Sunday, December 1, 2013
12 Volt Automotive Starting Battery Capacities
Car batteries store chemical energy and convert it into electrical energy as needed.
The automotive battery industry rates performance under simulated loads to gauge battery capacity and condition. The chemical reaction within a battery is less efficient at lower temperatures, so cold-weather operation is factored into battery cranking ability.
The Battery Council International maintains the various testing standards discussed in this article.
Cold Cranking Amps
Cold cranking amps shows the batterys ability to start an engine in cold temperatures. It is defined as the number of amps a fully charged 12-Volt battery can deliver at zero degrees Fahrenheit for 30 seconds, while maintaining at least 7.2 Volts.
Cranking Amps
Cranking amps is a similar rating that gauges battery performance while cranking at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The CA number will always be higher than the CCA value, because lower temperatures in the CCA test reduce reaction efficiency inside the battery.
Reserve Capacity
Reserve capacity tells you how long the battery can keep the headlights on and vehicle running if the charging system is not working. This test uses a reference temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The discharge rate for this test is 25 amps, and the timer stops when battery strength slips below 10.5 Volts.
Ampere Hours
Ampere hour expresses how long a fully charged battery can provide an unchanging current before the voltage drops under 10.5 V. This test shows the batterys ability to undergo a slow but steady drain.
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