"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
10/27/2014 at 21:26 • Filed to: None
1
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"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
10/27/2014 at 21:26 • Filed to: None | 1
| 9 |
My car gave me a quick scare by not starting ASAP this morning, since I was on my way to the garage to have winter mode activiated anyway, I had them check the battery as well. It's at 60% of its full capacity, so it's going to get replaced soon.
Usually I would just go to the local hardware store, pull the old one out in the parking lot, turn it in, and get something new. (Over here, you have to pay extra if you don't hand over the old one, as they want them disposed of savely instead of them ending up in a ditch on the roadside.)
The question is wheter it is worth paying a little extra for a top shelf product, or is any generic one equally or near-as-makes-no-difference good? In all my years of motoring I didn't have to replace that many batteries, and in my broke-ass university student days I usually went down the cheapest route, from cheap generic to used one from a sketchy breakers yard. They all worked fine! This is the first time in my life where I wouldn't mind paying a little more IF I ACTUALLY GET A BETTER PRODUCT.
What are your experiences? Pay more and have it last longer, or are they pretty much the same anyway?
For Sweden
> Klaus Schmoll
10/27/2014 at 17:33 |
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I wish I could give you an answer, but I think battery quality is independent of price.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Klaus Schmoll
10/27/2014 at 17:43 |
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It depends on the requirements. extreme cold/heat? high loads? severe vibration? if its just a normal bettery for a regular car...don't sweat it too much.
desertdog5051
> Klaus Schmoll
10/27/2014 at 18:05 |
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The cheapest way, and still get a full battery, is rebuilt. If I am planning on keeping the vehicle for a while, I will buy AGM (absorbed glass mat). They last for years and if I sell the vehicle, I get a used battery and keep the AGM.
shop-teacher
> Klaus Schmoll
10/27/2014 at 18:12 |
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I don't like to screw around with batteries. If paying $20 more keeps me from getting stranded even once in the winter, it was money well spent.
davedave1111
> Klaus Schmoll
10/27/2014 at 18:18 |
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The answer depends on the lead price, because the material cost constitutes a significant proportion of the cost of a battery.
When the lead price is low, it's not worth paying for more expensive batteries because the additional premium makes up too high a proportion of the cost. When lead prices are high, the premium is a much smaller percentage of the total cost, so it makes sense to pay it for the small advantages it brings. And when lead prices are middling, as they seem to be at the moment, it's a bit of a toss-up, and doesn't really make much difference either way.
mallthus
> Klaus Schmoll
10/27/2014 at 19:52 |
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Short story...unless you have a vehicle that has particularly delicate electronics, a massive sound system, or you take it to the ends of the earth in extreme heat/cold, buy a brand name battery with a warranty.
If you fall into any of the above categories, get an AGM battery.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Klaus Schmoll
10/27/2014 at 22:26 |
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I always go for better batteries. In my line of work I've replaced lots of cheap batteries that had only been in the car for a few months. Put in an expensive battery and no problems for years. But that's mostly on expensive European cars with dozens of control modules.
BaconSandwich is tasty.
> Klaus Schmoll
10/27/2014 at 23:35 |
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On that note, does anyone make lithium polymer car batteries? It seems like an interesting option.
Dutchman61
> Klaus Schmoll
10/28/2014 at 09:02 |
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The lower grade batteries differ from the better ones in the lead present. The better ones have more plates and are a lot heavier. When lead is expensive that is why they are so $$$. Independent testing shows they generally last a lot longer, but there is a catch. Climate, driving habits, and your vehicle matter a great deal. Modern cars draw more power than the old ones with the engine off. They never in fact turn off completely and will drain a weak battery. Voltage bleeds are more common and harder to track down. If you live in an area where a dead battery is not a show stopper, buy based on budget. If you live in a place where a dead battery can be a real problem (rural, extreme weather), then go better.
Most car batteries die due to undercharging or overcharging. Undercharging is usually a dying alternator, but overcharging is often simply driving long distances with minimal loads. Batteries heat as they charge and some of the acid solution will evaporate. That is why they have vents. It will not corrode you car since the amount is tiny unless you are massively over charging and effectively boiling the battery. However, the better batteries are more vulnerable to overcharge especially in the summer. The loss of battery acid will damage the cells and will short out the battery quicker since the plates are much closer together than the cheap batteries. It is actually important to monitor the more expensive battery more frequently than the cheap one.
I have gone both ways, and with mixed results. We had a '94 Saturn coupe that killed batteries due to a voltage drain that I never pinned down. I used cheap batteries on that one, actually keeping one in the garage as a spare. For our other vehicles, I did a mix, but wound up with Interstate Batteries in all of them. They perform well in winter which matters to us since my wife has a long commute. And the one Interstate that just died was replaced without any question under warranty.