As a complex system, every part of a car is crucial. Therefore, when using a car, we not only need to learn how to drive, but also need to have a basic understanding of some of its components. For example, the battery may seem ordinary, but it is related to the car's starting and the application of various electrical systems. So, it is very necessary to know a little about batteries.
Purchase
When purchasing a car battery, always remember to have the salesperson test it with a voltmeter on the spot to check if it's within the normal range. Generally, new batteries are not fully charged. Under normal circumstances, the reading should be 12.66 volts. For some maintenance-free batteries, the correct reading range is around 12.8 volts. This is something you should pay attention to.
Charge
If you are not going to use your car battery for a long time, remember to remove it. Generally speaking, if you don't use the battery for a long time, it will be completely discharged. This is because even if the car is not in use, the battery will continue to discharge slowly. So, if you are not going to use the car battery for a long time, remember to remove it or charge it every now and then.
Charge in time
When the car displays a low battery warning, remember to charge it immediately. When charging, be sure to unscrew the battery cover and do not bring an open flame near the charging battery port. Also, pay close attention to the charging time to prevent overcharging. Both overcharging and prolonged undercharging are very harmful to the battery. The former will cause the active material on the plates to harden and fall off, while the latter will cause the plates to sulfide.
start up
Repeated starting of a car over a long period of time can cause significant damage to the battery. Therefore, when starting the car, remember that each starting time should not exceed 5 seconds, and the interval between two starting attempts should be no less than 15 seconds to prevent the battery from being damaged due to excessive power loss.
Common Misconceptions about Batteries
Many experienced drivers have many misconceptions about car batteries, such as that more electrolyte means more capacity, that the regulator's voltage limit can be increased, that batteries of different capacities can be connected in series, or that a short circuit method can be used to test the battery's capacity. In fact, these are all very wrong.
