How long does a car battery last?

How long does a car battery last? Home » Batteries »

Modern car batteries, on average, serve well for several years, but if they are treated carelessly and without proper maintenance, they can fail ahead of time. In this article we will talk about how to extend the life of a car battery, how many years a battery can last ( battery) if you treat it with care.

Types of batteries

The battery in a car is necessary to store electricity when starting an internal combustion engine (ICE); if the storage device does not have the required power, the engine will not start, which will make life much more difficult for the car owner.

There are a lot of different batteries on the Russian market - the batteries differ:

by dimensions;
brand and model;
type;
method of fastening;
polarity;
body material.

There are also serviceable and maintenance-free batteries; each type of battery has its own advantages and disadvantages. Based on the manufacturing materials, modern batteries come in two main types - lead-acid and gel, but the latter are not yet widely used, as they quickly fail if the on-board electrical equipment is faulty.

The battery can have a different casing - plastic or hard rubber; plastic has recently been used almost everywhere. Batteries with an ebonite casing are the easiest to maintain and even repair, but they are becoming less and less common on sale, as they have their own disadvantages:

ebonite is easily damaged by impacts and other mechanical influences (for example, compression);
ebonite batteries are quite expensive.

Rechargeable batteries come in different capacities, and the larger the capacity, the larger they are in size. When choosing a battery, you need to focus on the number of electricity consumers in the car - a battery with insufficient capacity will fail faster.

Average battery life

It is difficult to accurately answer the question of how long a battery should last; the battery life depends on many factors:

manufacturer (product brand);
operating conditions;
battery care;
region.

It is believed that the average battery life is from three to five years, but there is data when a battery (for example, from Bosch) could last for almost a decade. If there are problems with electrical equipment and the battery is not taken care of, it can be damaged even in the second year of operation. The battery becomes unusable ahead of time:

when distilled water boils out of jars. The battery may boil during recharging: when too much current is supplied by the charger, in the event of a malfunction of the relay regulator, if it does not limit the upper voltage limit;
under constant overloads, for example, the engine is often started in cold weather with thick motor oil that does not correspond to the season;
in case of faulty electrical equipment or wiring. If there is a current leak in the electrical circuit, the battery will discharge while the car is parked. Leakage also occurs if the battery case is oily and dirty - the dirt becomes a conductor and the battery is discharged.

How to extend battery life

In order for the battery to last as long as possible, you must follow a few simple rules:

During the winter period, the battery should not be allowed to be severely discharged. In the cold season, the load on the battery increases, and with weak charging, sulfation of the lead plates in the banks occurs (destruction). If, when starting a cold engine, the starter turns poorly, it is better not to force the battery, but to recharge it;
it is necessary to carry out regular maintenance of the battery - clean its case from dirt, keep the terminals clean, if the battery is serviceable, check the electrolyte level in the jars, add distilled water if necessary;
You need to make sure that the battery is securely fastened. If the battery dangles while the car is moving, vibration occurs, which will lead to shedding of the lead plates;
It is necessary to monitor the condition of the vehicle's electrical equipment - self-discharge leads to premature aging of the battery.

You can also extend the battery life by regularly charging it. In summer, it is recommended to charge the battery once every 4-5 months, and one recharge is enough for almost the entire spring-summer period. In winter, the battery capacity should be restored more often - once every 2 months.

How to properly charge the battery

The battery is charged using a special device; stores sell “chargers” of different types and power. There are regular and charging-starting chargers (chargers), the latter are capable of not only restoring the battery capacity, but also cranking the engine to start if the battery is dead.

The charger is powered by an ordinary household voltage of 220 Volts; it usually takes from 4 to 10 hours to restore the battery’s functionality. The more powerful the battery, the longer it needs to be charged; the duration of the procedure also depends on the current supplied to the battery terminals.

But too much current cannot be supplied; it should not exceed one tenth of the total battery capacity.

For example, if the battery has a capacity of 65 Amp-hours, then the charging current cannot be more than 6.5 A.

One more rule should be followed - to charge a heavily discharged battery, a small current is first supplied, thereby restoring the density in the banks, then the current is increased.

Gel batteries

Unlike conventional lead-acid batteries, gel batteries have a longer service life, increased capacity, and charge several times faster. Other advantages of such batteries:

they require virtually no maintenance;
able to work in any position (can be turned over);
allow deep discharge without consequences;
withstand high starting current.

But all the advantages cancel out the serious disadvantages, due to which gel batteries are not very popular among motorists, the disadvantages include:

high cost of batteries;
critical attitude towards cold;
intolerance to overcharging - with increased voltage, distilled water boils away, and the battery quickly fails.

Gel batteries are convenient to use in the southern regions of Russia; in cold winter conditions it is better not to purchase them if the car owner uses the car all year round.

Features of using a battery in winter

To prevent the battery from failing prematurely, it is important to follow the rules for operating and storing the battery in winter:

If the starter turns poorly during a cold start, you need to let the battery “rest” - you should not allow it to completely discharge. To restore the functionality of the battery, it must be removed from the car and taken to a warm place to warm it up;
in cold winter conditions, it will not be superfluous to install a pre-start heater on the car; it will ensure uninterrupted engine starting and protect the battery from premature destruction of the plates in the banks;
it is necessary to fill the engine with winter oil with a low pour point;
if the car is in a garage for long-term storage, it is recommended to take the battery to a warm room, and in any case, the terminals should be disconnected if the battery remains on the car;
Before starting the engine, you need to check the tension of the alternator belt. If the tension is weak, the battery will not charge to the required extent;
When warming up the engine in winter in cold weather, you should not immediately load the electrical network - turn on the headlights, windshield wipers, etc., you need to wait until the coolant warms up to operating temperature.

Accordingly, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness; dirt on the battery contributes to current leakage and battery discharge.

Serviceable batteries

You can extend the life of your battery by maintaining its working condition:

regularly checking the electrolyte density;
adding distilled water;
recharging using a charger.

The density is checked using an ariometer; a normal value for winter is considered to be in the range of 1.28-1.29 g/cm²; in summer, the density should be in the range of 1.25-1.27 g/cm².

The electrolyte in the jars should cover the plates 5-7 mm above their upper edge, and if the solution is small, distilled water should be added.

You cannot add electrolyte to the jars - this can ruin the battery.

Source: https://avtobrands.ru/skolko-sluzhit-avtomobilnyj-akkumulyator/

How long does a car battery last?

All drivers know that starting the engine always starts with the battery. This element stores a small supply of energy, which is needed to spin the starter. The generator then takes on the further load.

Most batteries have a relatively short service life of 3 to 5 years. However, there are also those specimens that can withstand quite an impressive time - 10 years.

Today you will learn what determines the service life of a car battery.

Before we get to the main topic, it should be noted that today we will talk about ordinary acid batteries . In addition, the battery life is influenced by a large number of external factors:

Temperature
Quality of the charging system
Battery design
Mounting method
Operation in city mode
Leakage currents

How to recognize a good battery

In fact, it’s not difficult to find exactly the one you need among a large number of batteries:

There are batteries that successfully start the engine for 7 years. You can recognize them by their well-known brand, as well as a long warranty, which is usually limited to 4 years. In most cases, they are maintenance-free and, if used correctly, can be used longer than expected.
A bad battery will serve its owner for no more than 3 years. This can be guessed by the very short warranty period - from 6 months to 1 year.
Price is not always a guarantee of good quality, but if you pay attention to a well-known brand, then rest assured that a good battery is quite expensive. Consider this when choosing and purchasing.

Use temperature

Most drivers believe that the most dangerous period is winter. In fact, this is true. While the car is parked at night, the temperature of the electrolyte drops below zero, which means it will not be able to hold a good charge. After complete warming up, it reaches operating temperature and returns to normal operation.

Short trips can negatively affect the life of the energy source, since the charge does not have time to accumulate . As a result, such a battery can quickly fail.

During summer operation, such problems, as a rule, do not arise, since the temperature under the hood always remains above zero, which means that the charge can retain its strength for a long time even during long-term parking.

Battery design

This word refers to its execution - serviced or unserviced. When choosing the first one, you need to take into account that it requires constant monitoring of the electrolyte density.

This means that sometimes you will have to add distilled water.

Despite this, with the right approach, many manage to “revive” even a “dead” battery, which means there is a chance to correct their mistakes during operation.

Maintenance-free batteries have a closed design so that owners do not violate the factory density of the electrolyte . It is correctly designed for both winter and summer. The main advantage of such a battery is that it does not require any control and benefits from long-term use.

Energy replenishment system

This is a very important part of electrical equipment, which takes on the main load and is responsible for recharging the battery while the engine is running. Consists of a generator and a relay-voltage regulator.

If the electric machine operates correctly, the battery life will be nominal, but if there is no charging, then after 2 very strong discharges you can safely get rid of such a battery, as sulfation of the plates will occur.

Current leakage

Devices such as alarms or radios can consume battery power. If they are connected incorrectly, then be sure that after a week, or even a couple of days of parking, the charge will completely drop to zero, which will undoubtedly affect the overall service life.

Mounting method

This is another one of the most important factors in the long-term operation of the battery. An incorrectly installed battery can cause a short circuit to the housing during sudden maneuvers on the road. The fact is that when turning, the battery can tilt and touch the hood with the positive terminal . In addition, the fasteners can break completely and the terminals can fly off.

Trips around the city

You don’t need to pay special attention to this point, although it’s worth reading. City trips very quickly shorten the life of the battery. Everything is very simple. Short trips mean frequent engine starts, which means the battery does not have time to receive the required charge of energy. Thus, it discharges before it has time to charge, which affects its service life.

By following these simple recommendations, you can easily and simply extend the life of your battery. Otherwise, get ready for large financial costs. We wish you good luck on the roads!

Look! We have prepared a video for you on the topic:

Source: https://365drive.ru/avtolikbez/srok-sluzhby-akkumulyatora-avtomobilya.html

Car battery life according to GOST and in reality

The operation of rechargeable batteries in cars and their service life are determined by the manufacturer’s internal rules and GOST.

For a personal vehicle, a battery will only perform as well as its maintenance.

What is the lifespan of a car battery? Modern batteries on average operate in passenger cars for approximately 5 years, but proper operation can increase this period.

Negative factors that reduce battery life

If you suddenly discover that the battery is discharged, you need to find out the reason so that it can be repaired or replaced. Read more about when to change your car battery →

The reasons for battery discharge include many factors:

The driving habits of the vehicle owner , idle time in traffic jams, short distances with frequent engine starts, during which the device does not fully replenish the charge, is often in a discharged state.
If the leakage current exceeds the norm , the battery will be discharged even while the car is parked.
A faulty on-board vehicle network affects the lack of charge from the generator.
A short circuit , like the death sentence of a battery, can occur due to a break in the separator. The short circuit occurs due to the crumbling coating of the plates on the bottom of the housing due to vibration.
Corrosion processes damaging plates and connecting bridges.
Deep discharge , activating the process of sulfation of the plates.
Overcharging of the battery when high voltage is applied to the battery terminals.
Incorrect mounting of the unit . If it is twisted weakly when turning, the battery may fly out, which will short-circuit the terminal, or may break it.
Extreme temperature operating conditions.

Due to the fact that the battery often does not receive the necessary charge, sulfation occurs in it. This has the effect of reducing the capacity and shortening the battery life. Lead-acid batteries are susceptible to the process, on the plates of which lead sulfate is released when they fail or are chronically undercharged. To avoid problems, you need to know the battery charge standards.

By the way, outdated alkaline batteries lasted much longer.

How to extend the life of the battery yourself?

To extend the service life of the battery, it is necessary to study the operating rules and average service life in accordance with GOST. The battery is monitored regularly, especially the voltage at the terminals (at positive temperatures - 12.5 V). If the voltage reading is insufficient, it must be charged.

The battery charging procedure is performed in several steps:

Remove the device from the car and clean it of dirt.
Inspect the condition of the terminals , and if there is oxidation, clean them with sandpaper.
Unscrew the plugs.
Check electrolyte level . If the level is low, add distilled water.
The charger is connected with the plugs open and plugged into the network for charging.

Charging is carried out with a low current of up to 2 A for 14 hours, and upon completion it is necessary to check the density of the electrolyte with a hydrometer. If the density is low, make adjustments. When reassembling the battery, it is installed and attached to the car. The battery is periodically cleaned during operation, the case is inspected for damage, and the terminals are cleaned.

Real battery operating time

According to GOST, the service life of an antimony car battery is 2 years (with a mileage of no more than 90,000 km), a maintenance-free battery is 4 years (with a mileage of no more than 100,000 km).

The actual service life of a car battery depends on a number of factors:

seasonality of operation;
what mileage has been made by the car;
the presence of built-in electronics, the correctness of its connection;
stable functioning of automotive voltage regulators and generators;
priority operating temperature mode;
quality of battery service.

By taking these factors into account, you can properly extend the battery life.

The batteries of vehicles with intensive use (taxi, special vehicles, company cars, etc.) are susceptible to faster failure. The electrodes in them wear out in proportion to the vehicle's mileage, and additional electronics add load.

The lifespan of batteries on such cars does not exceed 1.5 years instead of the 4 years indicated by the manufacturer.

With proper care of the battery of a personal car, replacement is carried out no more than once every 4 years, and with normal driving - much less often.

The prolongation of the operation of the unit is facilitated by its quality, in particular, products from well-known brands, correctly selected for a specific make and model of car, last longer.

Recommendations from experts and experienced drivers

You can take advantage of many useful tips from experts and experienced car owners that can significantly increase the performance of your car battery.

Here are the most popular recommendations that are used in practice by many drivers:

do not allow the battery to be used in a discharged state under any circumstances;
fully depress the clutch so that starting the engine is easy;
when the engine does not start the first time, perform a subsequent start after 1 minute ;
When cleaning the battery, check the ventilation holes for dirt ;
Before parking the car, you should turn off all power consumers ;
periodically charge the battery with special devices;
check the on-board network with periodic voltage measurements at the battery terminals with the engine running;
adjust engine operation and ignition;
monitor the density and level of the electrolyte , and correct the condition if necessary.

If the car is idle for a long time, it is advisable to disconnect the terminals. But the best option would be to remove it, charge it and store it separately in a convenient place.

It should be noted that if used incorrectly, the best, high-quality battery, regardless of its specified service life, can become unusable within a few months of use. For long, productive work, it is advisable to take into account the factors influencing rapid wear and recommendations of specialists. The correct choice of product when purchasing is also important.

The ideal battery for a car is selected not on the basis of an expensive, powerful and reliable unit, but the one most suitable for your car. A competent choice of batteries involves taking into account such indicators as the diameter and polarity of the terminals, dimensions.

The technical passport of the vehicle indicates all the parameters and loads of the starter when starting the engine. A smart choice would be to purchase a device that meets the vehicle manufacturer's specifications and recommendations.

Recommendations from technical service specialists and companies selling products of this type will not be superfluous.

Source: https://batteryk.com/srok-sluzhby-akkumulyatora-avtomobilya

How long should a car battery last?

Many car owners know that batteries can last from 3 to 12 years. The reason for such a big difference is not only in the quality of the batteries, the serviceability of the generator and the relay regulator on the car, but in something else. This is discussed further.

The most common today are traditional low-antimony starter batteries, calcium and hybrid batteries. We'll mainly talk about them.

There are also gel, alkaline and lithium-ion batteries They are used less often in cars; we will not focus on them.

Before you begin to identify the reasons that affect the battery life, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the parameters set by the manufacturer.

One of the main documents available on this matter is:

GOST R 53165-2008

Rechargeable lead starter batteries for automotive vehicles. General technical conditions

This document contains the following information:

Service life, subject to operating conditions, is up to 100 thousand km (or 3000 operating hours).

In charge acceptance tests, the charging voltage at different temperatures is different.

At a temperature of about 0°C, the voltage is (14.4 ± 0.1) V.

At temperatures up to 60°C, voltage is (14.0 ± 0.1) V.

The fact that at different temperatures the charging voltage should be different is also stated in other sources.

For example, in the magazine “Behind the Wheel No. 5 1996” There is an article where the author A. Adamchuk says that a deviation of the charging voltage from the nominal value by only 10% accelerates battery failure by 2-2.5 times. The optimal voltage at +25°C is 13.8 V and at -25°C it is already 15.8 V. Unregulated relay regulators maintain it in the range from 13.8 V to 14.1 V.

The fact that this problem has been known for a long time is also evidenced by the fact that even in the USSR relay regulators with a “summer-winter” switch were produced.

For example, in the Y120-M1 relay-regulator, the “P” terminal is used for this purpose, to which the switch was connected and thus the resistance of the divider and, accordingly, the voltage at the output of the relay-regulator changed.

The voltage relay regulator YA212A11E provides correction and the temperature coefficient of voltage ranges from -0.005 to – 0.008 V/oC.

The same article by A. Adamchuk shows a graph of the dependence of charging voltage on temperature.

Other sources also show the dependence of charge voltage on temperature for potassium Ca/Ca, hybrid Ca+ and low-antimony Sb batteries.

As you can see, for all these types of batteries, the charging voltage should change depending on the temperature, and the law of change is nonlinear.

There are commercially available relay regulators for three voltage levels, for example, these:

I have verified this information in practice and am convinced that it is correct. On cars where the battery life is three to four years (VAZ, Lanos, SENS), the charging voltage does not depend on temperature and, with proper electrical equipment, ranges from 13.8 V to 14.4 V.

In cars where batteries last a long time, the voltage depends on temperature. Here are examples:

The LOGAN MCV car (all equipment is Renault), the battery is already 10 years old, works properly.

The voltage at +15°C is 14 V.

On the same car at -1°C, the charging voltage is 14.43V.

The next example is the Mitsubishi Lancer car.

The voltage at -18°C is 14.82 V.

At the same temperature, after warming up the engine and increasing the temperature in the engine compartment, the voltage is already 14.6 V.

Use a digital voltmeter to measure the voltage at your car's battery terminals in summer and winter. This will be useful information; it is not in the car manual.

Conclusions:

The operating conditions of the battery in the car should be as close as possible to the requirements of the manufacturer of the specific type of battery.
When a car is released, developers adapt the generator, relay regulator and loads to the car's battery. When replacing a battery, it is important to take this into account and purchase a battery with similar parameters.
If your car is not new and the relay regulator does not change the voltage depending on the temperature, select the relay regulator according to the operating voltage for summer and winter. In summer, set the relay regulator to 13.8 V, in winter to 14.5 V. These values are within the range of parameters of one type of relay regulator. How to simply check the response voltage is shown here. If it is not possible to select the response voltage, you can increase it for winter by connecting a silicon diode in the forward direction in series with the measuring circuit of the relay-regulator. This will increase the voltage by about 0.7V.
For short car runs and low relay-regulator voltage, especially in winter, recharge the battery from a charger to compensate for undercharging on the car. In a discharged battery in winter, the electrolyte may freeze and its case will burst.

The article material is duplicated on video:

Source: http://radiomasterinfo.org.ua/skolko-dolzhen-sluzhit-avtomobilnyj-akkumulyator/

How to determine and increase the potential of a battery: everything about the service life of a car battery

Home » Battery » How to determine and increase the potential of a battery: everything about the service life of a car battery

The service life of a battery is influenced by various factors and any motorist should be aware of them. As a rule, the average car battery lasts at least three and a half years. But this figure can be reduced if the basic conditions of use are not met and if the device is not constantly in a discharged state.

Automotive equipment that consumes a significant amount of energy includes:

car acoustics, be it a regular radio or multimedia center, as well as other electronic gadgets that operate constantly with the engine running or turned off;
anti-theft systems, as well as various mechanisms designed to ensure driver safety;
air conditioner or stove;
on-board computer.

Structural elements of the device

In many ways, these components determine the life of the battery, since they are powered by the battery, in some cases even when the car is in a garage or parked.

It should also be noted that if non-working devices or equipment are connected to the power supply, this will lead to the battery being regularly discharged.

As practice shows, many of our compatriots do not care about the service life of batteries until they are faced with the problem of being unable to start the engine. And this, in turn, is often associated precisely with the fact that the car battery is discharged.

An important factor that determines the service life of a car battery is weather conditions. If negative temperatures prevail in your region throughout the year, the performance of the battery will be reduced.

This is because, due to frost, the electrolytic solution in the battery banks becomes more viscous, and accordingly, this leads to an increase in charge resistance.

Moreover, if the car is constantly used in frosty conditions, this will also lead to the battery life being reduced, and the year of manufacture does not matter (the author of the video on eliminating short circuits in banks is Vadim Balzanov).

What factors lead to a decrease in service life:

using a car in conditions of temperature changes - freezing of the working solution, as well as its periodic defrosting, will not lead to anything good;
deformation of the battery case - if there is damage or cracks on it, this will cause leakage of the electrolyte solution;
a decrease in capacity values, which may also be associated with improper operation;
constant recharging of the battery;
high self-discharge, as a result of which the battery cannot independently recharge to the required level when the car is parked;
the appearance of corrosion on the internal components of the device;
Another factor affecting wear is high moisture evaporation.

As you know, in any on-board network the main element is the generator device, so this unit also affects the battery life. For example, if the regulator relay fails, this can lead to power surges.

Accordingly, the battery design will overheat the cans, and this, in turn, will cause the working fluid to boil away from them. As you understand, this will not turn out to be anything good for the device.

In addition, if its charge is too low and the car is used with the battery in this condition, the plates of the device will begin to sulfate (the author of the video about restoring and preparing a car battery for winter is the Fisherman’s Diary channel).

Another factor that affects wear is vibration - with regular vibrations, the battery life is much shorter.

This is because as a result of vibrations in the design of the device, the coating of the plates is destroyed, and for the same reason, damage to the case, in particular cracks, can occur.

Vibrations can also lead to sulfation of the plates, the formation of a short circuit in the device, as well as overvoltage in the vehicle’s electrical network.

And the last factor that contributes to battery failure is driving style. If you drive your car only within city limits, taking into account constant stops and short distance travel, then the service life will be less than when compared with a car driven on the highway.

Due to frequent engine starts, a faster discharge occurs, and if trips do not take enough time, the device will simply not be able to fully replenish its charge.

This problem is especially acute during cold weather, since in addition to standard electrical equipment, there is also a stove, as well as optics, which further contribute to the discharge.

Photo gallery “Causes of battery failure”

1. Oxidation on the terminals and battery body2. Cracks in car battery housing3. Cloudy electrolyte

Guaranteed, adjustable and true battery life

So how long does a car battery last? The warranty period is assigned by the manufacturer not from the moment of manufacture, but from the moment of start of operation.

As a rule, the average service life, depending on the manufacturer, can range from 1 to 3 years, in some cases this figure is 5 years.

But you need to take into account that the warranty is not the actual service life - the device can work out the entire period starting from the production date, or it can fail much earlier.

It should also be noted that when setting the service life, the manufacturer does not take into account the following nuances:

Characteristics of batteries provided by the vehicle manufacturer. And they may differ.
Vehicle mileage. If a driver uses a personal car, he can travel about 10-20 thousand km per year, and if the car is used in a taxi, then its mileage can be up to 100 thousand km per year.
Conditions of use and battery maintenance. If the consumer makes mistakes in using the battery, then the service life, of course, will be lower (the author of the video about the process of restoring the functionality of a completely “dead” battery is the transistor815 channel).

How can you extend the battery life?

In order for the battery to last longer, you must follow several rules:

You cannot operate a car with a discharged battery. If it’s frosty outside and the car is being used around the city, then before turning off the engine and leaving the car in the garage or parking lot, you need to perform several steps. Firstly, turn off all energy consumers, including the stove and optics; the acoustics can be left operating at minimum volume. Secondly, the engine should be allowed to run for 2-5 minutes, or better yet, driven with the electrical equipment turned off.
It is necessary to periodically recharge the battery, it is advisable to do this at least once a year, preferably before the onset of cold weather.
If you leave your car in a parking lot or garage, always make sure that energy consumers are turned off - optics, radio, all kinds of gadgets. Depending on the device, the device may sometimes consume power even when the ignition is turned off. If you do not plan to use the car in the next week, then it would be better to disconnect the negative terminal from the battery.
Check the performance of the battery 2 times a year, that is, carry out scheduled maintenance. Check the quality of fixation of the device at the installation site, measure the level of the electrolytic solution in the jars - all jars, regardless of their quantity, must be filled with liquid. If you know how to use a multimeter, then also check the battery charge; if necessary, charge the battery.
If you have a car with a manual transmission, then it is desirable that starting the engine is easier. To do this, when starting the power unit, depress the clutch pedal. If we are talking about the cold season, then before starting the engine the battery should be warmed up; to do this, turn on the high beams for 10 seconds before starting the engine. Thanks to this, the electrolyte particles will be able to accelerate, which will make it easier to start the power unit.
Do not discharge the battery while starting the engine. If you turn the starter, but the engine does not start, then stop for a while (about a minute), in this case it is important that the starter does not turn for more than 15 seconds. If after several attempts you are unable to start the engine, then it is better to remove the battery and charge it.

Video “How to check the battery charge with a multimeter yourself?”

Diagnostics of the battery charge is part of the maintenance - how to properly check the device using a tester, see the video below (author - VAZ 2101-2107 REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE channel).

Loading...Do you still have questions? Specialists and readers of the AVTOKLEMA website will help you ask a question

Source: https://avtoklema.com/akkymylyator/srok-sluzhby-akkumuljatora-avtomobilja-690/

Battery lifespan – Pb trade

Every motorist is concerned about the life of the car battery. Not only the trouble-free starting of the car at any time of the year depends on this, but also the safety of the budget, because buying a new battery is quite expensive. Typically the battery lasts for 4-5 years. This period can be reduced, or it can be increased - it all depends on many factors during operation.

Differences in operation of different batteries

There are various types of batteries, they differ in the material of the electrodes and electrolyte. The most common vehicle starting devices are lead batteries.

They are characterized by high energy intensity and the maximum ability to deliver high current in a short time. Of course, such batteries have a big drawback - the toxicity of the case and contents.

Such devices are disposed of at specialized enterprises.

Nowadays, pure lead is not used as electrodes, but is diluted with impurities, so batteries are divided into types:

classic (antimony);
low antimony;
calcium;
hybrid.

In antimony batteries, the volume of antimony in the electrodes is at the level of 5%. This ensures good strength characteristics of the plates.

At the same time, the rate of electrolysis and evaporation increases, so such batteries require frequent maintenance, otherwise the service life of the battery is significantly reduced. Checking the density of the liquid and topping up must be carried out at least once a month.

Basically, such devices are installed on old cars, so the battery life of a domestic car is often very short.

In low-antimony batteries, the boiling process is slower, and they also have a reduced level of self-discharge in storage mode. There is information that low-antimony batteries are maintenance-free or low maintenance.

But this is not true, because the liquid still boils away, just at a slower rate; batteries require monitoring the liquid level and adding water.

At the same time, the life of the battery is practically not affected by the quality of the car’s electrical equipment, and even with voltage drops, rapid wear does not occur, as is the case with devices with other fillers.

Wanting to reduce the rate of liquid boiling, manufacturers began to add calcium instead of antimony to the electrodes. Such batteries are characterized by increased energy intensity and efficiency. And they are the ones who are unattended.

At the same time, overcharging and long-term storage are not harmful to them - all this does not in any way affect the life of the car battery. But there are also several disadvantages: it is enough to strongly discharge the battery 4-5 times, and its energy intensity level is significantly reduced.

And, importantly, this cannot be fixed; the only solution is to replace the battery.

Considering the cost of calcium batteries, they are recommended to be installed on foreign cars whose cost is mid-range or higher. In such machines, electrical equipment operates without failure, so the likelihood of a discharge is minimal.

Of course, devices are more sensitive to improper operating conditions, but the battery life is quite long. Such batteries are marked “Ca/Ca”, this indicates that there is calcium in the plates of both poles.

If you see the “Ca+” marking, it is a hybrid battery. In such devices, electrodes of two types are adjacent - low-antimony and calcium, which makes it possible to collect their positive properties in one battery.

At the same time, the rate of boiling off of the electrolyte is two times lower compared to low-antimony batteries, and the resistance to critical discharges and overcharges is higher.

Such a battery “lives” less than a calcium battery, but longer than a low-antimony battery.

In addition to the electrode material, batteries differ in the type of substance used as an electrolyte. The following types of battery devices are distinguished:

alkaline;
acidic;
gel and AGM.

Acid batteries are the most common for use in starter mode in passenger cars. In alkaline, as the name suggests, the electrolyte is alkali. Their feature is the absence of the process of boiling off the liquid.

Such devices tolerate overcharges well (it is believed that it is better to overcharge them than to undercharge them) and are stored for a long time without deterioration in performance. Alkaline batteries function well at low temperatures, so in winter there will be no problems starting the car.

If the housing is damaged, no harmful fumes are released.

The service life according to GOST is at least 750 cycles. This is a high figure. The price of alkaline batteries is higher than that of acid batteries. The dimensions of these batteries are above average, so they are mainly installed on trucks for operation in traction mode.

In gel batteries, the electrolyte, as the name suggests, is a gel.

It is denser and less fluid than acid or alkali, so it does not leak out when damaged, and the active substance does not fall off the electrodes due to the compacted environment.

It is precisely due to the jelly-like content that such batteries are not afraid of vibrations and shocks. Sometimes sellers indicate that such batteries can be used even upside down, but this is still nothing more than a marketing ploy.

The service life of a maintenance-free battery with a gel filler is quite long and is about 10 years. Such devices have a very low self-discharge rate during storage.

They provide the same level of charge until completely discharged. Moreover, even several overdischarges are not dangerous - after charging, the battery completely restores its nominal capacity.

The disadvantages include unstable operation at low temperatures - this is explained by the lower conductivity of the gel.

What determines the service life of the battery?

To say how long the service life of a car battery is, it is necessary to take into account not only the type of battery itself, but also the operating conditions. The period of use of a maintenance-free battery is usually longer than that of a serviced one. If you do not add electrolyte to a low-antimony or antimony device in time, the battery will not last even a year. It is impossible to restore it.

Temperature conditions also affect battery life. Moreover, not only in winter, but also in summer, extreme temperatures can shorten the life of the device.

In winter, the battery begins to charge normally only when it is heated to above-zero temperatures, so the correct habit is to “warm up the engine.”

And in the summer it can be +60 degrees under the hood, sulfation of the electrodes occurs at an accelerated rate, and the car may simply not start due to sagging battery capacity. As a preventive measure, you can desulfate the battery every 2-3 years, this will extend the life of the car battery.

The normal process of charging the battery, and accordingly its long life, is ensured by the proper operation of the generator and generator relay.

If the generator malfunctions, the battery begins to discharge more strongly, this is fraught with overdischarges, which can simply “kill” the battery. The generator relay protects the battery from overcharging.

If all systems are operating normally, the average life of an acid or alkaline battery will be 5-7 years.

If the car is used mainly in the city, the batteries last less.

Because in city driving the engine is often started, and the trips are short, the battery does not have time to fully charge, the undercharge accumulates, and the voltage drops to critical.

It is worth noting that during long trips around the city or standing in traffic jams with the engine running, the battery still manages to get a full charge.

In addition to the above, how long a car battery lasts is also affected by the battery mount. During sudden maneuvers, the battery can fly out of its seat, and a poorly secured terminal often shorts out against the body. Remember that the battery must be securely seated in the socket.

How to extend battery life

There are several recommendations, the implementation of which depends on how long the car battery lasts. First of all, it is not recommended to use a dead or discharged battery. In winter, it is advisable to let the engine run for 10-15 minutes after starting, so that the battery begins to take charge in normal mode.

If the vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission, press the clutch pedal when starting the vehicle. If the car does not start, you should not “force” the starter, 4 approaches of 4-5 seconds are enough - this indicates a malfunction of any element in the engine starting system.

Cranking the starter for a long time wastes too much energy.

If in the cold winter you turn on the headlights for 20-30 seconds before starting the engine, this will provoke a chemical reaction in the battery, after which it will warm up faster. Do not forget to regularly inspect the battery case, if necessary, clean the terminals and plastic box from plaque. It would be useful to additionally charge the battery from a charger, this is to prevent undercharging.

By applying most of the tips in practice, you will extend the life of your battery to 5-7 years. If you strictly follow all the recommendations, this time can be 8 years. However, keep in mind that when buying a cheap and obviously not very high-quality device, all recommendations will be useless; the shelf life of a low-quality car battery will not exceed three years.

When choosing a battery, be realistic about energy consumption. This is influenced not only by engine size, but also by various consumers: navigator, recorder, alarm, air conditioning. All other things being equal, engine volumes and consumption points are used for diesel engines with batteries of higher power.

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Source: http://priem-akkumulyatorov.com/period-ekspluatatsii-akb/