Battery operation rules in winter
Specifics of battery use in winter
Winter is a difficult period not only for people, but also for the components of cars. Therefore, a new article will talk about the battery. It is an important element that requires special attention. If the battery is left out in the cold all night, problems arise in the morning. To prevent them, you need to know the basic rules of preparing the battery for winter.
General recommendations for using your battery in the winter
The condition of the battery determines the start of the engine. If the driver rarely drives the car in winter, it is advisable to disconnect the battery and place it in the cellar. This protects the device from severe frosts.
Charging the battery before winter is a task that should not be ignored. It's a task that should not be ignored, as it will determine the comfort of your vehicle's future use. If there are problems, you should go to a service station. Specialists will draw conclusions about the condition of the battery. To eliminate problems with charging, electrolytes are used. These are specific substances that conduct an electric current. Their density determines how well the battery is discharged.
The ambient temperature has a strong influence on the internal resistance of the battery. It is not about the resistance of the electrodes and connecting lead parts (their R from temperature changes insignificantly), but about the resistance of the electrolyte. As the temperature decreases, the specific resistance of the electrolyte increases. For example, at t=-40C the resistance increases about 8 times, if compared to R at +30C.
As you know, the approximate service life of a battery is about 5 years, and this applies to all lead-acid batteries, regardless of the application (automotive theme, or the battery in an uninterruptible power supply). Thus, if your battery is not the first freshness, before the winter period of operation you should perform the so-called equalisation charge of the battery. This is carried out using a conventional charger with voltage and current adjustment. The charge is carried out at a constant current equal to 10 per cent of the nominal capacity (constant current charge), but until the current and voltage have not changed for 3 hours.
Specifics of battery storage in winter
How to properly operate the battery in winter? This question should be put in the first place, because without the main source of energy it is impossible to start the engine. Storage of the battery consists in observance of simple rules:
Accumulator storage in winter
- Cleaning the product - in the course of operation, the surface of the battery becomes dirty. Also oxidise the terminals. This problem must be eliminated;
- check the electrolyte level and density of the substance - if there are special devices and skills, the process is performed independently. It is also possible to contact qualified specialists;
- charging - before long-term storage of the battery must be charged. It is not recommended to keep the battery in a discharged state
It should also be remembered that the reduction in winter electrolyte density should be slightly higher than in summer. The approximate density value is 1.29 g/cm3 for the cold climate zone. The electrolyte density can be checked with an areometer – a device for measuring the density of liquids and only for a maintained or low-maintenance battery. The condition of a maintenance-free battery can be assessed by current and voltage readings during the charging process. In addition, cold batteries charge more slowly and sometimes remain undercharged as a result.
|
Voltage |
Grade of charge |
Electrolyte density |
Freezing temperature |
|
12.7 V |
100% |
1.28 g/cm3 |
<-50°C |
|
12.5 V |
80% |
1.24 g/cm3 |
-40°C |
|
12.3 V |
60% |
1.21 g/cm3 |
-30°C |
|
12.1 V |
40% |
1.18 g/cm3 |
-20°C |
|
11.9V |
20% |
1.14 g/cm3 |
-14°C |
|
11.7V |
0 % |
1.10 g/cm3 |
-5°C |
Why do you need to insulate your battery in winter?"
The constituent parts of the car work normally at moderate temperatures. When the values drop to -14 degrees, the battery is subjected to supercooling. For this reason, the capacity of the battery is reduced. This reduces the number of attempts to start the engine in cold weather.
Options for insulating the battery in winter
If you are interested in the moment, how to store the car battery in winter, listen to our recommendations. We know of several effective methods:
- comprehensive solution - it means insulating the engine compartment and the battery. This has a positive effect on the functioning of devices in frosty winters;
- use of factory insulation - to insulate the battery, you can buy a special product made in the form of a thermal case. It is made of insulating material and is equipped with heating elements;
- use of them.
- application of nichrome thread is a good way. Nichrome thread is sold in the shop in different versions. To solve the task at hand, it is included in the circuit.
How to insulate a battery with your own hands?
There are several methods of self-insulating the battery in winter. These include the use of common materials: «Isolon», foam, fur and even foil plastic. They are used to make a so-called «fur coat». To do this, the product is wrapped with heat-insulating material, which is fixed with tape. As additional methods of insulating the battery, heating with coolant and from the on-board network is used.
Correct use of the battery in winter is the key to long battery life and easy engine starting in frosty weather. A faulty battery can affect the starter. To make sure that the starter is working properly, you can use the starter and alternator test bench, the price of which can be found on our website. They are useful for every car owner.
