22 Years' Battery Customization
Feb 17, 2022 Pageview：664
Batteries have been around for several centuries now. And yet, many people still don't understand them fully.
Most users only know how to put the battery in their devices and twitch it on. For instance, car owners rely on mechanics to find suitable batteries.
However, it would be nice to know some terminologies that define batteries. And that is what we shall be doing in this guide. We will be looking at a battery's amp hours.
What does it mean, and how does it affect your usage? Keep reading to discover more.
What Are Car Battery Amp-Hours?
Car batteries are judged based on different factors. One needs to understand what makes one battery different from another in terms of performance.
One of the parameters we use for this is capacity. This term describes how many amps a battery can give in a specified time.
The standard measure of a battery capacity in Amp-hours is simple Ah. We use this measure to determine how much capacity the battery has.
Capacity is simply the amount of time a battery can retain power. It's often confused with voltage for those who don't know much about batteries.
Car batteries are often rated as 12V batteries. A typical rating for the capacity is 48Ah. It's a rating that defines a standard car battery and promises the best services.
A more common measure when choosing car batteries is Cold Cranking Amps, CCA. A typical 12v car battery will come with this measure.
You may have also come across something called Reserve Capacity (RC). This is a more specific measure used for car batteries.
In simple terms, the Ah rating determines the power and longevity of a car battery. It stands for how long a battery will last if it's not recharged.
For instance, a battery rated as 8Ah will give 4 amps in 2 hours. If the battery is 100Ah, it gives 100 Amps per hour.
CCA is also crucial because it determines the battery's power to start an engine under cold weather. Hence, choosing a battery with the right CCA should be among your priorities.
Therefore, should you note these two key figures? Yes. You don't need a powerful battery to power a 1.0 litre hatchback car. At the same time, a higher CCA is required to get a diesel engine moving than for a petrol engine.
If you are storing your battery, it helps to charge it severally every month. Hash weather tends to affect the capacity of a battery, and you do not get much use from it when the need arises.
Take your vehicle for long drives every once in a while. This gets the battery fully charged and restores its capacity.
When comparing batteries for purchase, compare their Amp hour. The rating will be displayed on the side or on the sales information for deep cycle batteries. A starting battery will not show this rating because it's not designed to give continuous power in amp-hours.
What Is Marine Battery Amp Hours?
Boaters must understand the different ratings that determine battery capacities. One of these ratings is amperage measured in amp-hours. Sometimes manufacturers use such specifications, and you may be wondering what they are all about.
Making the correct choice determines how well your battery will serve your needs. Marine batteries are no exception.
Like in car batteries, a common rating for marine batteries is the CCA. You may also meet the term 'marine cranking amps,' MCA. All these are terms that describe amperage in marine batteries. They are crucial values in understanding if the battery is strong enough to start a boat's engine and run its electrical systems.
Unfortunately, some manufacturers don't share this information. Users don't show much concern about such things either, making it easy to ignore.
CCA specification is determined at 0 degree F, while MCA values start at 32 degrees F. MCA ratings allows the battery manufacturers to include high cranking numbers in the specs. And since people are always impressed by bigger numbers, MCA-rated batteries sell much faster.
A battery with 800CA shows a significant difference from 800 MCA concerning the real cranking amps. An MCA battery will deliver 800amps per hour at 0 degrees F. You will get something much lower.
Determining cranking amp requirements for a marine vessel
Your boat has an amp clamp around the biggest red wire on the starter motor. This is where you will find the cranking amp requirements for your vessel. When someone cranks over the engine, you can note the amperage on the meter.
Is it worth knowing how much amperage goes into your starter motor? Yes. It will give you some peace of mind knowing you have the right battery for the job.
Amp Hour Specification
Now that you understand CCA and MCA for boats, the amp-hour rating should be easy to know. This is the specification you need to know for servicing most onboard DC loads and appliances specific to your needs.
However, be aware that this reading can be a bit misleading unless you fully understand how it works. This industry generally uses a 20-hour rate. It's sometimes expressed as the C-rating. You will find ratings like C-20 or C-100. In this case, the C-100 battery represents a 100-hour rate.
Consider how much amperage a battery can deliver during a specified time interval. Experts recommend picking a C-20 rating.
A fully charged 12-V battery mat read 100 Ah at a 20-hour rate. This means the battery can give 5 amps in 20 hours before requiring a recharge.
Is Higher Ah Battery Better?
Generally, a higher Ah battery promises better performance in delivering more current. That comes to more power in Watt. Therefore, a higher Ah-rated car battery will give more cold cranking amps. A deep-cycle battery promises medium currents for a longer time.
Although car batteries are measured in capacity, CA and CCA parameters are more valuable. Both are high where Ah is high.
So yes, a higher Ah battery is better. Nevertheless, it depends on the application. It's essential to know the power needs of your application.
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