A car battery is an essential component of the car, without which the car will refuse to budge. If you are planning to buy a new car battery, or are planning to replace one, read on for more information about the same.
Katrina dropped me home after a party one night, and while she was about to take off with the car, it almost refused to start. We didn’t know what was wrong with the car. But soon we discovered that the car battery had drained out, Katrina forgot to put off the lights in the car while we were enjoying at the party. Whoa! We were in such a fix! But one thing was for sure, we needed to replace the battery, and to do so, we needed to know all about buying the car battery before we replaced it. And if you are facing the same problem, here is more on that aspect.
Factors to be Considered While Buying a Car Battery
There are certain things you ought to consider while buying the best car battery, since it is referred to as the heart of your car; one of the most important organs of the car, to keep it functioning efficiently.
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
CCA is the ability of the battery to start your car in cold conditions. In short, it determines how powerful your battery is. The battery you consider to buy should have a high CCA rating, as this ensures more power. The rating is defined as the current a lead-acid battery can deliver for 30 seconds, and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell at a certain temperature. This will also help your car start when the engine is chilled or sluggish. The CCA rating can be checked on the owner’s manual.
Reserve Capacity Minutes (RCM)
RCM refers to the battery’s sustainability as regards to a certain electrical load. To be specific, a battery runs at 25 amperes, and if voltage falls below 10 amperes, the battery has to resort to RC (reserve capacity). Therefore, always go in for a car battery with the longest reserve capacity possible. You never know, you might need it in emergency situations.
Ampere Hours
Ampere hour indicates the capacity of the battery to store charge and deliver the same at its rated voltage. This rating is normally not stated, but is very important while buying a car battery.
Group Size
Group size of the battery specifies the dimensions of the car battery. Now, every “car make” has different group sizes with regards to the car. It is important to choose the right size recommended by the car manufacturer. If you are not sure of the group size of your car, check for it in the car manual or ask the mechanic the next time you get your car tuned up.
Where to Buy a Car Battery
Buying a cheap car battery would lead you to change your car battery several times. Buy a car battery from a trusted dealer. Check your car manual before go in for a car battery, since it has to match with your car specifications. Ensure that you buy a maintenance free and sealed battery. Never buy a car battery that has been lying in the store shelf for more than six months. Check the warranty period before you buy the car battery. Do consider the above factors mentioned. Some good car battery manufacturers to be considered are given below:
- Concorde
- Exide
- Giant Battery Company
- Johnson Controls Inc.
- Optima
- Yuasa
- WestCo
- Duralast Gold
- Everstart
- Kirkland Signature
This article will definitely equip you on how to buy a car battery, the next time you think of replacing one. If you are planning to replace the battery all by yourself, look for the one that has a handle, making it easier to lift and install.