Choosing The Right Battery For Your Car
Like most car parts, the battery will wear out and need to be replaced at some point. It's not difficult to change a car battery, but there are some factors to take into consideration when selecting a new battery for your car. Price alone should not be the deciding factor when replacing your battery, as battery performance is increasingly important due to the development of in-car technology. Car batteries aren't just required to crank the engine; they now also have to power onboard computers, high-powered speakers, heated seats and the devices you plug into your car's 12v socket to charge. Here are some tips to keep in mind when selecting a new car battery.
Check The Age
When buying a new battery, you probably don't give much thought to when it was manufactured, but battery performance can actually decrease if a battery is left on the shelf for too long. A new battery will perform best when it was manufactured no longer than a few months before you purchase it. You can check the date of manufacture by looking at the alphanumeric code on the side of the battery. The first character represents the month and will be a letter from A to L. The second character represents the year and will be a number from 0 to 9. For example, the code C9 would mean the battery was manufactured in March 2019, while the code D0 would mean the manufacture date was April 2020.
Check The Reserve Capacity
A battery's reserve capacity is the amount of time it can deliver the minimum voltage required to keep your car running if the fan belt or alternator fails. A high-reserve capacity rating means your car can run on its battery alone until you get it to a garage, which would prevent you from becoming stranded during a journey. Your car's operating manual will list a recommended reserve capacity rating, and you can check the battery label for the reserve capacity, which is listed in minutes.
Check The Cold -Cranking Amp Rating
The cold-cranking amp rating indicates how well your battery will perform when starting your car during freezing temperatures. Cold conditions cause engine oil to thicken, which can make starting your car more difficult, so opt for a battery with a high cold-cranking amp rating to prevent being late for work on cold winter mornings. The cold-cranking amp rating is displayed on a car battery as a number ranging from 350 to 800.
If you're not sure of the best battery for your car, consult with a reputable car parts provider. They can make recommendations based on the model of your car and your driving habits.
To learn more about new car batteries, contact a supplier near you.
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