How do you choose your battery

[obi_waynne]

When you get a new car battery how do you decide which to buy?

What do you know about the labelling on batteries?

I think a lot of people take whatever the parts supplier recommends regardless of the battery rating/cranking power. Is this a bad thing? Do you think it makes a difference to your car?

(I'm planning an article on batteries so would like to know what people are interested in, if there is a need for the article, and I want to see what technical points to cover.)

 

[Wcnwzrd]

i look at the current battery and review how well it has worked for me. If it has issues cranking the vehicle when hot/cold then i look for one with a bit more umph. other than that i prefer diehard batteries.

 

[HDi fun]

Just match the original battery spec. Buy a brand though, Bosch or Lucas etc.

 

[obi_waynne]

How do you tell then if the new one has more umph? Do you look at amps/watts/volts etc....

What about sealed maintainence free batteries over top up batteries?

 

[HDi fun]

Ampere-hours is a measure of capacity.

Cranking current is a measure of how quickly the battery can dish out electrical energy when cold.

 

[claymore]

I look at the space available and say, that'l fit

 

[obi_waynne]

You don't worry about the colour then claymore?

 

[claymore]

You don't worry about the colour then claymore?

If I don't like the colour, I'll paint it

 

[prevtec]

i had a small battery in the car when i bought it
about 3 months ago, the car decided when it would start or not

my neighbour had a look and said the battery is too small fir that car, so he swapped me a battery out of a 2.0 opel omega

ever since then it has been perfect
so it is important to get the right 1 for your car

recenyley ive put 2 custom gauges in my car 1 for water temp, the other for batt amp

it always reads about 13 amp never below 12 or above 14
i think this is the correct amp to have from a car battery for those who have amp readers in your car

 

[HDi fun]

i had a small battery in the car when i bought it
about 3 months ago, the car decided when it would start or not

my neighbour had a look and said the battery is too small fir that car, so he swapped me a battery out of a 2.0 opel omega

ever since then it has been perfect
so it is important to get the right 1 for your car

recenyley ive put 2 custom gauges in my car 1 for water temp, the other for batt amp

it always reads about 13 amp never below 12 or above 14
i think this is the correct amp to have from a car battery for those who have amp readers in your car

Can't see the point of an ammeter in any car that has an alternator. THey only had a use in the old dynamo days.

 

[prevtec]

Can't see the point of an ammeter in any car that has an alternator. THey only had a use in the old dynamo days.

i agree, but i have it just for show as i lights up the same coulor as the dash

 

[HDi fun]

And consumes another 1/2 amp to drive the 6 watt illumination