I haven't always loved to drive, but after I was finally able to afford my dream car, it was really interesting to see how much better it really was. It was absolutely incredible to feel how much stronger the engine felt and how much faster it seemed to go, but before I knew it, I could tell that things were starting to struggle a little bit. I talked with a friend of mine who took care of car repairs, and he recommended some auto parts that he thought would work. Within a few days, my vehicle was doing a lot better, and I knew the parts had helped. Check out this blog for great information on auto parts.
When your car's battery dies, your primary concern is getting a new battery installed and getting back on the road. While automotive emergencies are rarely the best times to conduct in-depth research, there can be significant differences between batteries. Understanding how your options differ is the best way to make the right choice for your situation.
Can't You Just Buy a Direct Replacement?
In many cases, the easiest option is to choose a battery (either original equipment or aftermarket) that's a direct fit replacement for your factory battery. There's nothing wrong with this approach! Buying a replacement this way ensures that you get a battery that fits in your car and provides the power that you need. Unfortunately, taking this road won't always get you the best performance for your dollar.
If you decide to choose a battery on your own, you may enjoy some benefits of upgrading, or at least find an equivalent model for less money. Better batteries can offer more performance for high-demand accessories or resistance to extreme weather.
The Basics: Size and Cold-Cranking Amps
The two core characteristics you need to look at when selecting a battery are group size and cold-cranking amps. A battery's group size tells you its physical dimensions, and this is one area where you'll want to stick to your factory specifications. Unless you plan to relocate your battery in your engine bay, you'll need a new one that fits snugly in the same place as your old one.
When comparing batteries within a group size, look closely at cold-cranking amps (CCA). This value tells you how much power the battery can output for half a minute at temperatures well below freezing. You'll need a battery with at least as many CCA as your factory battery, but upgrading can be helpful. A higher CCA value can potentially mean quicker starts in frigid temperatures.
Upgrading to Deep Cycle
If you're looking for another option for upgrades, you may want to consider a deep cycle battery. For automotive purposes, you'll want to choose a dual-purpose deep cycle battery. These batteries can provide starting power, but they can also survive deep discharges when the engine is off. By contrast, typical starter-only batteries can suffer severe damage when discharged too deeply.
Most drivers don't need a dual-purpose battery, but they can offer benefits if you operate accessories without running your engine. For example, deep cycle batteries can keep upgraded stereo systems running without immediately draining and damaging the battery. Off-road recovery equipment is another typical use case.
Even if you don't plan on upgrading, understanding your battery specifications will help you make an informed purchase. You can use this knowledge to select a battery that will provide excellent performance without breaking your budget.
For more information, contact a local business that provides automotive batteries.