Car Battery - Factors You Need to Consider Before You Buy One

A battery supplies your engine with the necessary power it needs to start. To generate this power, it relies on sulphuric acid electrolyte and lead plates. A battery has 6 cells, each of which can generate about 2 volts. So, in total, it produces around 12 volts of electricity.

Along with powering the starter motor, the car battery also powers the ignition system. Also, any additional energy that other electrical components need, which exceeds the alternator’s capacity, will be supplied by your car’s battery.

Although lead-acid batteries are quite reliable, you will need to replace your battery, at best, every 4 years. When a battery approaches the end of it service span, most often it causes a delay with engine start.

So, if you are looking for a new car battery in Preston, consider equipping yourself with the right know-how first to make a better choice.

How to select the right battery

Different vehicles have different demands, which depend on their size, components and performance. Here are a few factors you must consider before buying car batteries.

1. Decide between standard flooded battery and AGM

• Flooded batteries – Also known as wet batteries, are the most common battery construction. Here, the electrolyte is in a liquid state, and the lead plates remain submerged in them. Wet batteries come cheap, but requires regular maintenance, such as electrolyte top ups. They will also need frequent recharging as they hold charge for less amount of time.
• AGM batteries – These are speciality batteries. AGM stands for absorbed glass mat, which refers to the fibreglass mesh inside the casing that holds the electrolyte. These batteries are highly impact-resistant and have the least internal resistance.

They boast lesser charging time as well. With all these benefits, they are expensive and cost more. They are easy to store and do not tend to accumulate sulphate residues. If you don’t drive daily, an AGM battery is the choice for you, as they hold their charge longer than other batteries.

2. Consider size and layout

You will need to consider the physical dimensions and the terminal locations, which depend on your vehicle’s make and model. Size and layout are usually based on your engine type and vehicle design.

3. Choose appropriate cold cranking amps

CCA is a rating system that the battery industry uses to define its ability to supply an engine with the necessary amount of power in cold temperatures. It is the number of amperes a 12-Volt battery can generate at -17° C while maintaining a minimum voltage of 7.2 volts.

4. Battery reserve capacity

You can identify this factor on the battery body as RC, short for reserve capacity. Reserve capacity is an indication of the duration a battery can operate without any recharging. Amp hour is a similar specification, but it refers to the amount of energy a battery stores.

A thorough engine diagnostics in Preston from a reputed auto garage will enable the technician to understand your vehicles power requirement better and recommend you with a battery of appropriate specification.

Top auto garages such as Preston Tyre Bay sell batteries suitable for all kinds of vehicles. They also provide services such as engine diagnostics, brake repair and tyre repair.