Battery problems continue to be the cause of nearly 42. 1 for car breakdowns. as the ADAC found, the greatest increase in defects is between the fifth and sixth year of life of the power storage unit, which corresponds to the average life of a 12-volt on-board battery. To ensure that the starter battery lasts as long as possible or even beyond, kfztech has developed.De compiled a few tips on how to treat and care for the battery.
A common sight at the roadside. A breakdown service provides starting assistance. – picture: ADAC
The state of charge of the battery
One of the most common reasons for the failure of a car battery, is the deep discharge. If a battery is discharged frequently, the damage to the battery increases because the plates begin to sulphate. this leads to the loss of its power and full rechargeability. The battery has less capacity and the service life is also reduced. With a normally charged battery, the voltage should be between 12.4 V and 12.7 V, depending on the state of charge. With a fully charged battery, the voltage is 12.8 V or higher. If the voltage is below 12.4 V for a longer period of time, damage is already beginning to occur!
If the battery is already damaged, it is best to buy a new battery immediately, or at the latest before winter, in order to avoid a breakdown. Finally, a major reason for battery failures is that the battery is changed too late will! In the Internet specialized trade one gets z.B. A qualitatively high-quality 70ah silver dynamic battery of varta already very favorably for 114,97 ?.
The battery begins to sulphate at a voltage of less than 12.4 V! – graphic: varta
How does the discharge?
Frequent short-distance journeys mean that the battery can no longer be fully recharged. Especially in winter, the performance decreases chemically and the generator can no longer compensate for it. Another reason can be longer standing times. Here, too, the battery voltage and the battery capacity are reduced. Automotive technology.De recommends a trickle charger to buy. this ensures good charging status through pulsating charging and special charging characteristics and increases battery life of the battery.
How to recognize the state of charge or. Battery condition of the battery?
For conventional wet lead-acid batteries, the state of charge can be determined with a conventional voltmeter by measuring the quiescent voltage*. The driver can also measure this himself with the poles of the battery. But it may well be that the battery still has a satisfactory state of charge has, but breaks down at the first minus degrees and no longer starts because the battery condition is altogether too bad.
Therefore, the battery should be checked regularly at a specialist workshop. This is especially true for start-stop batteries (AGM and EFB). there the state of charge (soc) and the state of health (soh) are tested during a battery check. With special battery testers, the workshop checks the voltage and cold-starting ability and gets the result printed out immediately. Modern battery testers carry out charge absorption, conductivity and load tests with professional accuracy. The dynamic resistance and the conductivity value are analyzed. More to start-stop batteries you can find at varta battery-knowledge.
Checking the battery voltage with the voltmeter – picture: kfztech.De
Battery care
The car battery is subjected to high loads due to the steadily increasing energy requirements of today’s vehicles. The vehicle’s built-in battery management always tries to charge the battery optimally and, if necessary, even power guzzlers like z.B. The seat heater u.a. To switch off for a short time, but the battery is still charged. So what can the driver do to keep the battery alive as long as possible??
It is important to conserve the battery, especially in winter, and to switch off all power guzzlers before a cold start. Kfztech.De therefore advises to switch off unnecessary power consumers like headlights, windshield and seat heating as well as radio and fan, headlights, rear window and seat heating and to step on the clutch before starting the car.
To the battery care it belongs still today to treat the battery poles with acid-free grease (pole grease). This prevents leakage currents that can reduce battery voltage and improves conductivity.
Otherwise today all lead-acid batteries, no matter if classic wet battery (SLI) or modern AGM-battery, maintenance-free. It is no longer necessary to refill with distilled water.
Video: testing the battery correctly
Testing car batteries correctly – VARTA battery experts with lina van de mars
* the resting voltage is best checked after a full charge and 24 hours rest without current draw. Here the battery should show 12,8 V voltage.