Car battery - how to buy and when? Guide

Find out when you need to buy a new battery, how to choose a car battery, how much it costs, and how gel batteries work.

The battery is one of the most important components in a car. It serves to start the engine and ensures the operation of all electric current receivers, mainly at rest (with the engine running, the alternator is the power source). A good start on a frosty morning largely depends on its performance. 

See also: Preparing a car for winter: what to check, what to replace (PHOTO)

We offer 10 things you should know and keep in mind when buying a battery and in everyday use. This is not a cheap item, but it will serve us for several years.

1. Service life

In practice, you can drive for 4-5 years without looking into the battery if the electrical system in the car is working perfectly. For the sake of the battery, it is worth checking from time to time that the charging voltage (under load and without load) matches the factory data. Remember that the error is not only too low charging voltage. Its excessive value causes a systematic overcharging and acts on the battery as destructively as a state of constant undercharging.

Most of the batteries installed in recent years are maintenance-free, both lead-acid and the more modern and increasingly popular gel batteries.

2. Control

As the ambient temperature (including the electrolyte) decreases, the electrical capacity of the battery decreases. Energy consumption increases due to the need to move with the lights on. Too low electrolyte density and low temperature can lead to freezing of the electrolyte and explosion of the battery case.

It is best to check the condition of the battery when inspecting the car before winter. In a professional service, specialists will evaluate the performance of our battery and, if necessary, replace it with a new one. 

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Care should be taken to clean the surface of the cover, as the accumulated moisture and water can cause a short circuit and self-discharge. In service batteries, check the electrolyte level and density, or top up with distilled water and recharge according to the manufacturer's instructions.

With a maintenance-free battery, pay attention to the color of the so-called magic eye: green (charged), black (needs recharging), white or yellow - out of order (replacement).

By the way - if the car will not be used in winter, the battery should be removed and stored charged.

3. Alarms

The main symptom of a worn battery is starting problems - hard start of the starter. It must be remembered that the average battery life depends on the quality of the battery itself and the conditions of its use, the method of use or the already mentioned efficiency of the electrical system of our car.

4. Purchase - power

– The battery suitable for our vehicle is selected by its manufacturer. The fastest

Information about which one is suitable can be found in the car's owner's manual, says Tomasz Sergejuk, a battery specialist at one of the Bosch service centers in Białystok.

If we do not have a car manual, we can find such information in the catalogs of battery manufacturers. You must remember that a battery with too little capacity will drain quickly, which can cause starting problems.

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See also: Starter and alternator. Typical malfunctions and repair costs

On the other hand, a battery with too much capacity will not be recharged enough, resulting in the same as in the previous case.

It is also impossible to say which capacity is used most often. There are too many types of car batteries on the market.

5. Recycling

The seller of a new battery is obliged, in accordance with applicable law, to collect the used battery and send it for recycling or charge a deposit (if we do not return the old one) in the amount of PLN 30 for this circumstance, and then transfer it to the account of the regional environmental fund.

6. Gel batteries and new technologies

The aforementioned service batteries are a thing of the past. The vast majority of products on the market are maintenance free and you should choose them. The need to maintain the battery does not help at all, and can give us additional trouble. Modern batteries do not require the user to add distilled water.

Recently, due to the increase in demand for electricity produced today, several new products have appeared on the market - mainly gel batteries. The most modern ones, such as the Bosch-type AGM, use technology to bind the electrolyte into a glass mat, which makes such a battery extremely resistant to frequent charge and discharge cycles, as well as shock and has an extended service life.

See also: What to do so that the car always starts in winter. Guide

Current solutions achieve 100% battery maintenance and ultimate shock resistance. Modern batteries are also completely protected from electrolyte leakage.

Currently, gel batteries make up an increasing proportion of new batteries sold on the market, but because they are expensive, lead-acid batteries continue to dominate.

7. Dimensions

When buying, it is important to pay attention to the appropriate dimensions - it is obvious that the battery should generally fit in the car. When reassembling, it is important that the battery is well secured in the vehicle and that the terminal blocks are well tightened and protected with a layer of acid-free Vaseline.

8. Connection

We bought a battery and started connecting it in the car. Disconnect the old battery, starting with the "-" terminal, then "+". Connect in reverse.

“First we always start with the “+” terminal, and then “-”, explains Tomas Sergeyuk. – If you accidentally hit the case while unscrewing the cable at the clamp connected to ground, nothing will happen. If you first unscrew the wire that is not connected to ground and touch the car body, a bunch of sparks will fly.

9. Reliable source

If you buy a battery, then from trusted suppliers - preferably where they will install and check charging and starting. In the event of a complaint, there will be no

excuses for such parameters, because the battery was installed by professionals who should

know and check.

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10. How much does it cost?

In Poland we can find several main battery brands, incl. Bosch, Varta, Exide, Centra, Braille, Steel Power. Car battery prices vary widely. They depend, for example, on battery type, capacity and manufacturer. They start at less than 200 PLN and go up to over a thousand.

Petr Valchak