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Storage batteries have a limited life and need replacing when that life is over. There are several considerations to selecting the replacement battery.
- Physical size. The new battery must fit the mounting box and brackets of the vehicle. There may be situations where there is more than enough space. However, a replacement battery should never be too large to fit properly and should be fastened securely in place.
- Electrical size. There are two ways of measuring the electrical size of a storage battery.
Cold Power Rating or Cold Cranking Amps
This rating indicates the power for starting at low temperatures. It is the amperes of electricity that can be delivered at 0 degrees F. for 30 seconds while the battery voltage stays above 7.2 volts. A battery should be selected according to the engine size of the vehicle. A small four-cylinder engine requires fewer cold cranking amps than a large eight-cylinder engine.
Reserve Capacity
This new rating indicates the number of minutes that 25 amperes of electricity can be delivered at 80 degrees F. while the battery voltage is above 10.5 volts. Reserve capacity tells you how much time you will have to keep the engine running when the charging system has failed. The load of 25 amperes is similar to the battery drain from ignition, headlights, and normal accessory use. The more minutes of reserve capacity, the greater the margin of safety.
Selecting a replacement battery is not difficult. Carefully match the requirements of the vehicle to the features provided by the batteries considered. Usually it is a process of placing a value on the available features and making a decision.
There are many types of batteries depending upon the usage. For instance there are primary and secondary batteries, wet and non-wet (gel-type) types, conventional and maintenance free, and even wet-charged and dry-charged batteries. Moreover, there are many overlaps between these categories. For instance, a secondary battery can either be wet or gel-type, conventional and maintenance free.
Maintenance free batteries are constructed differently than conventional batteries. They have lead-calcium plates instead of lead-antimony plates. This reduces the amount of electrolyte loss because there is less gas production. These batteries are wet-charged and have a longer shelf life due to a low discharge rate.
A dry-charged battery is stored on the dealer’s shelf without electrolyte in it. The dealer must put electrolyte in the battery and briefly charge it before installation in the vehicle.
A wet-charged battery is stored on the shelf with electrolyte already in it. It may require charging before dealer installation. Wet-charged batteries that are stored too long without periodic charging may become permanently damaged.
Dry-charged batteries have the advantage of a longer shelf life. Wet-charged batteries are usually ready to go from the dealer’s shelf with little or no charging.
- Dry-charged batteries have the advantage of a longer shelf life. Wet-charged batteries are usually ready to go from the dealer’s shelf with little or no charging.