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| Q. |
What
is Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) Rating? |
Top |
| Ans. |
This industry rating measures the
cranking power a battery has available to start a car's
engine at 0 degrees F. Battery Council International
defines it as the number of amperes a lead acid battery
at 0 degrees F can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain
at least 1.2 volts per cell.
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| Q. |
What
is Cranking Amp (CA) Rating? |
Top |
| Ans. |
Similar to CCA; Cranking amps is a
measure of the number of amperes a lead acid battery
at 32 degrees F can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain
at least 1.2 volts per cell. (CA ratings are more commonly
used in climates where temperatures rarely drop to 0F.)
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| Q. |
What
is Reserve Capacity (RC)? |
Top |
| Ans. |
A battery's Reserve Capacity represents
the length of time the battery can maintain the vehicle's
electrical needs in the event the alternator fails. Battery
Council International defines Reserve Capacity as a measure
of the time (in minutes) a lead-acid battery can deliver
25 amps at 80 degrees F and maintain terminal voltage
of at least 1.75 volts/ cell.
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| Q. |
What
effect does extreme cold have on my battery? |
Top |
| Ans. |
Cold temperatures dramatically reduce
the effectiveness of chemical reactions within the battery,
while increasing the battery's internal resistance. Both
of these cause a reduction in cranking power as temperatures
drop. Batteries left in a discharged state are also susceptible
to freezing, which damages internal components and containers.
Cars require an increased amount of cranking power in
cold weather, due to the fact that motor oil is thicker
and makes engines harder to crank.
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| Q. |
How
do heat and excessive cold affect my battery? |
Top |
| Ans. |
Heat increases the rate of evaporation,
which causes a loss of water from the electrolyte. Extreme
heat also increases the rate of self-discharge and promotes
the corrosion of the positive plate grids. Extreme cold
dramatically reduces the speed at which chemical reaction
can occur, while increasing internal resistance. It is
important to keep batteries at a full charge during periods
of extreme cold. Batteries in a discharged state are
susceptible to freezing, which can cause damage to the
plates and battery container. Automobiles demand more
from a battery in freezing temperatures as the motor
oil thickens and makes the engine harder to crank.
Heat is the number one killer of a battery; although it increases
the performance of the battery short-term, life is drastically reduced
over time.
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| Q. |
Can
different size batteries have the same capacity? |
Top |
| Ans. |
Batteries come in many different sizes.
A battery's size simply determines it's length, width,
height, and terminal configuration; this has nothing
to do with a battery's capacity. Regardless of the size,
two batteries are equal in power if the CCA ratings are
the same. New technology enables a great deal of power
to be put into smaller cases with today's new high capacity
output design.
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| Q. |
When
do I need to replace my battery? |
Top |
| Ans. |
Battery replacement may be necessary
if you experience any of the following: loss of power
in cold or extended starts, slow or interrupted turnover
of the starting motor, or battery discharge light on
the vehicle instrument panel is lit. If you are experiencing
any of these symptoms, you should have your battery and/or
electrical system checked.
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| Q. |
How
does a car's charging system work? |
Top |
| Ans. |
A modern automobiles vehicle's charging system consists
of 3 major components:
| * Alternator |
Mechanical device
driven by the engine accessory belt. It provides
continuous voltage to replenish the battery while
the engine is running. |
| * Voltage Regulator |
Monitors the battery's state of
charge and adjusts alternator activity as necessary
to charge the vehicle's battery and provide power
necessary to run accessories. |
| * Battery |
An electrical reservoir used to
store electrical energy until it is needed by
the vehicle's starting system to crank the engine
and power the fuel and ignition systems. |
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| Q. |
How
do I jump-start a car with a dead battery? |
Top |
| Ans. |
Remember: All batteries contain acid and can cause
injury if not regarded as dangerous.
| 1. |
Wear proper eye and skin protection. |
| 2. |
Connect the positive cable to the positive
terminal of the discharged battery. |
| 3. |
Connect the other end of the same cable to
the positive post on the boosting vehicle's battery. |
| 4. |
Connect the negative (black) cable to the negative
post of the booster battery. |
| 5. |
Make final jumper cable connection to the engine
block of the stalled vehicle. |
| 6. |
Start disabled vehicle and disconnect cables
in reverse order, taking precautions to keep
all hands, clothing, hair and cables out of all
moving parts. |
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| Q. |
What
is the difference between automotive and marine batteries? |
Top |
| Ans. |
Nothing..... a marine starting battery
is essentially the same as an automotive battery with
a handle and marine terminals added.
Marine/RV Deep Cycle Batteries have thicker plates, a lower cranking
ability, however they have a lot more reserve capacity. Deep Cycle
Batteries endure a lot more discharge/recharge cycles than starting
batteries.
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