Functions Of Your Car Battery (12-Volt)
- Supply current to operate the starter motor
- Supply current to electrical systems when the engine is not running (When engine is running the alternator takes over the job)
- Provide current when the electrical demands of the vehicle exceeds the output of the charging system
How to check your battery's condition
1. Check the battery indicator
Look through the sight glass (a round transparent glass found on top of your battery) and find out what is the colour. Normally if it is red, its an indication to replace the battery. However, refer to the colour code guide to be more precise as some manufacturers have different meaning for the colour 'red'.
2. Use a battery tester to check the Ampere-Hour and Cold Cranking Ampere
Ampere-Hour is the amount of steady current that a fully charged battery can supply for 20 hours without the cell voltage falling below 10.5 volts.
Cold Cranking Ampere (CCA) is the rating that specifies the minimum ampere available at 17.7 degree celcius. The usual range for pessanger cars is between 300-600 CCA. Get your workshop to show you the scan results before getting it replaced!
3. Factors that affect the life of the battery
- Temperature
- Corrosion
- Overcharging
- Poor Mounting
- Undercharging
4. Tips when jump starting a car
- When connecting the cables, always connect the positive side of the good battery to the positive side of the dead battery. Then, connect the negative side of the good battery followed by a good ground of the dead battery.
- Never rev the engine of the good battery source while jump starting
