement of electric charge makes an electric current flow through the cell and through the circuit it is connected to.

Cells can be divided into primary cells and secondary cells. Primary cells include dry cells, better known as flashlight batteries and the secondary cells, better known as rechargeable batteries include the lead-acid batteries used in automobiles and the nickel-cadmium batteries used in cellular phones. Unlike primary cells, secondary cells can be recharged simply by passing a current through them in the reverse direction to which they normally allow a current to flow. This course will discuss the characteristics and application of different types of batteries in detail.

This 3-hr course material is based entirely on Naval Education and Training Materials (NAVEDTRA 14173), Electricity and Electronic Training Series; Module 1, Chapter 2 titled "Batteries".

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty (20) questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).