We are looking for a replacement battery before frost

The average life of a modern car battery is about 3 years. Some drivers claim that their batteries last from 5 to 8 years, and that batteries used to be made for people, and not to be changed every year.


There is a sound idea in this statement, only a few nuances need to be taken into account:

• ? Technology is getting better
  
• ? On old and budget cars, where there are not even electric windows, the level of energy consumption is low
  
• ? Modern cars are equipped with electronic options to the maximum
  

It follows from this that earlier the battery was only required to start the car, but now it must ensure the performance of electronics, door closers, parking sensors, audio and security systems. So there is nothing surprising in the fact that now batteries are nursed for 2-3 years, no. The level of energy consumption has increased significantly.



It's getting colder outside, winter will come in a few months, so every driver needs to be confident in his car and battery. No one wants to go out one morning and find out that the battery is dead and cannot even crank the starter.

So, it's time to choose a new battery, especially if the old one has had to be recharged several times over the past couple of months.

What you need to know before choosing a battery?

Car batteries can be divided into three groups. The third type is rare, and is not popular due to the high price.

The most popular types of batteries:

• ? Lead acid
  
• ? AGM
  
• ? Gel
  

The most popular were and remain lead-acid batteries. They are cheaper than others, they can be recharged, but it is not recommended to completely discharge them.



AGM batteries are significantly more expensive, but they do not leak, they can be installed in any position. On the other hand, batteries in cars are installed in certain positions, so at first glance there is no point in AGM.

Gel batteries are durable, sealed, and last about twice as long as lead-acid and AGM models. But the cost of such batteries is high, so they are rarely found on sale, they are usually brought to order and used as an additional (second) battery.

Despite the high price, it is recommended to use AGM batteries for "fresh" and energy-saturated cars. Such models provide a high starting current, and charge faster from the generator.

Most cars can use lead-acid batteries. As for the selection algorithm, everything is simple here - the instruction manual for each car says which battery is suitable.

You should not buy a more powerful battery than recommended by the manufacturer - in some cases, the generator simply will not be able to fully charge it, and the battery will constantly discharge.

Top 5 car batteries

Usually, when choosing any spare parts, the rule applies - the more expensive, the better. This also applies to batteries, although sometimes it happens that the high price is just a payment for the brand.

BOSCH S4 005 Silver

A popular battery among Russian drivers. The cost is around 6 rubles. Many people buy it in full confidence that BOSCH simply cannot be bad. Capacity - 500 Ah, starting current - 60 A.



In practice, this battery demonstrates average performance, often yielding to more budget brands of the same capacity. It is not recommended for cold regions - despite all the manufacturer's assurances of using the latest patented technologies, the battery does not like frost.

Judging by the tests in the cold, BOSCH S4 005 Silver loses even Tyumen brand batteries. Although, judging by customer reviews, the battery takes care of its 3 years, often more. Whether the battery from Tyumen will last that long is a big question.

Judging by the drop in sales over the past 5 years, motorists are gradually disappointed in the German brand and are switching to budget brands.

Topla Energy 108060

A fairly popular brand in recent years, actively advertised by battery sellers. In fact, a high-quality battery with a starting current of 600 amperes and a capacity of 60 Ah. It costs about 6 rubles.

During tests in cold weather, Topla Energy quickly spins the starter. There is only one “but” - when buying this battery, you need to be sure that your car is in good technical condition. If the car starts far from the first time, then Topla Energy will not be enough for a long time, after 5 attempts the battery will weaken, and the probability of starting will deteriorate sharply.



On the other hand, if the car is in good condition, then the battery does an excellent job of starting large-capacity gasoline and diesel engines.

Topla Energy is an excellent battery, the balance between price and quality has been achieved, but the car should start at least 2-3 times.

TAB Magic

Slovenian battery, produced in the same factory as Topla. There is an opinion that these two brands use the same equipment and technologies. A young brand, batteries in the range under consideration (60 Ah) for TAB have the same starting current - 600 A. By the way, the Ah for TAB is not 60, but 62 - such a marketing ploy.



But as for the reviews, the TAB Magic batteries from experienced drivers are quoted much lower than those produced at the same Slovenian Topla plant. If we put aside all the advertising slogans, in fact it turns out that TAB Magic batteries serve less than Fuel.

Banner Running Bull

The battery is made using AGM technology, which explains its high cost. At 60 Ah, it has a starting current of 640 amperes, which makes the battery the leader in this parameter.





One could call the battery the best in the mini-review, even turning a blind eye to the high price, but in the conditions of the Russian winter, the battery immediately lowers its performance. This could be put up with if the price was kept around 7 rubles, but not over 000.

Mutlu SFB 3

The best cheap battery. Although the starting current is 540 amps, not 600, this is enough to confidently start a car engine designed for a 60 Ah battery.



The main advantage of the battery is its durability. A manufacturer from Turkey does not try to increase the starting current at the expense of quality.
Tests in the cold showed that Mutlu SFB 3 turns the starter longer than the eminent BOSCH. The frost resistance of the battery is higher than that of the more expensive Topla and TAB, and even exceeds this parameter of the Banner Running Bull, which costs more than 2 times more.




Advantages of Mutlu SFB 3:

• ? Price
  
• ? Quality
  
• ? Quietly withstands frosts down to -30 degrees
  

The best battery in the review in terms of price / quality ratio can rightly be called Mutlu SFB 3. The brand is not promoted, but the Turkish manufacturer is confidently gaining credibility among motorists.

Mutlu SFB 3 is a contender for the role of a budget replacement for an old battery. You should not chase brands if there is quality at a reasonable price.

Buying a battery before winter is not a mandatory procedure. If the old battery holds a charge confidently, then it is not worth changing it yet.