Battery (All): Terminology: Plate

The plates in a battery function as electrodes. Each cells consists of several positive and negative plates. These plates are welded together in groups by plate straps. The plate is made up of a grid with an external layer of active material. This active material contributes to the electrochemical process during charging and discharging. The grid is constructed of a type of a lead alloy which functions as a conductor of the active material and also carries the current. The positive plate has an external layer of lead dioxide, while the external layer on the negative plate consists of porous lead.