Introduction
Here’s the short and sweet response to the age-old question: the one designed just for your car. Make a smart, economic buying decision without having to be an expert. See your owner’s handbook to find out what size, specs, and ratings your original battery had. The manuals at the car parts shop or on the internet may also help you choose which one you need.
If you’d want to save some money, you may replace the battery on your own. Some stores will install a battery for free if you buy one from them. The improper power source might leave you stuck since modern automobiles have very precise needs for their electrical systems. If you want to know how to choose the best battery for your car, what you need to do is simple.
1- Always Double-Check the Sizing Chart
Whether installing it in your driveway or paying a professional, it’s still important to have the right size, to begin with. Many different sizes are available to accommodate the large range of automobiles on the road today.
For instance, many cars may use batteries with a size 24/24F (top terminal), while many others can use size 35 (top terminal) units, such as many modern Toyotas, Nissans, Hondas, and Subarus. Quite a few European and American automobiles use batteries with top terminals (size 48H6). Once again, the owner’s handbook, the replacement guidelines at the shop, or the internet will tell you what size you need.
2- Determine Which Battery Type You’ll Require
While certain high-performance vehicles do have lithium-ion batteries, most automobiles use 12-volt sealed lead-acid batteries. Modern sealed batteries are maintenance-free yet employ the same chemistry as the ones your father had to keep topping out with water. Absorbent glass mat batteries have rapidly replaced conventional lead-acid ones in contemporary automobiles. Although they employ the same chemical process, their durability and supposed resistance to charge cycles have been improved.
Gel-cell batteries do best when deeply discharged, however they might have issues when exposed to severe temperatures. The “wet cell” batteries from your parents’ generation are still on the market, but they are usually reserved for use in older devices or by those looking to save money. However, they probably don’t come in the proper dimensions and technical specifications to work with current automobiles.
3- Check the Quality, Brand, and Age of Your Car Battery
A well-made and recently manufactured battery will perform optimally. You should research the battery’s standing and customer reviews to make sure you’re getting a good product. Make sure you’re obtaining a brand-new battery since batteries degrade over time (even in a storage). Your battery should be no more than six months old.
In most cases, the battery’s housing will reveal its age. While some companies simply provide the current date, others use a system where the month represents a letter, and the number represents the year. So “B6” would indicate February 2016, whereas “C5” would indicate March of the previous year.
4- Choose the Longest-Lasting Battery
The life expectancy of different battery types varies greatly. The battery in your automobile is what keeps it going for so long. Some batteries don’t perform well with being constantly charged. Recharging these batteries has the effect of reducing their power output until they are essentially useless.
To find out how long a new battery will last, you may look at ratings for runtime, reserve capacity, and cold-cranking amps online. The battery life test is the most critical since it determines how well a battery will hold up after being recharged repeatedly over a long period (thousands of times).
When a battery’s charging mechanism fails, the reserve-capacity test determines how long the battery can continue providing power. Finally, if you reside or drive in a cold region, you should take the cold-cranking amps test. It checks the available current at freezing temperatures to make sure you don’t get stuck.
5- Emergency Jump-Start Equipment
A jumper pack is another useful purchase. These are like the jumper cables you’d use to connect your car’s battery to another car’s battery to start your car if you left your lights on all night by mistake. The main distinction is that you won’t have to buy a second vehicle.
Jump starters are simple to use; just connect the leads to the appropriate terminals on your car’s battery after charging. The most effective systems can jumpstart gasoline vehicles with engines up to 3.0 liters in size and may be used numerous times before needing to be recharged.
6- Review Different Guarantees
Selecting a battery with the longest available replacement duration is essential. The length of a battery’s warranty may be broken down into two parts: the amount of time during which free replacements are provided and the amount of time during which the battery will only be partially refunded. The symbol 24/84, for instance, denotes a 24-month replacement guarantee and an 84-month prorated warranty. Once you enter the prorated period, however, the amount you will be paid often decreases rapidly.
A guarantee may be nullified if there is evidence of negligence, such as low water levels or an incorrect installation. And if the battery isn’t designed for it, excessive usage like premium automotive audio and marine applications might drain it.
