Cars are super-amazing! Their history is crazy because no single person can stand and claim to be the inventor. These machines are made up of different parts which are assembled to come up with that fancy ride you see on the road. Say the engine, for instance. It’s the central part of the vehicle and which has a fascinating history.
Long ago, there were steam engines and which were much complex to operate. Today, we’ve internal combustion engines and which ask for less workforce to perform their primary task. Currently, cars, especially electric vehicles, require a battery to provide the juice needed to run from one point to another. Thus, your EV’s battery is and has always been a vital part of the car.
By digging shallowly over the internet, you will realize that this component is among the most expensive parts of the vehicle. Therefore, you must understand the various terminologies and specifications in the battery world to avoid falling victim of the wrong battery.
How many amps is a car battery? There is no specific answer to this question as the amount is based on the battery’s size among many other factors. However, a standard 12-volts battery has a capacity of 48 Amps. To understand everything about car battery amps, you need first to know what is amps and everything around the field.
As said earlier, the number of amps a battery can provide is based on the size of the battery. Every cell has a unique rating as there are models which can deliver even more than 1000 amps within a short period. Your car requires a specific amount of amps to start the engine. On average, you need about 300 to 1000 amps to bring the engine to life.
Prior to providing deep detail about a battery’s amperage, you’ve got to understand the various ratings in place. When we talk about the ratings, we’re referring to the amount of electricity the battery can hold and that is needed to run an engine. Currently, most car batteries you’ll find in the market have a capacity of between 550 to 1000 amperes.
When it comes to starting a car engine, there are usually two types of battery amperages. There is what we call Cranking amperes (CA) and Cold Cranking Amperes (CCA). Battery manufacturers, as well as, driver do take time to figure out these two amperages as they are vital.
For instance, the Cranking Amperes refers to the amount of current that the battery provides to roar the engine at 32˚F for 30 seconds. In simpler terms, CA is the amount of power your car’s engine needs to jumpstart on a normal weather condition.
During the cold weathers, you also need to get your car in motion. This is where the Cold Cranking Amperage comes in the picture. CCA can be termed as the amount of power your battery can give to bring the engine to life during the winter season.
Therefore, when selecting a car battery, it’s advisable to consider the battery amperage. Consider a battery that can handle your car’s electrical load from attached components such as the audio system and start the engine as well.
When it comes to defining a battery’s amperage, there is what we refer to as the ampere-hour (Ah). The term is shared among the deep cycle batteries. Say, for instance, if your EV’s battery is specified to be 100 amps, it’s expected to provide about 5 amps for a period not exceeding 20 hours.
A standard battery charger is rated two amps. Therefore, this battery charger requires about 24 hours to give 48 amps needed to fill a 48 amp battery. Thankfully, today, the tech advancements have brought chargers with a higher output. You can find ten amps battery charger. However, it’s advisable to avoid these fast chargers as they cause damage to the car’s battery in the long run.
When it comes to the battery’s power, many factors affect the total amperage. For instance, the loads connected to your vehicle determine how long the battery can hold. For example, a car’s lights take about ten amps from the battery. A heated rear window does drain about 12 hours.
Also, the short trips you take and the weather does affect the battery’s amperage. It’s for this reason that you will find cars with dynamo failing more often as compared to those with an alternator.
An alternator charges better at low speeds and produces more electricity as opposed to a dynamo. You, therefore, need a hydrometer to test your car’s battery capacity now and then. Once you notice that your battery’s capacity is low, it’s time to top it up.
Topping up the battery is a straightforward task. First, you will need to connect the battery to the charger. Before joining the charger, you must check if the battery has enough electrolytes. If the electrolyte level is low, you must top it up to the correct scale.
If there is a charging point, the battery can be charged while still in the car. However, you must ensure that the charge rate is below four amps.
If you’re using a petrol or diesel car, remember to disconnect the battery terminals before you start to charge. Diesel or gasoline cars have alternators and which can get damaged by connecting the charger while intact. If your battery has cell caps, remove them to allow ventilation before proceeding to connect the charger.
Plug the charger to the mains and switch on. The chargers indicator will tell if the battery is charging or not. Once the cell is filled, disconnect the charger. You start by switching off the main and disconnect the charger before removing it from the terminals.
When it comes to topping up an electric car, the situation is different. All you need is the charger and plug in the vehicle at charging points which can be found at various locations within the cities.
How to Increase the Battery’s Life
By now, you know what battery amperage is and how many amps you need to start the engine at various conditions. What you may not have in mind are the different ways you can help maintain the state of your battery. Without saying much, here are some standard practices that can help boost your battery’s performance.
1. Avoid Short Rides
If your car runs on petrol or diesel, the alternator charges the battery while it’s on the move. Quick trips don’t charge your car’s battery to full capacity. Therefore, if you’re used to taking short trips, it means your car’s battery will bail on you sooner than expected.
It’s advisable to avoid using the car mostly on short trips. Otherwise, you can invest in a portable battery charger to help jump-start the vehicle in case the battery fails.
2. Tighten the Battery in Position
A loosely tightened battery is prone to shaking and thus damages. The slight damages can interfere with the battery’s performance and even amperage. Therefore, be sure that the battery is held correctly into its position.
3. Turn Off the Lights after You Exit
As stated earlier, a car’s headlights can take about 10 hours to drain a fully-charged battery. Therefore, you must remember to switch them off immediately you exit the vehicle. Remembering to turn off the lights saves you from waking up to a flat battery.
4. Deal with the Battery’s Corrosion
The battery’s terminal corrosion can interfere with the amount of power given by the battery. Corrosion is what causes slow starts among many vehicles. Therefore, if you’re looking forward to preserving the car’s amperage, make sure that you deal with the battery’s terminal corrosion.
Cleaning the corrosion is a simple process as it can be done using readily available items such as baking soda and water.
5. Check your Battery Regularly
Most drivers have a habit of ignoring the condition of their cells, which shouldn’t be the case. If you genuinely care about the car, it’s advisable to check the state of the battery now and then. Monitoring and testing the battery saves you from surprises that would emerge from a faulty or damaged battery.
6. Avoid Using Electronics When the Car is Idle
Components such as radio and AC can drain plenty of your car’s battery if used when the vehicle is off. Therefore, you should practice switching these appliances off to help boost the life of your battery and charge.
7. Watch Out for the Whole Car
Your car is designed by assembling various parts. Therefore, it means that other parts of the vehicle may shorten the performance and life of the battery. For instance, a faulty alternator can see the cell fail to charge.
Therefore, you must ensure that your car is always in good condition for the sake of its battery. Never ignore the car’s slight complications. A small complication can end up costing you a large sum of money in the long run.
Sources:
1. What No One Tells You About Car Battery Life – Car From Japan
2. 7 Ways to extend the life of your car battery – MotoringBox
3. Battery Care & Maintenance – Century Batteries
