If CCA tells you how much power your battery can output in a quick spurt, RC tells you how long your battery can output a sustained amount of power. As such it is recommended that you get a battery with a CCA that meets or exceeds your manufacturer’s recommendations. Given that it is harder to transfer power in colder climates, the CCA is viewed as more important, even if you don’t live in frigid climates.Īs a car battery ages, the amount of power that it can output will also decrease, eventually getting to a point where it won’t be enough to start the car. There is also a Cranking Amps metric which measures the same thing but in a warmer temperature. Obviously, the higher the number, the larger the starting power. The metric displays the number of amps a 12-volt battery can deliver at 0☏ for 30 seconds while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts per cell. Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)ĬCA also known as Cold Cranking Amps, defines how well your battery can perform in cold weather. Typically the higher up in price you go, the higher the following numbers will be. These two numbers will allow you to better understand and compare different car batteries. When looking at a new car battery there are a few specifications that you should be familiar with. Lastly, these batteries should be more tolerant of deep discharges without shortening the overall lifespan.Īll of these benefits come at a cost, however, and so AGM batteries will always come at a steeper price. AGM batteries are also said to be more durable due to their tighter packaging. Other benefits include being able to mount the battery in any orientation since there is no liquid to leak out (FLA batteries need to be upright). There is however still a vent in place in the off chance that the AGM battery is overcharged and needs to release pressure.ĭue to the “dry” nature of the battery, it doesn’t need to be opened up to add more electrolytes and is typically advertised as “maintenance-free”. This allows the electrolyte and its byproducts to be absorbed and recombined, eliminating the need for constant venting. As the name implies, the battery plates are wrapped in a fiberglass mat. The actual chemistry of an AGM battery is the same as the FLA battery.
Additionally, due to the gas escape, these batteries are not good options for cars that place their batteries in places other than the engine bay.Īny cheap car battery you encounter will most likely be an FLA battery. As the reaction occurs, the electrolyte is converted into hydrogen and oxygen that needs to be vented out.ĭue to this venting process, these batteries sometimes need to be topped up with distilled water as the electrolyte level gets lower. The basic construction of these batteries includes lead plates, water and sulfuric acid electrolyte, and plate separators. These are by far the most commonly found batteries within cars. These two are the “traditional” Flooded Lead Acid batteries and the more expensive, less common, Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. Outside of niche cases, you will essentially see two types of car batteries. This is why your battery is reliant on your engine to keep it consistently charged.
These types of batteries are not good for having deep discharges as they can decrease their lifespan.
In case of an electrical problem, your car battery is also capable of powering your car’s electronics, but it is not its intended purpose.Ĭar batteries typically only use about 3% of their battery capacity to start the car, before having the car’s alternator charge them back up. SLI is an acronym for its responsibilities, starting, lighting, and ignition. What Does a Car Battery Do?Ī car battery is sometimes referred to as an “SLI Battery”. I’ll also cover the two most common mistakes made when swapping out a car battery so you can sidestep them. Below we will go over all the information you need to know to see if your cheap car battery choice is the right one. Those who live in colder climates should buy the most robust battery they can afford.Īs long as you are not going too cheap, you should be fine with a lot of the value options sold by major retailers. Expensive batteries may have better stats, but the benefits aren’t always apparent in the real world. But are cheap car batteries worth it?Ĭheap batteries are not worth it, but very expensive batteries are not worth it either. As with most things, we want to spend the least amount of money as we have to. Unfortunately, it’s a part of your car that needs replacement every so often. Without it, your car would simply not start. The car battery is the initial heartbeat of modern-day cars.
0 kommentar(er)
