Battery - how to care for it and how to use connecting cables

A dead battery is one of the most common problems drivers face. In winter it usually breaks down, although sometimes it refuses to obey in the middle of a hot summer.

The battery will not discharge unexpectedly if, first of all, you regularly check its condition - electrolyte level and charge. We can perform these actions on almost any website. During such a visit, it is also worth asking to clean the battery and check if it is attached correctly, because this can also affect higher energy consumption.

Battery in the heat - causes of problems

Internet forums are full of information from surprised car owners who, after leaving their car in a sunny parking lot for three days, were unable to start the vehicle due to a dead battery. Discharged battery problems are the result of battery failure. Well, high temperatures in the engine compartment accelerate the corrosion of the positive plates, which significantly reduces battery life.

Even in an unused car, energy from the battery is consumed: an alarm is activated that consumes a current of 0,05 A, driver memory or radio settings are also energy-consuming. Therefore, if we did not charge the battery before the holiday (even if we went on holiday in a different mode of transport) and left the car with the alarm on for two weeks, after returning, we can expect the car to have problems. with launch. Remember that in summer, natural secretions are faster, the higher the ambient temperature. Also, before a long trip, you should check the battery and think, for example, about replacing it, because stopping on an empty road and waiting for help is nothing pleasant.

Battery in the heat - before the holidays

Since heat causes accelerated battery wear, owners of newer vehicles or those who have recently replaced batteries have nothing to worry about. In the worst position are people planning a trip on vacation, and in whose cars the battery is more than two years old. In this case, we recommend that you first check the state of charge of the battery. If the technical condition of the battery causes us doubts, it is not worth making obvious savings and replacing the battery with a new one before leaving on vacation. The market offer includes batteries manufactured using plate extrusion technology, which, according to manufacturers, significantly reduces plate corrosion. As a result, battery life is increased by up to 20%.

How to avoid battery problems in summer?

1. Before driving, check the battery:
1. check the voltage (at rest it should be above 12V, but below 13V; after starting it should not exceed 14,5V)
2. check the electrolyte level in accordance with the operating instructions supplied with the battery (electrolyte level too low; top up with distilled water)
3. check the density of the electrolyte (it should fluctuate between 1,270-1,280 kg/l); excessively liquid electrolyte is a tip for battery replacement!
4. check the age of the battery - if it is more than 6 years old, the risk of discharge is very high; you should think about replacing the battery before leaving or plan such an expense in travel expenses
2. Pack the charger - it can be useful for charging the battery:

How to use the charger?

1. remove the battery from the car
2. clean the pins (e.g. with sandpaper) if they are dull
3. check electrolyte level and top up if necessary
4. connect the charger and set it to the appropriate value
5. check if the battery is charged (if the voltage readings are constant 3 times with an interval of one hour and are within the fork, the battery is charged)
6. connect the battery to the car (plus to plus, minus to minus)

Battery - take care of it in winter

In addition to regular checks, it is also extremely important how we treat our car during the winter months.

“We often don't realize that leaving a car with the headlights on in very cold temperatures can drain the battery for even an hour or two,” says Zbigniew Wesel, director of the Renault driving school. – Also, remember to turn off all electrical devices such as the radio, lights and air conditioning when you start your car. These elements also consume energy at start-up, adds Zbigniew Veseli.

In winter, just starting a car requires much more electricity from the battery, and due to temperatures, its capacity during this period is much lower. The more often we start the engine, the more energy our battery absorbs. It mostly happens when we drive short distances. Energy is used frequently, and the generator does not have enough time to recharge the battery. In such situations, we must monitor the condition of the battery even more and refuse, if possible, to start the radio, air conditioning or heated rear windows or mirrors. When we notice that when we try to start the engine, the starter is struggling to get it to work, we may suspect that our car's battery needs to be charged.

How to start a car on cables

A dead battery does not mean that we have to go to the service immediately. The engine can be started by pulling electricity from another vehicle using jumper cables. We must remember a few rules. Before connecting the cables, make sure that the electrolyte in the battery is not frozen. If yes, then you need to go to the service and completely change the battery. If not, we can try to "reanimate" it, remembering to properly attach the connecting cables.

– The red cable is connected to the so-called positive terminal and the black cable to the negative terminal. We must not forget to connect the red wire first to a working battery, and then to a car in which the battery is discharged. Then we take the black cable and connect it not directly to the clamp, as in the case of the red wire, but to the ground, i.e. metal, unpainted part of the motor. We start the car, from which we take energy, and in a few moments our battery should start working,” the Renault driving school instructors explain. If the battery does not work despite attempts to charge it, you should consider replacing it with a new one.