Car battery: operation, lifespan and price | Vroomly, car batteries – Tips – Advice – UFC -Que Choisir
Car batteries
The battery charger must connect to the electric current. Once the charger is plugged into the battery, you can therefore connect it to a sector outlet. Then press the button to turn it on.
Car battery: operation, lifespan and price
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The battery of your car is an electricity reserve. It recharges alone by driving and thus feeds electrical equipment such as car radio, windows or headlights. It works in particular thanks to the alternator. A car battery changes every 4 to 5 years approximately.
- What is the battery of a car ?
- How does a car battery work ?
- ⏱️ What is the life of a car battery ?
- How to recognize if the car battery is HS ?
- ️ When to change a car battery ?
- ⚡ How to recharge a car battery ?
- How to maintain a car battery ?
- What is the price of a car battery ?
- Where to buy a car battery ?
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What is the battery of a car ?
The function of your battery is double. Its first role is to start your car. It provides the electrical power necessary for starter Who is responsible for launching the engine.
When the vehicle is stopped, the battery allows you to supply your car radio, centralized opening, headlights, windows, wipers and all other electrical and electronic elements of your car.
But beware: even if this equipment is not the most energy -greed, they unload it if their use is prolonged. Leave for example its headlights lit overnight will unload your battery and prevent you from starting your car the next day.
Once your engine has started, thealternator takes over except for the most gourmet elements, such as your air conditioning for example. This is fueled by a belt Using engine laps. The alternator will also be used to recharge the battery.
How does a car battery work ?
A car battery fulfills two functions: Start the engine of your car via its starter and supply all its electrical or electronic components. To do this, the operation of a car battery is based on different components.
A car battery has indeed two electrodes + And -. They bathe in a liquid called electrolyte, composed ofsulfuric acid. Lead plates are arranged in the battery case in alternating layers, connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal.
The battery current of a car is issued thanks to the connection between the two terminals. The electrons move from – to the + to provide electricity.
Recharge of the battery current is done thanks to the alternator. The opposite reaction then occurs, from the + to the -. The liquid can then recharge in electrons. A defective alternator cannot participate properly in the recharging of your battery. You may no longer be able to start.
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⏱️ What is the life of a car battery ?
The battery of a car is what is called a wear part. It must be changed periodically, because it wears out over time. On average, a hard battery 4 to 5 years old, either 1000 to 1500 charging cycles. However, the original battery of your car generally lasts longer.
Obviously, the more you roll, the shorter the battery life will be. But in contrast, the battery of a car that never rolls can so quickly get a short. In addition, temperature changes can also speed up the wear of a car battery: it is sensitive to significant heat and cold.
How to recognize if the car battery is HS ?
The battery of a car does not last forever. It is quite easy to know if your car battery is dead. Here are the symptoms of an HS battery:
- THE electrical equipment does not work properly : lighting of weakened headlights, wipers that are struggling or car radio that does not work.
- THE battery light is lit on the dashboard.
- A stench comes from under your hood because of sulfuric acid.
- There car does not start.
- You hear a Characteristic noise of click or machine gun When you try to launch the engine.
It is also possible to check that the battery is HS. For that, you have to test the battery. Use a multimeter and connect it to voltmeter mode on the terminals of your car battery.
Start the engine and accelerate up to 2000 rpm. The normal tension of a car battery is located Between 13.2 and 15 V. Beyond 15 V, the battery is overloaded. Below 13.2 V, the battery is discharged.
When stopped, the normal tension of a car battery must be understood Between 12.3 and 12.6 V. If the tension is less than 12.1 V, the battery must be recharged. If it is less than 10.6 V, you must change the battery of your car because it is HS !
️ When to change a car battery ?
A car battery changes every 4 to 5 years approximately, but it happens that it can last up to 10 years, especially if it is the original battery.
If your battery starts to show Signs of weakness, Better to change it quickly. This is particularly true in winter, because you will more request the equipment of your car because of the longer nights (lighting of headlights) and bad weather (operation of wipers, defrosting, etc.). The battery of a car is also sensitive to cold.
The battery of your car must be tested every year on the occasion of your revision. If its tension shows that the battery is tired, your mechanic will be able to change it before you broke down.
⚡ How to recharge a car battery ?
A car battery recharges naturally by driving thanks to the alternator. It is also possible to recharge it with a battery charger. Please note: the battery cables, which consist in connecting it to the functional battery of another car, allow you to start the vehicle but not really recharge the battery.
Necessary material :
- Battery charger
- Car battery
Step 1: connect the battery charger [⚓ anchor “Step1”]
A battery charger presents itself with two pliers, generally red and black. You have to connect them to the terminals of your car battery. Normally, the red pliers goes to the terminal of the same color, which is the positive terminal, and the black pliers on the negative terminal.
Step 2: Launch the battery charger [⚓ anchor “Step2”]
The battery charger must connect to the electric current. Once the charger is plugged into the battery, you can therefore connect it to a sector outlet. Then press the button to turn it on.
Step 3: Recharge the battery [⚓ anchor “Step3”]
After starting the battery charger, all you have to do is wait. Complete recharging of a flat car battery can take up to 8 or 10 hours, depending on the charger and the battery power. So be patient !
How to maintain a car battery ?
If the battery of a car is a wear part that you cannot avoid changing periodically, it is possible to follow some tips to extend your life. To avoid the premature battery failure, you can comply with these maintenance recommendations:
- Avoid hot or humid environments favorable to corrosion or evaporation of sulfuric acid contained in your battery.
- Regularly check the voltage of your battery.
- In winter and after control, Do not hesitate to recharge it : If it is not at a correct load level, the liquid contained in it can freeze under 0 ° C.
- Check the fixing and clean the terminals of your battery from time to time. Corrosion can alter its proper functioning.
- If you can open your battery, Check the liquid level And if necessary, get it up. The electrodes must bathe in the liquid so that the current passes.
What is the price of a car battery ?
The change in car battery a very simple intervention which will not take more 30 minutes to your mechanic. You will therefore not have a lot of labor time to pay. The price of a battery, however, depends on the model of your car and the capacity of your battery. Count Between 100 and 300 euros on average for changing your battery.
Where to buy a car battery ?
If you change your car battery in the garage, your mechanic will take care of its purchase. But you can also buy your battery yourself. You will find car batteries in car center (Norauto, green light, midas. ), in the car department of some malls (Carrefour, Auchan, Leclerc. ) or even specialized car stores, including online.
You now know the basics of the operation, price and lifespan of your battery. As you understand, the battery is an essential part: if it is down, you will not be able to start ! In this case, do not hesitate to contact one of our garage owners to change it at the best price !
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Car batteries
Lifespan of a battery, influence of temperature, where to get rid of it, how to change it, when recharging it. Our answers.
- 1. What a lifespan ?
- 2. What is the influence of temperature ?
- 3. What to do when the battery is flat ?
- 4. Where to get rid of it ?
- 5. When it is necessary to recharge it ?
- 6. How to change it ?
What a lifespan ?
In general, a battery holds four to five years. But its longevity depends on its condition for purchase. If it is used quickly after its factory release, its performance is maximum. It is for this reason that the original battery lasts longer than a spare battery, since it is installed immediately after manufacture. Unfortunately, when you buy a battery, it is impossible to know when it was produced or how it was stored.
What is the influence of temperature ?
The heat makes the battery more effective, but also promotes discharge and can cause an irreversible loss of capacity. Be careful, therefore, at too high temperatures. Conversely, the cold does not facilitate the starts in winter, because the battery is frozen. On the other hand, he “keeps” his capacities.
What to do when the battery is flat ?
A suitable charger allows you to recharge your battery. A slow recharging over several hours is preferable. Starting with cables is also possible. But it is better to roll a certain time – 1 h 30 without using the other electrical equipment too much – to re -inflate the battery. This is not the best solution, however, because the recharging is too fast, and the ideal, once arrived safely, is to complete with a slower load. Finally, in the event of a breakdown in the open countryside, you can always put your passengers to contribution: in this configuration, second speed must be engaged and disengaged. And when the car has reached a sufficient speed, just engage to start.
Good to know : In the event of a deep discharge, the battery is not recoverable, there is no other choice than to install a new.
Where to get rid of it ?
A used battery should not be thrown in the trash or abandoned in nature (it is also prohibited and sanctioned with a fine), because the lead it contains is extremely polluting. It must be brought back to the garage or place it in recycling center.
When it is necessary to recharge it ?
If we roll regularly, the discharge caused by starting is compensated after a few minutes of journey by the action of the alternator. On the other hand, we must think of recharging vehicles which remain at a stopover from time to time.
How to change it ?
A start-up battery can be changed by a non-professional, provided you are a little handyman. You must first buy a battery similar to that which must be replaced: the type and positioning of terminals, as well as the dimensions must be identical. We can take a product whose start -up and capacity are different, but they must be higher than those of the previous battery. To remove the old battery, it must be disconnected by starting with the negative terminal, green in color, in order to cut it from the mass and not to trigger short-circuit. Once the new battery has been placed, it remains to connect it starting with the positive, red terminal.