Serviced and maintenance free battery. What to choose?

A battery stores and stores energy that can be used as electricity. It is impossible to bring a car without it. If this element fails, it most often needs to be replaced. Charging only helps to delay the purchase of a new device for a short time, and here car owners have a question - what type of battery to choose?

Serviceable battery

The battery has this name because you can actually unscrew the caps from the cans and see what is inside, as well as check the level and condition of the electrolyte, density, condition of the lead plates, the presence of sulfate crystals, boiling during charging. This is quite a significant plus - you can control the battery and make the right decision in a timely manner.

Maintenance free battery

This battery does not require maintenance. The device does not have unscrewable plugs - you won’t be able to see its “insides”. This is a sealed design with six jars, each containing a plate and filled with electrolyte - all of them are in a completely sealed space. When heated and then boiled, the electrochemical liquid rises in the form of steam. However, it does not come out of the sealed housing, but condenses on the walls and falls back down.

There are several different battery technologies of this type, for example:

• with liquid electrolyte - have sealed holes into which distilled water is added;
• gel - with thickened, dried silica gel, permeated with microcracks that do not allow electrolyte evaporation to evaporate;
• AGM – with absorbed electrolyte, which almost does not emit gases during operation, develops high discharge currents and does not require maintenance during the entire service life;
• EFB - improved acid batteries with a thin layer of hygroscopic fiber applied to the positive plate, which prevents the active mass from shedding.

Which is better?

It is quite difficult to give a definite answer about which battery is better. The peace and safety of not only the car, but also the nervous system of its owner depends on the correct choice. When studying the store’s assortment, you need to clearly understand what you expect from a new device, and also know what specific battery characteristics are needed in your particular case.

Of the obvious advantages maintenance-free batteries It can be noted that they do not require constant verification and monitoring. In such models, the electrolyte boils away significantly less than in service models. They also have a longer lifespan and produce more inrush current when starting the vehicle.

The advantages of batteries that do not require maintenance include their low degree of self-discharge. Any battery will discharge when stored for a long time. However, these batteries lose only up to 2% of their charge monthly, while serviced batteries lose up to 20% of their charge over the same period of time. Therefore, installing the former eliminates the possibility that the car will suddenly become unusable due to a frozen or discharged battery.

The charging process of this battery has one important feature that should be taken into account when purchasing it. This requires using only a special charger, which eliminates manual adjustment of the current power. Application conventional device is fraught with squeezing out boiling electrolyte from the battery if the current through the emergency valve is incorrectly set. Subsequently, this affects the density of the liquid in the battery and reduces its service life.

Despite all the advantages of maintenance-free batteries, the production of maintenance-free batteries has not yet ceased. The fairly high demand for them is largely due to their low price compared to models without maintenance. Also, quality work maintenance-free batteries requires good automotive electrics, which is difficult to achieve in e.g. cars domestic production. Short-circuiting or overcharging is not allowed; the device must be charged at a constant, even voltage, without surges, in a strict range: from 13.9 to 14.4 Volts. When discharged, you cannot use a conventional charger - to replenish the energy of such a battery, a special charger is required that holds D.C. on the terminals.

Battery maintenance is necessary if, as a result of use, the performance characteristics of the battery have decreased (the starter turns too slowly, the car does not start, etc.). The main reason is the deviation of the battery from operating parameters. Service includes:

• adding distilled water (electrolyte);
• cleaning the body from white deposits and dirt;
• recharging with a charger.

High-quality battery maintenance reduces the likelihood of its rapid failure and increases the reliability of engine starting in the cold season.

Thus, there is no definite answer which battery is better - each type of device has its own disadvantages and advantages. For car enthusiasts, owners of new vehicles with modern electronics, the best option are maintenance-free products, and experienced car owners serviced models can also be selected.

Whatever device you prefer, you should purchase it only from reliable auto stores that provide receipts and warranty cards. This will save you from the high costs of repairing or replacing the battery if it breaks down: expertise in service center will identify a manufacturing defect and will be the basis for a free battery replacement.

These batteries come in different types: Liquid, Gel and AGM. Let's start with the fact that these are all acid batteries and the principle of their operation is no different from each other.

12 Volt Battery consists of six cells in which there are electrode blocks consisting of plates (grids) positive and negative with an active mass applied to them and separated from each other by a separator, all of this is filled with electrolyte. The process of formation (generation) of electricity occurs through chemical interaction between the active mass deposited on the grid and the electrolyte.

Basics fundamental difference Conventional liquid, Gel (GEL) and VRLA or SLA batteries created using AGM technology lies in the physical state of the electrolyte:

• Conventional batteries have liquid electrolyte.
• Gel (GEL) - electrolyte thickened to a non-fluid state using special additives.
• VRLA or SLA, produced using AGM technology - the electrolyte is absorbed (soaked) into the separator.

The electrode grids that hold the active mass are doped with antimony and arsenic. Additives improve casting manufacturability, increase the hardness and corrosion resistance of electrodes. At the same time, antimony promotes increased consumption water and reducing the emf of the battery during operation.

Further development led to a decrease in the proportion of antimony in the composition of the alloy from which the gratings are cast. This led to the emergence of low-maintenance batteries (low-antimony technologies), and the battery life also increased. Then calcium replaced antimony from the negative plates. “Hybrid” batteries appeared and began to require topping up even less frequently.

The use of calcium in positive and negative plates (calcium technology) has led to the emergence of batteries that theoretically do not require refilling throughout their entire service life. However, such batteries fail from deep discharges. To increase durability, silver was added to the lead-calcium alloy of positive plates. The use of labyrinth caps and plugs, which condense the remaining evaporated water and return it back to the battery, has led to the appearance of completely maintenance-free batteries throughout their entire life.

Gel batteries appeared with the beginning of space exploration. The gel obtained by adding silicon dioxide to sulfuric acid makes it possible to achieve complete sealing of the battery, since all gas evolution occurs inside the pores in the gel mass. Such batteries have no equal in resistance to deep discharges; they are much more durable than traditional ones. But gel batteries have not become widespread among motorists due to very high requirements to on-board electrical equipment and due to a sharp drop in starting current in the cold.

Most modern technology(AGM) returned to liquid acid again, but now the electrolyte is held in the pores of a separator made of ultra-thin glass fibers. This design allows not only to seal the case, but also to maintain the functionality of the battery even if the outer shell is damaged. AGM batteries are insensitive to temperature fluctuations, very resistant to deep discharges, durable, vibration-resistant and can work even while lying on their side, but are afraid of overcharging.

FEATURES OF GEL BATTERIES

Gel electrolyte fills the space between the battery plates, but a separator is not excluded. Recombination of gases in gel batteries has an efficiency of up to 97%. The gel more effectively fixes the material of the plates, reducing their wear in deep discharge modes, therefore the cyclic life of gel batteries is 2-3 times higher than that of conventional ones, so it is advisable to use them in cases where such an application (cyclic mode with deep discharge) is in demand. Gel batteries can also be used in any position (except upside down) and have a slightly lower self-discharge, so it is preferable to use gel batteries in modes where the discharge is carried out at a low current for a long time.

In a gel electrolyte, ions have worse mobility (due to the higher density of the medium), which negatively affects the dynamic discharge and charging characteristics of gel batteries. Moreover, a temporary dip in voltage may occur with a sharp increase in load, which can lead to inappropriate behavior of the equipment; Therefore, caution should be exercised when using gel batteries in current control systems, etc. devices with switching of rapidly changing currents. Gel batteries are very sensitive to the quality of charging; batteries with gel inside can only be used where the on-board electrics allow very precise maintenance of the charge mode. Where there on domestic cars even with a working relay-regulator, the voltage “walks” from 13 to 16 volts! And on most foreign cars it’s not much better. And if the relay-regulator fails, then the gel battery can be thrown away immediately. It’s not for nothing that it is written on it: the charge voltage is no more than 14.4 V. If it is more, then the gel melts like jellied meat in the heat and is no longer restored. And here's another thing: real gel batteries Of course, there can be a huge current, but only in the summer. The gel is already viscous, but in the cold it completely hardens. As a result, the characteristics drop by half or more.

Charging of gel batteries is limited to very low currents, otherwise there is a danger of “swelling” of the gel with excess gases due to lower recombination efficiency and limited thermal conductivity. It is preferable to power gel batteries from chargers with high quality voltage (stability, minimum ripple) to avoid overcharging and overheating, they cannot tolerate even short-term short circuits- any short circuit (for example, when installing a battery, you accidentally short-circuited two poles with a metal wrench for a split second) instantly disables the battery.

High vibrations cause the gel to liquefy and flow off the plates. As you can see, gel batteries are “better” (so to speak), only in terms of increased cyclic life and lower % self-discharge. In addition, this type of battery is the most expensive.

LEAD ACID, SEALED, VALVE-RECOMBINATION BATTERIES (VRLA or SLA)

• VRLA(Valve Regulated Lead Acid) translated from English - Valve-Regulated Lead Acid;
• SLA(Sealed Lead Acid) - Sealed Lead Acid;
• AGM(Absorbent Glass Mat) is a manufacturing technology lead acid batteries, created by Gates Rubber Company engineers in the early 1970s. Porous glass fiber sorbent (AGM) is an absorbent separator used between the plates in a VRLA battery.

A special feature of VRLA batteries is the absence of the need to add water during the entire service life and the almost complete absence of the release of gases (hydrogen and oxygen) - products of electrolysis of water included in the electrolyte. Therefore, they are often called sealed maintenance-free. Minor maintenance is, however, necessary: ​​first of all, visual inspection, wiping off dust, tightening connections and checking stress.

Due to the design features and composition of the materials of the plates, separators and electrolyte, the products of water electrolysis - hydrogen and oxygen molecules - in batteries of this type recombine, turning into water molecules and returning to the electrolyte.

The recombination coefficient under normal operating conditions is quite high and can reach >99%. Therefore, only a very small part of the non-recombined gases accumulates inside the battery housing and then, when a given pressure level is exceeded, is released into the atmosphere through special valves.

Advantages:

• Vibration resistant, can be installed in any position and requires no maintenance, high inrush current.
• Maintenance-free design.
• The design is sealed and valve-regulated, preventing acid leakage and terminal corrosion.
• Safer operation: with correct charging batteries eliminates the possibility of gas release and the danger of explosion.
• The sealed design allows the battery to be installed in almost any position (upside down installation is not recommended, however).
• Confident work with low temperatures(below - 40*C), low self-discharge (only 15 - 20% per year of inactivity), complete maintenance-free and long service life, up to 12 - 15 years.
• Increased vibration resistance increases service life.
• They provide a number of complete (70%) discharge cycles of about 500 times.

Flaws:

• Should not be stored in a discharged state, the voltage should not fall below 10.8 V. Extremely sensitive to excess charge voltage.
  To charge batteries made using AGM technology, it is advisable to use a special charger with appropriate charge parameters that differ from the charge of classic batteries with liquid electrolyte. AGM batteries are not as capricious as gel batteries, but they also require attention to the condition of the generator and relay regulator. The fact is that in batteries of this type there is very little electrolyte, and if it boils away, it is impossible to top it up.
• High price.

Batteries produced using AGM technology are manufactured in a spiral or flat-plate configuration. Spiral elements have a larger surface contact area, which makes it possible to produce high currents for a short time and charge faster. However, the downside is that the battery's specific capacity (the ratio of electrical capacity to size) is reduced compared to a flat configuration. Both technologies are promising. At the moment, the most common car batteries are AGM with a flat block configuration. SpiraCell spiral blocks are patented by Johnson Controls for the Optima series and cannot be used without their permission, unlike flat blocks. Spiral batteries have higher current output characteristics and lower internal resistance due to the larger working surface of the plates at the same external dimensions batteries. In simple terms, they are more powerful.

Lead-acid batteries with bound electrolyte, made using AGM technology, appeared about 40 years ago - they were invented to operate in buffer mode in stationary uninterruptible power supply systems. Such batteries are good from a safety point of view, since they practically do not emit gases formed during charging into the atmosphere. In the 90s of the last century, AGM technology took root in motorsports. Firstly, again because of safety - now thanks to the completely sealed battery case, which prevents leakage of electrolyte in the event of an accident. And secondly, due to their compactness - due to the low resistance of separators not insulating, but separators impregnated with electrolyte, they produce a large starting current with a smaller capacity, that is, with fewer plates in the package. AGM batteries appeared on conventional cars more than ten years ago. Currently, AGM car starter batteries are used as a power source for the “Start-Stop” system, which is equipped with a number of car models from leading manufacturers due to the ability to quickly give and receive large amounts of energy, the ability to painlessly withstand deep discharges (with periodic discharges more 50% AGM - the battery will last four times longer than a regular one) and will not degrade with frequent discharge-charge cycles. After all, fiberglass mats, in addition to everything, mechanically hold the active mass on the plates, preventing it from crumbling. That is why, on cars with a Start-Stop system, such a battery can last four to five years, and not two to three years, like a regular “liquid” one.

1. Ensure normal operation when operating in enclosed ventilated areas at temperatures from -40 to +45 °C and without damage to performance characteristics during transportation and storage in packaging, withstand temperatures in the range from -50 to +50 °C.
2. Provide seismic resistance when installed in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements. The battery must remain operational under seismic impacts with acceleration values ​​of 0.9d and 0.6d - in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, as well as during their simultaneous impact in the frequency range from 3 to 35 Hz.
3. Batteries must have a sealed connection between the lid and the tank and plug, withstand excess or reduced pressure by 20 kPa compared to atmospheric pressure, and must have special agglomerated ceramic filter plugs to prevent the release of gas, aerosols and electrolyte from the battery.
4. It is advisable that containers for low-maintenance batteries be made of transparent plastic, which will facilitate their maintenance.
5. Batteries in dry form (without electrolyte) should not have electrical conductivity. The internal resistance of charged batteries should not exceed the specified values.
6. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) must comply with the purity specifications provided by BS 3031 and VDE 0510, the specific gravity of the acid for batteries with Plante plates is 1.20 kg/l ± 0.005 at +20 ° C and for other types 1.22 kg /l ± 0.005 at +20 °C. The density of the charged battery electrolyte should be 1.24 kg/l ± 0.01 at +20 °C.
7. The battery capacity must comply with the DIN 40736 standard as well as the IEC standard. A number of batteries of the same name should provide the ability to select the required capacity as accurately as possible.
8. The batteries in the battery are operated in a constant recharge mode with a voltage of 2.23 BxN+1%, where N is the number of elements in the battery. In this case, the voltage deviation by individual elements can be +0.1 V... - 0.05 V. Recharging operation of 2.23 BxN+2% is allowed, but the battery life may be reduced by 15%.
9. The batteries must have 95% of the rated capacity in the first cycle at 1 0, 5, 3, 1, 1/2, 1/6 - hour discharge modes and 100% capacity in the third cycle. Nominal capacity The battery capacity is considered to be at a 10-hour discharge to a final discharge voltage of 1.8 V per cell and an initial electrolyte density of 1.24 kg/l.
10. To avoid deep discharges, batteries should not be discharged below the final voltage values ​​specified in the documentation for this type of battery. Batteries must be capable of short-term discharges up to a final voltage of 1.35 V per cell without compromising their performance characteristics. The batteries must provide a short-term (1 min) discharge with a current of 1.39 A, the final voltage on the battery should not be lower than 1.45 V.
11. The self-discharge of fully charged batteries after 30 days of inactivity should not exceed 3% at a temperature of +20 °C and double with an increase in temperature for every + 10 °C.
12. Batteries must provide operating time in accordance with the values ​​​​defined by the manufacturer. Battery life is related to such parameters as constant recharge current, recharge voltage, temperature environment, characteristics of the charging unit, quality of service.
13. During the entire service life, failures affecting the performance of the batteries are permissible on no more than one battery per year out of 10,000 in use.
14. The shelf life of batteries without electrolyte (in original packaging) from the date of manufacture until they are brought into working condition must be at least four years.

If the engine is the heart of the car, then the battery is its irreplaceable energy source. Like any electrical appliance, it also breaks down. Many drivers ask questions about what is better - a serviced battery or a maintenance-free one, what are the pros and cons of this or that device, and which one is more economically feasible to purchase.

Electrical appliance of serviced type

Any electrical appliance has its own strengths and weaknesses. Every amateur driver will be able to clearly answer the question whether a maintenance-free or maintenance-free battery is better.

Positive aspects

In the case of a serviceable battery, the name itself speaks for itself, that is, it can be disassembled, a breakdown analysis can be carried out and failed elements can be replaced. The following work can be carried out in this type of battery:

• check the electrolyte level in the banks;
• check the density of the working solution;
• visually analyze the color of the electrolyte and check for the presence of lead sulfate crystals in it;
• the ability to inspect lead plates for damage;
• see if the solution boils during charging.

All these features are a definite plus, since the driver can independently conduct various experiments and learn how to configure his battery so that it will last a long time and without failures. He can change the density of the electrolyte, add distiller to it, select the desired level of the working solution, and adjust its density according to the season and temperature conditions.

Negative points and inconveniences

Negative aspects of serviced batteries:

1. The leakage of the housing of such a battery constantly leads to evaporation of liquid. This process is activated during the hot season, so if you forget to add distiller to the device’s jars, the level of the solution in it may drop so low that it will be impossible to start the vehicle.
2. Constant evaporation of water leads to an increase in the concentration of sulfuric acid, which leads to wear of all battery elements and a decrease in its service life. Most often it is the lead plates that suffer.
3. When evaporating, acid enters the battery cover and a white coating forms on top of the device, which conducts current and can lead to an external partial short circuit of the positive and negative terminals. This process leads to rapid discharge of the entire battery.

The main problem with maintained batteries is constant monitoring of the electrolyte level. Great inconvenience arises in winter, when it is necessary to monitor not only the level of the solution, but also its density. It is recommended to check the level and recharge the battery once every 2 weeks.

You need to know that it is the distiller that needs to be added, and not the electrolyte, to the battery jars. This work should be carried out carefully, since when water gets into sulfuric acid, a large amount of energy is released in the form of heat, and the solution can splash out, burning your hands and even your face.

Therefore, such actions should be carried out carefully, wearing gloves and a mask on the face and adding water in small portions to the electrolyte.

Maintenance free battery

This type of battery is a sealed case, which is devoid of any plugs or covers; there are only terminals on its surface. It consists of 6 sections, and the principle of its operation is absolutely the same as for the serviced battery.

The main difference is the sealed housing. During operation, the electrolyte may boil and the distiller evaporate, but since the steam cannot leave the volumes of the body, it cools, condenses and flows down the walls. The result is a constant level of the working solution, and fluctuations in its density are minimal, that is, by using a sealed housing, it was possible to solve all the main problems of the electrical appliance being serviced. It is recommended for beginners to purchase it.

The negative points when using this type of battery are as follows:

1. The electrolyte in one or some banks may turn black, and this cannot be detected, since the case is made opaque on maintenance-free batteries. Cloudiness or blackening of the electrolyte occurs when the lead plates begin to deteriorate. This can happen at high temperatures and when the device is used incorrectly, for example: recharging it frequently summer time or partial formation of ice in it in winter.
2. Some sections or banks may fail, causing the battery to lose the output voltage necessary to operate the vehicle systems. On serviced batteries, you can immediately measure each cell with a voltmeter and localize the problem; this cannot be done on a sealed battery.
3. It is impossible to measure the density and level of the working solution.

To solve these problems, the battery is equipped with an emergency pressure relief valve and an indicator of electrolyte level and density. However, if the emergency release valve opens frequently, the solution will be lost in the form of steam, which cannot be added to the jars, which leads to a gradual weakening of the battery capacity.

Thus, if we answer the question of which battery is better, then for a beginner we should recommend this particular type of battery, which only needs to be used correctly, avoiding frequent recharging and deep discharge, and then it will last a long time.

Selecting a device type

Currently, about 80% of all batteries on sale are of the maintenance-free type, and if we consider the question in the general case, which battery is better - serviced or maintenance-free, then for all categories of drivers it is recommended to choose the latter type, since its correct operation ensures a long service life services.

On average, a well-maintained battery lasts about 2-3 years without interruption if it is treated correctly. A maintenance-free option can successfully perform its functions for 5-7 years. Such batteries are guaranteed from 24 to 36 months, but if you choose a maintenance-free type of battery, you should opt for well-known companies.

If you purchase inexpensive batteries with a sealed case, then most likely they will fail in 2-3 years, since such models use thin lead plates that quickly begin to deteriorate.

Cheap devices usually come with a warranty of up to 1 year.

Battery design

Before choosing a serviceable one, you should decide on the type of its design. Based on this indicator, there are 3 options:

If the driver has an old Zhiguli, then the best solution would be to purchase a standard acid battery. For a new car, it is preferable to take AGM batteries, which are capable of delivering a higher current at the start. As for gel batteries, they can be considered a luxury due to their high price. Also, these reliable devices are used to power powerful audio systems or to drive winches on those equipped with it. vehicles. In the latter case, in addition to the helium battery, another battery is used, which powers the electronic components of the car.

Other indicators

When choosing a battery, you should pay attention to other properties. One of them is the inrush current, which is indicated on the label of the device case. It is measured according to the following standards:

• EN: European standard indicating the maximum current in Amperes that a device can produce at a temperature of -18˚C for 10 seconds, while the voltage should not fall below 7.5 V.
• SAE: This is an American standard that determines the same current at the same temperature, but for 30 seconds. at a voltage not lower than 7.2 V.
• DIN: This is an industrial German standard according to which the current is measured under the same conditions as in the SAE standard, only the voltage must not fall below 9 V.

It is the DIN standard that is preferable when choosing a powerful battery, since it undergoes more stringent testing compared to European and American standards. For example, 360 A according to the German standard corresponds to about 600 A according to EN. It is recommended to focus on this indicator if the battery is purchased for use in harsh winter conditions.

In addition to the starting current, important characteristic is the battery capacity. It is always written on the battery case, and you should purchase a new device with a capacity not less than the specified one.

The most common models are those that have this characteristic between 55 and 70 Ah.

The best battery brands

You can now find many companies and brands of batteries on the market. Such variety makes it difficult to choose. It is recommended to keep the following battery brands in mind when purchasing a new device (the price in rubles is indicated in brackets):

• Lead-acid devices: Mutlu Silver Evolution 55 (3560), Aktex (AT) 55A3 (3620), Beast (3B) 55A3 (4200), Tyumen battery standard (3400), Tornado 55 A/h (2500).
• AGM: Bosch 5951 (5700), Kaynar Bars Premium 55 Ah (5250), Tudor AGM (8800), Banner Running Bull (9700).
• Gel devices: Optima Yellow Top 55 Ah (17750).

From the above data we can conclude that gel batteries are twice as more expensive devices AGM, and 5 times more expensive than conventional batteries.

When choosing a battery for a car, you may find that there are two main types. Which battery to choose: serviceable or not? How to use maintenance-free and what are its advantages? We will answer these and other questions in our article.

A maintenance-free battery is a closed type battery; its case is completely sealed and the owner does not have access to the insides of the battery. This means that you cannot unscrew any elements and see what is inside. If you turn this type of battery over, the acid solution will not spill out of it.

How to find out if a battery is serviceable or not

When choosing a new battery for your car, pay attention to the design of the case. How to find out a serviceable power supply? If the surface is smooth, characterized by the presence of an indicator and several holes for venting gases, then this means that you have a maintenance-free option. If, in addition to the named elements, there are plugs that can be unscrewed and you can see the inside of the battery - electrolyte, plates, then this is a serviceable battery.

Maintenance-free car battery design

As can be seen in the figure, a maintenance-free battery has the same structure as a serviceable one - plates and an acid solution (electrolyte). The structure of a maintenance-free car battery is as follows:

• negatively and positively charged lattice plates made of lead;
• jars - separate containers in which plates are installed;
• electrolyte - acid solution;
• a housing that must have terminals and optionally have indicators or plugs.

Attention! In gel power supplies, which we will talk about in another section, the presence of spiral electrodes is allowed instead of the usual plates.

The lattice structure of the plates is impregnated with electrolyte and guarantees high-quality chemical reaction. To prevent differently charged electrodes from touching, they are separated by a separator. It does not interfere with the movement of the acid solution, but prevents short circuiting.

The battery case is made of durable material, since its main function is to ensure structural integrity. It is characterized by resistance to external and chemical influences.

The plugs on the batteries indicate their serviceability - if necessary, you can unscrew them and carry out maintenance on the power source, add water, determine the electrolyte level, etc. The difference between maintenance-free batteries is that there are no plugs on the case.

Service life of a maintenance-free car battery

One of the parameters for choosing a battery is the duration of its use. How long does a maintenance-free car battery last? The guaranteed operation of this type of battery is 5-6 years. Proper use of a maintenance-free car battery implies the following:

• no undercharging or overcharging;
• the voltage when restoring capacity using the device is no more than 14.5 volts.

It is worth considering that other factors also affect the battery life:

• temperature conditions;
• good condition of the machine's electrical system;
• leakage current;
• type of ride.

Many tests and checks have shown that the battery is famous manufacturers differs in a longer period of use than nonames. This is due to technological processes manufacturing.

Types and characteristics of maintenance-free batteries

Nowadays you can find serviced and maintenance-free power supplies on the market. The development of technology has made it possible to produce products in which electrode grids are made with the addition of calcium. This approach made it possible to reduce the amount of water boiled away, and therefore relieved the car owner from the need to control the electrolyte level. The sealed lead-acid battery is the main type of these batteries.

Since water losses still remained, they began to add antimony (to positive) and calcium (to negative) to the composition of the plates. The technology of hybrid power supplies for cars labeled Ca+ or Hybrid has appeared. They have become the golden mean in terms of water consumption. Please note that hybrid batteries are also available in serviceable housings.

A new round of technology has become gel and AGM batteries, in which the electrolyte is not in liquid form. In AGM batteries, the electrolyte is located in a porous filler, which prevents water evaporation. The gel structure of the acid solution also minimized water loss and made it possible to create a completely maintenance-free battery.

Pros and cons of maintenance-free batteries

Maintenance-free and maintenance-free power supplies - each has its own benefits. At first glance, it seems that maintenance-free batteries have only advantages. For those who recently bought a car or do not want to maintain it themselves - yes. However, for those who are used to monitoring the important components of the machine, such power sources are unusual - you can’t get inside, you don’t need to add anything. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of maintenance-free batteries.

Advantages of maintenance-free batteries

• They do not require special attention or periodic inspection.
• Unpretentious in operation.
• No water loss due to the tightness of the housing.
• Work in any position - liquid does not leak out of the housing.
• Long service life of a maintenance-free car battery.

It is worth noting that the majority modern cars The car is equipped with a closed battery from the factory, but this does not mean that they do not require attention. We strongly recommend that you periodically recharge the power supply to extend its life. Do not set the voltage to charger more than 14.5 volts. A sealed battery is not always equipped with gas release valves, so we recommend charging automatic device, which will not cause unnecessary stress.

Remember that a faulty car electrical system leads to “starvation” of the battery and its faster failure.

Disadvantages of maintenance-free batteries

Despite a fairly impressive number of advantages, it is worth noting some disadvantages of a closed-type battery.

• There is no way to somehow influence the performance of the battery in case of problems. You will not be able to check the density of the electrolyte and the sulfation of the plates; add water.
• Slightly higher cost compared to serviced power supplies for cars.
• To safely charge such a battery, you need an automatic device.

Best Maintenance Free Batteries

The controversy surrounding power supplies for cars continues. We present to your attention the best maintenance-free batteries according to various test versions.

Lead-acid batteries

1. Bosch Silver - German plate casting technologies with the addition of silver provide stable starting currents and long-term operation. The cost of a simple model is from 6 thousand rubles. You can also find a model labeled Plus on sale. It is characterized by an even lower level of electrolyte losses due to the presence of special channels in which the liquid settles in the form of condensate. The cost of such a model is from 7 thousand rubles.
2. Varta Blue Dinamic also contains silver, however, it differs in the composition of the plates. Characterized by minimal self-discharge rates of maintenance-free batteries. The average cost is 5 thousand rubles.
3. Multu Silver Evolution. Starting current – ​​420 amperes with a capacity of 55 A/h. You can buy it for 4 thousand rubles.
4. Medalist is distinguished by its long service life - up to 7 years and resistance to overcharges. Average price- 4,500 rub.

AGM batteries

The Bosch 5951 battery has some of the best performance (cost is approximately 6 thousand rubles). Resistant to long-term discharges and quickly replenishes capacity. Please note that this model does not have a control indicator on the body.

With a minimum cost (about 5.5 thousand rubles), the Kazakh-made battery Kainar Bars Premium was included in the rating.

One of the most expensive AMG batteries in the line is Tudor AGM. At the same time, it was distinguished by high starting currents - 680 amperes with a capacity of 60A/h.

The Optima Yellow Top battery has remained the undisputed leader among gel power sources for cars for many years in a row. They issue unique characteristics starting current - 765 amperes with a capacity of 55A/h. The only disadvantage of this battery can be considered the cost - about 20 thousand rubles.

In conclusion, I would like to note that maintained and unattended batteries do not have significant differences. We hope our article helped you understand what a maintenance-free battery is and now you can distinguish a closed-type battery.

The question of which battery is better: serviced or maintenance-free, you can find many answers. We recommend purchasing the one that is more convenient for you.