A car battery is an important element of the car starting system and at the same time an autonomous source of electricity. The state of the battery must be constantly monitored, otherwise the problems can be quite serious: from the impossibility of starting to a rapid discharge in just a few hours. And in order for the battery to last a long time, first of all it is necessary to seriously approach the issue of its choice.
Rule # 1: Dimensions
The engine compartment of any car is strictly calculated and a large battery simply cannot fit, for example, in Tavria or Slavuta. Therefore, before buying a new battery, it is better to remove the old one from your car and bring it to the seller. It is always easier to determine locally whether the dimensions of a new product will fit or not.
Rule # 2: Capacity
Battery capacity is measured in ampere-hours. For example, a battery with a capacity of 62 Ah is capable of providing a rated current of 3.1 A. After 20 hours of operation, the potential difference of the battery drops to 10.8 V - an indicator at which further operation of the product is not allowed.
It is best to find out the required battery capacity from the technical documentation for the car. You can take a battery with a larger capacity, but not worth it with a smaller one.
Rule # 3: Lifetime
Which directly depends on the estimated period of car ownership. When installing a battery on a car that was bought with the aim of "learning to drive", it is better not to choose expensive models. What for? If in six months or a year the vehicle is successfully sold, and the next, better or more expensive coupe is bought.
Therefore, for cars that do not stay with the owner for a long time, it is better to purchase an inexpensive battery. Even the cheapest batteries will definitely last a year, only if it is not a factory defect.
Rule # 4: Check the battery visually and with a load plug
Before purchasing a battery, you must:
- Check it with a load fork. A load plug is a simple electronic device that helps not only to determine the state of the battery charge, but also to test its performance. Every battery vendor should have a load plug close at hand.
- Check the integrity of the housing. Even the slightest crack will lead to a gradual leakage of electrolyte and soon the battery can only be handed over as recyclable materials.
- Check the battery for leaks. If electrolyte was leaking from the battery cells, this means that the battery has already been installed on the car and its banks are most likely closed.
These simple checks will help you visually determine if the battery is healthy or bad.
Rule number 5: buy goods only with a guarantee
Any quality product has its own warranty period. The battery is no exception and a good battery should definitely have a guarantee. It is best when the sellers themselves carry out the installation, check the operation of the product and then issue a warranty receipt. Then you don't have to worry if, for example, a defective battery was accidentally bought - it will be immediately replaced with a new one.