Sooner or later, any car owner is faced with replacing the battery, since this device, as a rule, lasts about 3 years. If you have a decent amount, you can contact a car service, but, according to statistics, manufacturers do not make batteries, completely leaving its choice to the discretion of the owner.
Content
There are three types of car batteries: serviced, partially serviced, and maintenance-free.
The first species is now very rare. The battery case is made of ebonite, sealed from the outside, for example, with mastic. In such batteries, it is possible to replace any element.
Partial service batteries are the most common. The essence of maintenance of such batteries is reduced only to maintaining the required level of electrolyte and controlling its density.
A partially serviced battery is a design with plugs present on it.
Maintenance-free battery does not require any human intervention throughout its life. They use a special plate design and condensation system. Such batteries are recognized as the highest quality today, so their prices are very high.
In addition, batteries differ in the technologies used in their production:
Video comparison of gel and acid batteries - in the video:
All batteries, based on their dimensions, can be divided into three main standards:
The location of the terminals on the battery case also plays an important role.
It can be direct or reverse. Most vehicles have straight polarity, with the positive terminal on the left and the negative terminal on the right. The battery is in the "terminals closer to the user" position.
If you do not take into account the location of the terminals, then there may not be enough wire length to the battery terminal.
The size of the terminals for batteries of European and Asian standards is also different. In a European battery, the positive terminal is 19.5 millimeters in diameter, the negative terminal is 17.9 mm. For Asia, these values are 12.7 millimeters and 11.1 mm, respectively.
These are the two most important characteristics of car batteries.
The capacity of a battery determines the amount of energy given off by it per unit of time. A car battery is considered fully discharged if the voltage at the terminals is approximately 11 volts. The number indicated in the marking of the battery indicates its capacity at +25 degrees Celsius and the twenty-hour discharge current.
But which battery to choose to match the required capacity? You can not think too much and take the one recommended by the manufacturer. Installing batteries with a smaller capacity is highly discouraged. It may not be enough to start the engine on a frosty winter morning, and the normal operation of all electrical appliances in the car will also be disrupted.
You can choose a larger capacity, but not really getting carried away. The main thing here is to ensure that the battery enters the place intended for it under the hood of the car. There is an opinion among motorists that it is unacceptable to install a battery with a larger capacity than the recommended one, arguing that the battery will be constantly undercharged. However, it is not. The energy spent on starting the engine does not depend on the capacity of the battery, and, accordingly, will be easily replenished by the generator in the same time.
Also, fears are caused by the possibility of rapid combustion of the starter, which is not true. The current consumed by the starter depends only on the characteristics of the starter itself and the conditions for starting the engine. As you can see, capacity does not play a role here. For areas with a cold climate, the installation of high-capacity batteries is even recommended, since on more capacious batteries, the voltage deviation decreases during a long engine start, and the reliability and service life of the battery increases.
This is the maximum amount of current that the battery is able to give to start the engine for 3-30 seconds at a temperature of -18 degrees Celsius. Starting current is a relative value. With the age of the battery, its capacity is lost, which means that the value of the starting current becomes less.
Thinking about which battery is better to choose, you should give preference to batteries with a good supply of starting current. For example, if 250 amps are required to crank the starter, then a battery with a starting current of at least 35 amps should be selected.
It is worth noting that for cars with a diesel engine, the capacity of the battery, as well as its starting current, must be an order of magnitude higher than for gasoline engines.
Currently, there are many varieties and types of batteries, so it's easy to get confused. The easiest way is to buy a battery for a car with the same characteristics as the used device. There are a lot of sites on the Internet that offer a choice of batteries by car brand.
That is, the user selects the make, model and modification of his car, and then the recommended battery type with the required characteristics is given.
Many motorists are guided by the idea that an expensive imported battery is best suited for a car. But often such batteries are made for Europe, where the climate is milder.
The fact is that different metals and additives are used in the alloy of the terminals, as a result of which such batteries lose their capacity and fail earlier in the harsh climate of the Russian regions.
Not the last role in choosing a car battery is played by the manufacturer and price.In the Russian market, the most popular batteries are Bosch, Varta, Energizer. Vartan Bosch batteries are essentially one German brand, because the batteries are produced in the same factory, only on different lines. They are almost the same in price.
Video recommendations for choosing a new battery, as well as tips for "resuscitation" of the old one:
Below are the most popular automotive battery manufacturers.
These are two companies that produce famous German batteries. A significant part of the energy elements of the above brands is produced in Germany, however, Czech-made products are more common on the Russian market, but this is one concern that offers excellent equipment for cars.
Of course, when trying to decide which battery is better to buy, many motorists remember exactly the impeccability of German quality, since the indicated manufacturers from Germany guarantee the following advantageous aspects of batteries, provided that they purchase original devices:
However, even these top-ranking car batteries from the Varta and Bosch brands can fail due to complete deep discharge.As a result of this, most of the energy elements will finally fail, however, the offers of these German brands will remain operational and will continue to please car owners with their high reliability, functionality and maximum efficiency.
The average price of products is 9,000 rubles.
AKTEX is a Russian company with a leading sales position in Russia. Not the last place on the market is occupied by energy cells of the AKTEX brand, which are one of the most popular domestic batteries.
If you want to find out which company's batteries are better on the Russian market, you should know that the company indicated above offers excellent quality batteries and guarantees their excellent properties, combined with maximum efficiency during operation.
The AKTEX manufacturer uses technologies similar to those of the world leaders in this segment, so these best car batteries offer consumers the following advantageous features:
When studying which battery is better to buy, it should be understood that the purchase of a Russian AKTEX battery will be much more profitable than giving preference to other foreign options. True, many car manufacturers strongly discourage the use of batteries other than those indicated in the operating instructions.
The average price of products is 5,000 rubles.
The Medalist brand is a Korean brand with American roots. It got its name partly with the calculation of the market, since this word encourages you to trust the manufacturing company on a psychological level. However, the South Korean corporation with the presence of American investments failed to fully achieve its goals, and its main achievements are represented by the following positions:
Despite the presence of a number of problems, these car batteries are gaining popularity and are being sold quite confidently in Russia. However, the inscriptions in hieroglyphs and the association of the name with Chinese production still scares consumers a little.
The average price of products is 6,000 rubles.
This is a domestic company that produces products of the middle price segment. The TITAN brand in its activities strives to provide car enthusiasts with affordable devices with fairly good features and excellent quality of functionality, combined with affordability.
The main advantages of the products of this company are the following aspects:
Taking into account the important advantages described above, we can agree that the availability of high quality energy elements and the optimality of their price allowed the company to get many regular customers.
The average price of products is 7,000 rubles.
This is a Turkish brand that produces products with European quality. One of the most popular brands in the battery budget segment comes from Turkey. This company can hardly compete with world famous brands, but the popularity of its products has been growing recently. These models are characterized by the following features:
It should be clarified that the Mutlu brand has been introduced to the Russian market not so long ago, but its popularity is constantly growing. The purchase of such a battery can be a good solution for owners of any vehicle.
The average price of products is 6,000 rubles.
There is no single answer to this question anywhere. Each type of battery has its pros and cons. Some are capable of producing high starting currents and have good capacity, but they can fail when fully discharged. Others are the opposite.
Therefore, when choosing a battery for a car, it is necessary to take into account the planned operating conditions for it, the average temperature in your own region and the requirements for the battery.
There are a huge number of factors in finding a new battery for a car. The main one is extreme wear or failure of the old battery. The fact is that the regular removal of the battery for recharging or “lighting up” every morning bothers motorists.
When picking up a vehicle, they often put an auxiliary battery or a more powerful battery in order to change the “factory” one to power an SUV winch or a capacious audio system for show cars. Below is a rating of quality batteries for a car in 2022, which will help you make your choice.
This battery model, despite the fact that it was made by Mexicans, is able to give odds to any battery from Germany or the USA.First of all, it is worth highlighting the miniature dimensions and lightness.
Another advantage of the model is the high-quality functioning of the battery at low temperatures. The next specific feature of the Mexican battery is an increased degree of starting current, which is 815 A.
This means that this battery will be an excellent choice for vehicles with a fairly high engine displacement.
The average price is 16,600 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | AGM |
Polarity | Universal |
Starting current | 815 A |
Capacity | 50 Ah |
Dimensions | 254x175x200 mm |
Maintenance-free advanced type battery used in new cars with start-stop mode from a manufacturer in Korea. It attracts by the correspondence of price and quality, it functions stably in cars with well-thought-out electronics.
The average price is 6,200 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | EFB |
Polarity | Reverse |
Starting current | 460 A |
Capacity | 45 a/h |
Dimensions | 238x129x227mm |
An excellent battery, which deservedly entered the rating.This is one of the most affordable models on the market, but at the same time, high quality. According to driver reviews, the battery is good, but it is difficult to find it in retail - you need to order it directly from the manufacturer.
Dimensions are small, and therefore this model will be a chic solution for many passenger cars. It stands out for its solid weight - more than 17 kg. There is a carrying handle, but it looks weak, besides, it cuts fingers.
On the top panel there are screw caps where purified water is poured, in addition, experts advise opening them when the battery is too low. The battery comes with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty. It is worth noting that the warranty period is valid from the time of manufacture, not sale, and therefore, ideally, you need to find a “fresh” model.
The average price is 3,600 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | calcium |
Polarity | Reverse |
Starting current | 590 A |
Capacity | 64 a/h |
Dimensions | 242x175x190 mm |
Machines with a capacitive motor have one significant drawback. Under their hood there is often not enough space for a large battery. Fortunately, technology is improving, the dimensions of the battery are gradually decreasing. A clear example of this is the TUDOR AGM from Exide Tech.
This is a battery that has proven itself in cars with start-stop mode. Contributing to this tendency is a short response at a load of 680 A.
The battery is suitable for vehicles with a capacitive motor.On a car with a 1.5-1.6 liter engine under the hood, the owner will literally not be able to appreciate the merits of the model.
The battery quickly wastes its own capacity, which is why it is not advised to buy it for motorists who constantly turn on the acoustics integrated into the car at maximum volume when the engine is not running. Simply put, this is a model with "character", which must be remembered.
The average price is 9,000 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | AGM |
Polarity | Reverse R+ |
Starting current | 680 A |
Capacity | 60 a/h |
Dimensions | 175x190x242 mm |
This series of batteries was purposefully created for vehicles where, in addition to the already rich electronics on board, the manufacturer also set the Start-Stop mode. It is comfortable or not, reduces fuel consumption or not - it is not so important in this situation, but the increased load on the battery because of this is formed by 100%.
Frequent charge-discharge cycles increase the wear rate of the battery, and in such conditions the battery charge must be replenished extremely quickly in order to be able to recover between traffic lights in urban areas.
But for an ordinary car, this battery will be the right choice: it not only gives a solid starting current of 680 A, but is also able to do this for a long time and often.In terms of the number of likely attempts to start in cold weather, this battery is one of the best, and only a slightly overpriced cost can affect the decision of the car owner.
The average price is 9,200 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | AGM |
Polarity | Reverse |
Starting current | 680 A |
Capacity | 60 Ah |
Dimensions | 242x175x190 mm |
This battery has some similarities with the leaders of this top, but somehow inferior to them in performance.
According to many reviews of car owners who bought a battery on Ali Express, the model has a low-quality assembly. Otherwise, a battery from China is no worse than batteries from the USA. There are even features that perform better when compared to American models.
If some of the batteries from the USA have a defect in the form of a malfunction during frost, then this model is able to cope with work at a high level even in the conditions of the Russian winter.
The average price is 16,500 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | GEL |
Polarity | not specified |
Starting current | not specified |
Capacity | 60 Ah |
Dimensions | 258x166x205 mm |
Maintenance-free lead-acid type battery. Quite stable at low temperatures.Car owners claim that recently there are many non-original products of the VARTA trademark on the market. In this regard, experts recommend purchasing batteries only from official suppliers and intermediaries.
The average price is 5,100 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | calcium |
Polarity | Reverse or European |
Starting current | 540 A |
Capacity | 60 Ah |
Dimensions | 242x190x175 mm |
This is a starter-type battery, which has improved energy parameters, for the most part, due to this, the battery took 3rd place in the rating. This device will be an excellent choice for car brands that are equipped with efficient motors and have a massive amount of electronics on board.
With this battery, the car owner will be able to achieve a quick and full start of the motor even at negative temperatures. Such batteries will be an excellent purchase for diesel engines.
The battery has an excellent safety margin in case of excessive requirements for vehicle equipment. The battery has a grid with improved pattern geometry, which reduces electrical resistance.
These grids are reliably protected from corrosion, and they are also more wear-resistant compared to other batteries. The shell is of high quality, perfectly protected from the appearance of electrolyte drops, does not require adding water. The model is completely safe during operation.
The average price is 6,500 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | - |
Polarity | Reverse |
Starting current | - |
Capacity | 63 Ah |
Dimensions | - |
Gel-type batteries are produced by a minimum number of firms. OPTIMA products from the USA are in demand. All because this company has created an incredible technology of spiral stacking of plates and registered it. Products of this company are distributed not so much in colors, but in a specific round shape.
The starting current of the battery reaches 765 A. Other types of batteries can only dream of such a characteristic. It is for this reason that motorists who install a productive audio system make a choice in favor of this battery.
Even at maximum sound volume, the voltage drop will not be felt. In addition, the battery is highly valued for its resistance to vibrations and overloads. And, in the end, this battery is compact and lightweight, which also causes extremely positive emotions.
The average price is 19,000 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | AGM |
Polarity | Straight |
Starting current | 765 A |
Capacity | 55 Ah |
Dimensions | 254x175x200 mm |
Over the past years, the rating has been headed by this model, and rightfully so. A battery with a capacity of 60 A / h gives a very solid 540 A and has already been able to show itself perfectly in Russian realities.
Up to this point, the previous Silver Evolution line has already been widespread due to the correspondence between cost and quality, and the current calcium Silver models have become improved versions of already working ideas.
Calcium-type batteries today do not surprise car owners, however, auxiliary silver alloying makes them much more durable: in fact, a limited number of former calcium-type batteries has become the main resource.
In addition, the use of a permanent casting of the plates, according to the manufacturer, guarantees excellent uniformity. In addition, by improving the mesh structure, MUTLU achieves a truly impressive quality of its own products. And another "highlight" from the manufacturer is that the top cover is removed, which gives access to plugs and cans.
Simply put, when compared with most calcium-type batteries, which by design do not require maintenance "from the factory", the car owner is given the opportunity to safely pour water, measure the density of the electrolyte in any bank, without being guided by a "symbolic" assessment. Of course, not all car owners need this, but the likely battery life can be significantly increased.
The average price is 4,200 rubles.
Characteristics:
Parameter | Meaning |
---|---|
Type of | calcium |
Polarity | Reverse |
Starting current | 540 A |
Capacity | 60 Ah |
Dimensions | 242x175x190mm |
In conclusion, it is worth noting that a car battery is an item that is bought for more than one year. When buying, you must rely not only on your own needs and budget, but also on customer reviews: it is not a fact that a battery marked with positive numbers on a sticker will last a really long time. It is for this reason that in the process of compiling this top, the maximum number of important characteristics was taken into account, the best manufacturers, important concepts and, in fact, the most popular models were described.