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Car battery purchase advice
How to choose the right product from the above car battery test or comparison
Car batteries are used to start the vehicle and also feed the on-board electronics at low speeds. Starter batteries for motor vehicles are usually lead-acid battery cells connected in series with a respective nominal voltage of 2.12 V.
Car batteries can usually also be changed by laypeople. When buying a new battery, pay particular attention to the capacity, the dimensions, and the baseboard type so that the new starter battery fits your vehicle.
The pole arrangement must also be correct so that installing the new battery does not become a crisis. Type “0” is the most common: The connections are located here on the front edge of the battery – the positive pole on the right, the negative pole on the left.
The physical causes of this, what you should focus on when changing your car battery, which manufacturers and brands are available, and what to consider when buying a new starter battery – we will clarify all of this in the purchase advice for the car battery comparison.
What is a car battery and how does it work?
A car battery is required to start a car. It supplies the starter with sufficient energy. At the same time, the car battery is recharged via the alternator while driving.
It is a rectangular plastic box in which lead plates are arranged side by side and surrounded by dilute sulfuric acid. Although many batteries show an outward congruence, it always depends on the available nominal voltage. Each lead plate can generate around 2 volts nominal voltage so that six plates are required for 12 volts and twelve plates for a truck battery for 24 volts.
The charge is created by a chemical reaction between the lead accumulators and the sulfuric acid. On the top, you will find a red marked positive pole and a black or blue marked negative pole. The negative pole is connected to the vehicle body and is also known as the ground pole. The car battery itself is located in the front of the engine compartment on most cars.
While older batteries had to be topped up with diluted sulfuric acid afterward, most modern models are maintenance-free.
Areas of application – car battery in use
After a proficiency test, you can use a car battery for various tasks. It is primarily used to power the most important assemblies during the starting process, such as the control units, the injection system, the glow plug system in diesel vehicles, and the ignition coil. Also, of course, you supply the starter with electricity.
When the engine is not running, the car battery is responsible for the emergency power supply, for example for the hazard warning lights or the parking lights. When driving, the battery ensures a constant voltage and prevents voltage peaks. But the electricity is also required for the navigation device, the clock, or the car radio.
The car battery is also frequently used outside of a vehicle. It is therefore suitable for operating 12-volt electricity lighting in garages. Such a battery can also be used as a storage solution for a solar system.
What types of car batteries are there?
For a comparison, you can briefly find out about the different types of car batteries here.
The lead-acid battery
This is the traditional car battery, which consists of lead plates arranged in parallel and sulfuric acid as the electrolyte. Since the sulfuric acid is in liquid form, it is also referred to as a wet-lead car battery. These models are relatively inexpensive. However, these batteries must not be deeply discharged, otherwise, they will be destroyed. A good charger can protect against this.
The AGM battery
The AGM battery represents the further development of the lead-acid battery. It offers significantly more power and can provide a higher starting current. These batteries are completely closed so that the dangerous acid cannot escape. Inside such a battery, the sulfuric acid is bound by a fleece. In this case, a lead-fleece battery is also used. These models are more expensive and have a long service life.
The EFB / AFB battery
Many modern vehicles are equipped with an automatic start-stop system. The Enhanced Flooded Battery, or EFB for short, or the Advanced Flooded Battery, AFB for short, was developed for improved performance. Here the lead-acid battery is covered with a polyester fabric and prevents the formation of sulfate. In addition to higher thermal stability, charge acceptance is also significantly improved.
Even in the cold, these modern batteries have excellent starting properties. This car battery does not cause any problems even in high temperatures.