Car Batteries provide the jolt of electricity necessary to start your vehicle and power accessories like lights, stereo and wipers when the engine isn’t running. They also help stabilize voltage spikes that occur when turning on and off power-hungry accessories.
Traditional lead-acid batteries contain cells with alternate plates of a lead alloy grid immersed in an electrolyte solution. Newer batteries use low-maintenance designs that don’t require routine water addition.
Maintenance-free
With the busy lives we all lead, vehicle owners are always looking for ways to reduce the amount of work they have to do to keep their cars running. One such innovation that is gaining popularity are maintenance-free car batteries.
Maintenance-free batteries eliminate the need to manually refill them with distilled water. This can be a hassle as it requires opening the battery to manipulate the corrosive electrolyte inside. This can also be dangerous as the sulfuric acid inside may irritate or even eat through your skin.
In addition, a battery that does not need to be topped up can be more reliable. However, it is still important to inspect your car battery for signs of damage, swelling or leakage on a regular basis. These inspections can be done as part of a multi-point inspection at your local repair shop. This ACDelco maintenance-free battery is a great example of a high quality battery that does not require the user to refill it. It has 760 CCA and is designed to provide power for 120 minutes (120 RC) in the event of an alternator failure.
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
Cold weather slows battery reactions and impacts cranking power, so CCA is an important metric to consider when choosing a car battery. The higher the CCA, the more power the battery has to overcome extreme temperature conditions.
A battery’s CCA rating is often confused with Amp Hours (Ah) ratings, but the two have different functions. Ah ratings are more accurate for comparing batteries for long-term use, while CCA is better for evaluating starting battery performance.
To test a battery’s CCA, you can use a multimeter to measure the voltage of the battery when the engine is running. To get the most accurate results, turn off any electrical accessories, locate the terminals, set your multimeter to a DC voltage setting of over 20 volts and connect the probes. The battery is considered healthy when the reading remains above its CCA rating. However, results can vary between batteries and may depend on the battery construction and chemistry.
Battery Group Sizes
Car batteries come in many sizes. The physical dimensions of battery sizes are standardized by the Battery Council International (BCI). These battery size designations also include letters or numbers to specify other features, like which side the positive terminal is on and if the battery is recessed top post or a flat type.
BCI group sizes help manufacturers and retailers simplify the process of choosing a replacement battery for your vehicle. It’s important to get the correct battery so it fits securely under the hood and provides the right amount of cold cranking amps to power your electronics and start your engine.
Check your owner’s manual for the exact BCI group size that’s needed in your vehicle. Or, you can look for the BCI number labeled on your existing battery. Typically, the group size will be two digits followed by a letter. For example, a battery with a group size of 24F is 20.5 inches long, 6.9 inches wide and 7.8 inches high.
Battery Types
The automotive industry is complex and the battery category is no exception. There are several different types of car batteries from which to choose, each offering unique pros and cons depending on your power needs, application and budget.
The oldest and most common car battery type uses lead plates bathed in acid to create electricity. These are also called flooded batteries. They have removable caps that should be topped with distilled water from time to time throughout their lifespans.
These are the same as flooded lead-acid batteries except they don’t have vents or spillable electrolytes and are sealed in polypropylene cases (hence their AGM moniker). AGM batteries have pressure-activated relief valves that open only when the battery overheats during recharging.
Lithium-ion batteries are the new kids on the block and offer significant benefits including much shorter recharge times and lighter weight. They are often found in hybrid and electric vehicles. If you’re considering swapping your existing battery for a lithium-ion battery, consult with a professional to discuss the pros and cons of doing so.
