How to choose a car battery, choose the best battery

The battery provides engine start and operation of the entire electrical system of the car. However, any, even the best and most reliable battery, eventually becomes unusable due to sulfation - shedding of the plates.

Sulfation is a normal process for batteries, the plates are covered with a special white coating that protects them from the penetration of electrolyte inside. However, over time, insoluble lead sulfate crystals begin to settle on the plates, which isolate the plates from each other. The density of the electrolyte drops, the battery does not hold a charge and quickly discharges. All these processes take place actively in the cold season, which is why it is so difficult to start a car on a winter morning.

Naturally, when drivers are faced with the problem of rapid battery discharge, they begin to look for solutions. Constant charging for a “tired” battery is not a salvation, it is almost impossible to bring the battery back to life, there is only one way out - to buy a new battery.

When choosing a battery, pay attention to their types

Batteries are divided into three main types:

• serviced;
• maintenance-free;
• low-maintenance.

It is difficult to find real serviceable batteries in our time, their peculiarity is that they are completely repairable, that is, they can be disassembled and the plates changed. Much more often used little and unattended. The first ones have plugs through which it is possible to control and top up the electrolyte, the second ones are completely closed with an electrolyte vapor recirculation system and with small ventilation holes.

The most common are low-maintenance batteries. They are cheaper and easier to care for - that is, check the density and condition of the electrolyte, top up with distilled water. Thus, this type is ideal for our non-ideal conditions (ideal conditions for batteries are average temperatures of 20-30 degrees).

The instructions for the car should contain information about suitable batteries. If you lost it, then buy a battery like the one you had before. If you are not sure that it used to be exactly the right one, then you can find a battery catalog that contains all this information for any car model. Or you can find information on the Internet.

The main characteristics of the battery

The main indicators of the battery are its capacity and the magnitude of the starting current. These figures must comply with the requirements of the vehicle manufacturer, since the generator is designed for a certain maximum allowable value.

It is worth paying special attention to the fact that batteries are divided into economy class and premium class according to their cost. You may also notice that batteries from different manufacturers may have different specifications.

For example, for a 60 Amp-hour economy class battery, the starting current can be about 420 Amperes, and for a Premium class - 450.

These specifications must be specified for your car. Remember also that batteries with different starting currents are available for diesel and gasoline engines.

If the owner of the car does not listen to the requirements of the manufacturer and buys an unsuitable battery in terms of performance, then the results may be disastrous, or not very good. If, for example, you buy a battery with a smaller or larger capacity, then it will quickly fail from constant undercharging or overcharging, electrical equipment may also suffer, especially in modern cars with computers. If the starting current fluctuates between 30-50 Amps, then this, in principle, is permissible.

Battery dimensions

When buying a battery, pay attention to its size and weight. Now you can read a lot of any information about nanotechnology and new super-conductive materials, but if you are offered a lighter than usual and smaller battery, and at the usual cost, then it makes sense to wonder if the manufacturer decided to save on materials. A battery that is too heavy is also not good, as extra weight will affect dynamic performance.

Buy a battery sized to fit in the saddle. The standard weight of a 6ST-60 A / h battery is 12-15 kilograms. An experienced driver will definitely feel the difference in weight.

What else to pay attention to

Pay attention to the manufacturer and the brand. There are brands and brands that have proven themselves for a long time: Bosch, Inci-Aku, Varta, Forse, Ista, our Current Source Kursk, Dnepropetrovsk batteries from Ukraine. It often happens that factories want to experiment a little and launch new brands, many previously unknown names appear on sale, and all consultants praise them loudly. Such experiments sometimes work and sometimes they don't, so it's best to stick to tradition and not make yourself a guinea pig.

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