How to choose the right battery for the car - what is important to know before you buy

Every car owner wants to have a reliable and high-quality battery that would be easy to maintain and work perfectly in various operating modes. However, today when buying it is difficult to correctly navigate a large assortment of products offered by various stores. And if you are not yet an expert in this matter, I would like to understand in more detail before buying what this device is. How it works and the principle of its work. What should be - serviced or unserved? Is there enough capacity for your car? Does it have a long service life? Which manufacturer is better to choose? Not the last factor in the decision to purchase will be the price. Let's try to understand all these issues in more detail.

The best battery manufacturers - which company to choose

Russian auto shops offer batteries of various foreign and domestic manufacturers. Many have already been tested and recommended by our drivers. When choosing them, you need to turn first to the company's brand, and then familiarize yourself with the main brief characteristics of the products.

In the top five best foreign manufacturers of automotive batteries (batteries) in 2016 and 2017, there are companies such as:

• Bosch;
• Varta;
• Exide;
• Kraft;
• Baren.

Among the best Russian manufacturers of batteries it is worth noting such companies as:

• TAZ (Tyumen).
• AkTeh (Svirsk).
• Electrotyag (St. Petersburg).
• Akom (Zhigulevsk).
• Russian batteries (Kursk, Saratov and Podolsk).

In many ways, our products are not inferior to imported ones. Our batteries are well adapted to domestic climatic conditions. Their production is made on modern equipment and innovative technologies.

Choosing a battery, you should not focus only on the promotion of one or another brand. For completeness, it is worthwhile to understand the features of the products: the principle of its work, the device and the main characteristics.

• See also: Best car batteries

The principle of operation and device battery

A battery is a device in which, through chemical processes, electrical energy can be generated or accumulated.

The principle of the battery is based on the active reaction between the lead plates (electrodes), dipped in sulfuric acid (electrolyte).

Electric energy is converted into chemical energy when charging and, conversely, when discharging. This process has a cyclical nature: discharge - charging.

When consumers connect to the battery, discharge occurs. In this case, the plates interact with sulfuric acid. Formed water and lead sulphate and decreases the density of the electrolyte.

When the car engine is running, the battery is charging from the generator. During charging, water and lead sulphate are converted again to sulfuric acid and, accordingly, the density of the electrolyte increases.

High voltage when charging the battery significantly reduces the level of electrolyte, and low - does not fully charge the battery, reducing its service life. Therefore, this process should take place under optimal conditions.

The temperature surrounding the battery affects its performance. When high - increases corrosion of the electrodes. There is a decrease in battery charge (self-discharge). At low - decreases the density of the electrolyte.When not in use, the battery gradually discharges.

Using the battery in the car, you can:

• Start the engine.
• Issue current for electrical circuits when the engine is turned on, together with a generator.
• Provide low power electrical equipment with the engine off.

In cars of various types, most often, lead-acid batteries are used. The device battery is quite simple. The product consists of jars (smaller batteries) insulated from each other.

Since the voltage, which is mainly used by cars, is 12 volts, the number of cans is only six (2 volts each). All of them are interconnected in series and are in the same package.

The main elements of the battery:

• The can consists of a set of plates (electrodes), insulated with acid-resistant separators.
• Electrodes are made of lead in the form of gratings. A porous active substance is pressed into their cells. For the plus plates, it is made from lead powder, with an admixture of sulfuric acid, and for negative plates, barium sulphate is added. Plates are charging.
• The battery case is made of acid-resistant plastic. In the tank there are compartments for installing cans.
• The electrolyte is made from a mixture of: pure water and sulfuric acid. All this is poured into the banks. With it, charged particles move from the electrode to the electrode.

The batteries are connected to the electrical equipment using two leads made of lead.

Terminal "plus" is always thicker than negative. This reduces connection errors. Their location (polarity) can be either direct or reverse. Direct polarity - plus on the left, reverse - on the right.

Modern batteries are equipped with an indicator - "eye", by which you can judge the charge of the battery. If it is green, then everything is in order.

Types of batteries

The following types of batteries are on the Russian market:

Serviced batteries

Plates of serviced batteries contain antimony lead.

Pros:

• Assume the possibility of adding or replacing the electrolyte. To do this, their design provides a special fill holes.
• With timely and optimal service, can serve a long time.
• Low prices.

Minuses:

• Models are not safe to use (gases and acid).
• Require constant maintenance.

Low antimony batteries

These batteries have a lower content of antimony, so that they have reduced the evaporation of water from the acid.

Pros:

• The frequency of servicing such batteries is not as frequent as in previous products.
• Decreased self-discharge during storage.
• Resistant to surges and voltage drops in the vehicle electrical network.
• This type of battery is most preferable for use in domestic cars.
• Affordable price.

Minuses:

• Require maintenance.

Calcium (maintenance free) battery

Pros:

• They have an increased capacity and efficiency;
• Not serviced;
• Low self-discharge;
• Virtually no evaporation of water;
• Less weight.

Minuses:

• The prices of these batteries are higher than antimony products;
• Sensitive to deep discharges and surges.

Hybrid (maintenance-free) batteries

Such batteries are positive plates made with an admixture of antimony, and negative ones with the addition of calcium. Their water consumption characteristics are average between low-antimony and calcium batteries.

Pros:

• More resistant to voltage drops and discharges in the electrical circuit of the car.
• Have a low self-discharge.
• Not serviced.
• Due to the high starter current, these batteries make it easier to start at low temperatures.

Minuses:

• Prices are higher than previous batteries.

AGM (maintenance free) batteries

Such batteries are filled with a gel-like microfiber mass impregnated with a solution of sulfuric acid. Combustible gases (oxygen and hydrogen) are “caught” in the pores of the gel and reused.

Pros:

• Fireproof.
• Can work without problems at different angles of inclination.
• No liquid electrolyte.
• Very low self-discharge and extended service life.
• Not serviced.

Minuses:

• They do not like big frosts.
• Work well only in high-class cars with high-quality electrical equipment.
• High price.

GEL (maintenance free) battery

Such batteries have the same parameters and properties as AGM products, but are slightly inferior in cyclic use of gases.

Pros:

• Almost twice longer service life than the previous battery. On some models it reaches 10 years.
• Not serviced.

Minuses:

• Poor work at very low temperatures.
• High price.
• It is better to use in high-class cars in moderate weather conditions.

EFB (maintenance free) batteries

These products have increased capacity and low charging time. This is achieved by increasing the thickness of the plates, which are enclosed in a special microfiber material filled with electrolyte.

Pros:

• Possess good resistance to deep discharges.
• Can be operated from minus 50 ° C to plus 60 ° C.
• Increased starting current parameters.
• Do not require maintenance.

Minuses:

• High price.

Battery selection options

What you should first pay attention to before buying a battery:

1. It is necessary to determine the type of battery - serviced, maintenance-free, etc.

2. Battery dimensions should be commensurate with the place intended for its mounting in the car.

3. It is important to know which side of your car should be located "positive" and "negative" conclusions (terminals), that is, the polarity of the battery must be taken into account. It can be straight - “plus” is on the left. Reverse polarity - "plus" on the battery is located on the right.

4. You need to know what the nominal capacity (ampere-hour) of the battery is the energy that is given off for 20 hours when the fully charged battery is discharged. This value for passenger cars, depending on engine power, varies from 40 to 70 A / h, and for more powerful trucks it can reach 200 A / h. The permissible capacity for your car is listed in its documents.

5. It is necessary to determine the starting current (A), which the battery can give at a temperature below minus 18 ° C for 10 seconds at a voltage of 7.5 V. If this indicator is high, starting the engine in winter at low temperatures will not be difficult. For an average machine, the starting current may be around 250 Amps. Its value for your car should be specified in the instruction manual.

6. For places where it is very cold winters, you can use products with a large starting current. For cars - up to 400-500 A. And for trucks, and this will not be enough. Do not be afraid, do not sleep!

7. The main characteristics of the battery are indicated in the labeling of each battery. They are applied to her body.

8. In contrast to the choice of household appliances (refrigerators, electric meat grinders, etc.), before buying a battery, you should carefully read the operating manual for the machine where it will be used.

How much are the batteries

1. The cost of the battery will be one of the parameters determining your choice. It depends on the battery manufacturer, type, capacity, size and ease of maintenance. The price of batteries varies from 2500 to 15000 rubles and above.

2. Maintenance free batteries are more reliable and safer. Their operational parameters are significantly better than those of serviced models. But the cost of them, respectively, higher than the price of older models of batteries.

3. Here the choice will be yours. One has only to remember that the desire to save a lot often leads to a decrease in your safety and sometimes can cause irreparable harm to the "health" of your favorite car.