Car Battery

It is not easy to evaluate the performance of a car battery before you buy it. However, there are details that you need to be careful to choose.

If your car starts, it is thanks to it. Indeed, the role of battery is to store the energy produced by the generator and then return it in time to power some lights (less greedy power and more sensitive to voltage spikes), and especially for start the engine at startup. It must therefore be capable of transmitting in a very short time high currents. The battery is all the more important, it is no longer content to start the car and run the radio and wipers, now also manages the ABS (antilock braking system), GPS (satellite navigation) and other functions more and more numerous.

In stores, twenty brands share the market (Varta, Bosch, Fulmen, Tudor, etc.), But there is actually behind these names three or four manufacturers. Private labels produced in the same factories, gained the esteem of motorists because they are good quality and cheaper than their competitors.

Attention to storage

Not easy to get an idea of the battery performance before you buy it. Check especially the capacity (expressed in amperes/hour) and the starting current (amps). Over the first, the higher you will have time to start a reluctant engine, while the second is the "force" which will be launched with the engine. Also have in mind that the battery is a product that is used even when not in use. Consequence: copies present in the stores are never totally new. They were transported and kept in conditions more or less good. It is unfortunate that the buyer is not aware of these elements! In order to maintain their ability and power, the batteries should preferably be stored away from moisture and mainly heat because it accelerates chemical processes. So Flee former appearance models, covered with dust or leaking. Ideally, fold up those equipped with a load indicator. This prevents to acquire too old product. And do not let yourself be tempted by special operations organized on sunny parking! At the time of purchase, think about the weight of battery: these machines are heavy. With a handle, it will be more portable (if this is not the case, a detachable strap will make it easier).

In case of failure...

In use, a battery requires no further maintenance. Just install it and then remove it when it is ruined. In case of failure, there is a good chance to be empty. If you forgot to turn off the lights for several hours or if your car has been long without work, shake it and wait a few minutes. This may be sufficient to regenerate the electrochemical process. If this is not the case, you have to push the car to connect to a specific charger or use tweezers connected to another battery. Slow charging is always preferable. If nothing happens, and your battery date 4 or 5 years, it is likely you will change it. You can do it alone, provided a little handyman.

Careful to buy a battery of equivalent or superior starting current and capacity, mechanically compatible (dimensions and terminals), and disconnect the old battery starting with the negative terminal. Connecting the new battery will be first by the positive terminal. The old battery will in no case be discarded in any trash or worse, abandoned in nature: its components are toxic and polluting, the consumer 's obligation is, as from 1 July 1998 to bring his battery out of use an approved center or distributor.