What Voltage Should A Car Battery Be –Introduction, Choice And Solution

If you look at many of your electrical items carefully, you’ll see the sign ‘V’ indicated somewhere accompanied by a certain digit. This is indicated on bulbs, chargers, and a wide range of everyday items including car batteries, which we’ll talk about today.

In basic terms, a volt can be described as an electrical pressure that pushes currents in a circuit.

This sounds like something very insignificant but it’s important to pay attention to such details for many reasons. You should remember that the wrong voltage could damage your items or impair their performance. That’s why you need to know your way around the correct battery voltage for your car’s needs.

The first step should be choosing the correct type of battery for your vehicle before anything else. This will allow your battery to match up to the standards your car needs as far as details like group size, amperage, and all the other important specifications are concerned. That means you shouldn’t be quick to choose any type of battery out there because you could easily end up with one that’s not been specifically designed to power your type of vehicle.

When it comes to the voltage details, the basic type of battery that modern cars need is a 12V battery. This is what most people recognize but you should explore other details that are under the surface.

One of the recommended ways of finding out more about your battery is through a test using a multimeter or a voltmeter. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully depending on what instrument you’re using.

A fully charged battery needs to have a resting voltage indication of around 12.6V or even 12.8V in some cases. Anything below that is an indication that your battery needs to be topped up.

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If it’s down to 11.9V, it shows that your battery is fully discharged.

You can also do a test when the engine is running. You should get a reading of 13.7V to 14.7V for a healthy battery.

Doing these tests helps you to prevent many stressful situations like having an impending battery fail unawares. You should do regular battery checks every few months to make sure everything is functioning as they should.

Does a car battery need a large voltage?

What happens when you have an excess amount of volts than what’s recommend? Does it mean your car will have more ‘juice’ and function at optimum levels?

Having a voltage that’s way too high will cause several problems. Your battery will get damaged, which means you’ll have to replace it prematurely and you’re very likely to experience overheating damage like electrical failures.

Overvoltage is usually caused by overcharging so you should always lookout for the signs. If you do a voltage test and find that you’re getting a reading above the usual limits you’ll need to drain the excess and check if there’s is a problem with the alternator to prevent any complications.

You can also see common signs of overcharging like burnt bulbs and swollen batteries as an indicator that something needs to be adjusted.

Therefore, an excess of volts won’t lead to good results. It’s better to adhere to the recommendations and monitor your battery regularly to clear any issues before it’s too late.

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How do you choose a good car battery?

There will come a time where you’ll need a battery replacement.

There are certain specific types of battery suggestions for your car but you also have the freedom to choose from different options, as long as they meet the specifications. I had mentioned that you first need to make sure the battery you’re looking to buy has been designed for automotive use.

Other than that, some of the other factors to consider are;

Battery Group Size

Choosing the right size isn’t just only for the sake of making sure it fits correctly. It also prevents damage to both battery and car and reduces the chances of a fire.

Reserve Capacity

A high reserve capacity rating means that your battery will supply you with more power in case of a problem like alternator failures.

Cold Cranking Amp rating (CCA)

A high CCA will efficiently allow your engine to start quickly during extremely low-temperature seasons. Low temperatures usually make it harder for cars to start due to slowed chemical reactions and thickened oil.

Age

A newer battery will always be the best option to choose from. Don’t go for the ones that have been on standby for a long time which is usually six months or more since the manufacturing date. Be sure to check if you’re offered a good warranty as well.

Quality

Always go for quality when buying a new battery. These are the established brands that are known to give top quality especially when it comes to battery life. They might cost more but they’re certainly better than cheap ones that need to be replaced more often.

Before buying one, I would recommend that you refer to your manual to confirm if what you’re buying is okay, do some research on your own to get some new ideas that can give you more value for your money or get recommendations from experts. Batteries are quite expensive and that’s why it’s better not to rush the buying process before you’re sure.

What do you need to do if your car battery is dead?

It can happen when you accidentally leave your lights on for a long time or even during extremely cold or hot weather seasons.

The simplest way of reviving your battery is to jumpstart. You should make sure you have working jumper cables in your car in case you find yourself in situations like these.

If your battery keeps dying and is in constant need of jumpstarting, it could be telling you that it needs a  need a replacement very soon especially if you’ve had it for a long time.

Tips

Always remember to put your safety first whenever you’re handling your battery. You don't want to risk your safety in case of any problem.

Do Regular car maintenance because that could save you a lot of time and money.