car batteries – Pulpaddict

Be ready, be charged, be winter smart

As winter sets in, your vehicle’s battery faces its toughest challenge. Cold weather can reduce battery performance by up to 50%, leaving you vulnerable to unexpected breakdowns. Batteries are the number one cause of winter vehicle failures, but with CTEK’s advanced battery chargers, you can maintain a fully charged battery for reliable starts, no matter how cold it gets.

Mark Poole, Sales Manager for CTEK, offers his top tips for winter battery care, and explains how regular charging with a reliable, efficient battery charger is essential in the winter months. “We may think about checking the car’s oil, brakes, washer fluid and heater, but the humble car battery is often overlooked in our winter preparations. A few simple checks and a regular maintenance regime is all that’s needed to give you peace of mind that your battery is fit and ready to keep you safely out on the road this winter.

“Drivers need to be aware that cold weather conditions can have an adverse effect on car batteries. A battery can lose as much as 35% in performance when temperatures hit freezing, and up to 50% if temperatures sink below that. Drivers should look out for any signs of change – like the way the car starts, or the operation of the electrical system in general as these can be indications of a weak battery.”

Be ready. Don’t leave it too late. Get your car battery into shape before the temperatures start to drop, as it’s much harder to start your car in freezing temperatures. It can take as much as 2.5 times more power to start a cold engine, so while you’re thinking about getting those winter woollies out of the cupboard, check your car battery too and give it some pre-winter TLC. That way, there’ll be no surprises when you take to the road.

Be charged. There is a very fine line between a fully charged battery and a dead one, and even a small drop in charge can compromise battery health. A car battery is fully charged at 12.72V. Below 12.4V, sulphate crystals can build up, degrading the battery and reducing battery capacity. And below 10.4V, the battery may not even start the car at all. Not only that, driving around in your car will only ever charge your battery to 80% capacity so, to top it up to 100%, you’ll always need a battery charger.

Be winter smart. Charging your car battery at least once a month prolongs its life by up to three times, so buying a reliable battery charger, and getting yourself into a regular battery maintenance routine, makes perfect sense, year round. Regular charging is even more important in the winter though, as things like heated screens and seats, headlights and an increase in short journeys put additional strain on your battery. And, as battery failure can damage or compromise a vehicle’s electronics, a charger is most certainly a worthwhile investment.

A smart battery charger like the CTEK CS ONE uses patented APTO^TM ‘adaptive charging’ to check what type of battery you have (lead acid or lithium), establish how much charge is needed and then safely top it up. The CS ONE is designed to be as simple as possible to use; there’s no need to worry about positive and negative terminals – just plug the charger in, pop the two black clamps on either terminal, and the charger will do the rest.

For the last 20% of charge, the CS ONE gradually reduces the rate of charge so there’s no danger of overload. It will even tell you when it’s finished, and when your battery has enough charge to start the car.

Investing in a charger like the CS ONE, with built-in functionality for both maintenance and troubleshooting, is the smart choice for drivers. The CS ONE does the thinking for you, using adaptive charging to measure your battery’s health then delivering the right level of power to get it working at optimum capacity, with a built-in temperature sensor that automatically adjusts the output voltage for cold conditions. With the CS ONE’s patented technology, you can even recondition your battery to restore battery health.

If you use your car infrequently during the winter months, consider leaving it connected to a maintenance charger, which will keep the battery topped up and ready to go whenever you need it. The groundbreaking CT5 TIME TO GO battery charger and maintainer is easy to use and fully automatic, so it can be connected directly to the battery indefinitely, and it won’t over or under charge. It also has built-In temperature compensation along with advanced technology to give you three charging and maintenance programs – Normal, AGM and Recond.

The CTEK CT5 TIME TO GO is a world first because it answers the question ‘When will my battery be fully charged?’ This means you can plan your day around your battery charging because the CT5 TIME TO GO gives you an accurate prediction of the remaining charging time in hours. Not only that, it’ll also tell you when you can safely try to start your vehicle before the battery is fully charged.

For more information on winter charging, and what you can do to avoid winter breakdowns, see https://www.ctek.com/uk/winter-charging-2024

Essential tips for keeping batteries healthy during long periods of inactivity

There’s nothing quite like hitting the open road in your sports car during the summer months. But, if you’re already thinking about putting your treasured vehicle away for the winter, CTEK, the leading global brand in vehicle charging solutions, has some useful advice for wise winter storage that will keep your vehicle battery in tip top condition, ready for a smooth spring start.

“Sports or classic cars left in storage over winter need a special kind of care and attention,” says Mark Poole, Sales Manager for CTEK. “The summer heat may have put strain on your battery without you even knowing it, and once your vehicle is in storage, the battery will continue to lose charge, especially as your car is still using power in the background, even when the ignition’s turned off.

“That’s why CTEK recommends carrying out regular maintenance charging with a smart battery charger and maintainer like the CTEK CT5 TIME TO GO. This will keep your battery topped up and in peak condition through the winter months, and you can be confident that the engine will start right when you need it, the moment spring comes around again.

“And it’s super safe – you can leave CT5 TIME TO GO connected to your vehicle’s battery all winter for continuous maintenance and top up charging. CTEK technology means you can leave the charger attached indefinitely without risk of over or undercharging, just hook it up, then come back in six months’ time and know your battery is fully maintained and your pride and joy will be ready to spring into action when you are!

“There is actually a very narrow margin between a fully charged battery and a chemically discharged one, and even a small drop in charge can compromise battery health, as sulphate crystals can build up, degrading the battery, reducing capacity, and even making replacement necessary,” says Mark. “Battery failure can also damage or compromise a vehicle’s electronics, which could be even more costly, so it really does pay to get into a routine of regular maintenance charging while your car is in storage, especially as regular maintenance charging can actually extend your battery’s life by up to three times!”

Not only is it important to charge over the winter months, it’s also important to charge with the right charger to protect against over-charging. The groundbreaking CT5 TIME TO GO battery charger and maintainer is easy to use and fully automatic, so it can be connected directly to the battery indefinitely, if required, and it won’t over or under charge. It also has built-In temperature compensation along with advanced technology to give you three charging and maintenance programs – Normal, AGM and Recond.

To find out more about the CTEK CT5 TIME TO GO visit: https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/ct5-time-to-go-ukFor more information, visit https://www.ctek.com/uk/winter-storage

Don’t let summer be one big breakdown

Many motorists know the importance of regular maintenance on their vehicle in preparation for the winter months, but many more are placing their car at risk of breakdown during the summer months due to a lack of maintenance at this time of year, that’s according to CTEK the leading global brand in the care and maintenance of vehicle batteries.

Summer heat is tougher on car batteries than the winter chill. With the warmer weather upon us at last, and the ongoing threat of heatwaves forecast for the UK, motorists should be making sure that their vehicle is protected against the summer heat. It may seem counterintuitive, but higher temperatures have a greater impact on the power-generating chemistry inside a battery.

Excessive heat causes the water in your battery’s electrolyte fluid to evaporate, weakening the battery’s charge and causing plate corrosion. This eventually leads to sulphation, or crystals forming on the battery’s plates, which can make your battery unusable. And with these challenges, it’s easy to think that that charging your battery over the summer months is the last thing you need to do. Mark Poole, CTEK Sales Manager explains how you can beat the heat and keep your vehicle running all summer long.

“The warmer the environment, the faster the rate of self-discharge: for example, a battery being stored at an average temperature of 27°C will discharge at a rate of 4% per week. Whereas a lead acid battery being stored at 18°C will only discharge at a rate of approximately 3% per month.

“Heat gives you a false sense of security when it comes to the state of your battery during the summer months. It is easy to think that everything is OK – however, that may not be the case. Even if the battery is not maintained during the warmer weather, it will still be able to start the vehicle because it doesn’t need as much energy to get the engine started, but if motorists don’t realise that their battery is becoming discharged in the heat, it could result in a flat battery the moment temperatures begin to drop.”

It’s vital to maintain voltage whatever the weather. If your battery falls below 12.4V, a chemical reaction called sulphation will start to happen. This is where lead sulphate crystals start to build up on the battery plates, degrading the battery, reducing battery capacity and cranking potential. Your vehicle will easily start if the battery is at 12.4V but beware, your battery is already dying.

You can also risk overcharging your battery in the warmer weather. Delivering an uncontrolled charge risks fluid loss through overheating or ‘boiling’ meaning that the battery will become unusable due to dried-out cells. If temperatures reach 25 degrees Celsius and above, batteries should be charged at a lower voltage to avoid this.”

Not only is it important to charge over the summer, it’s also important to charge with the right charger to protect against over-charging. The groundbreaking CT5 TIME TO GO battery charger and maintainer is easy to use and fully automatic, so it can be connected directly to the battery indefinitely, if required, and it won’t over or under charge. It also has built-In temperature compensation along with advanced technology to give you three charging and maintenance programs – Normal, AGM and Recond.

To find out more about the CTEK CT5 TIME TO GO visit: https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/ct5-time-to-go-uk

Don’t let the hot weather fool you – charge your 12V battery!

Today’s motorist knows the importance of proper maintenance procedures on their vehicle in preparation for the winter months, but many are placing their car at risk of breakdown during the summer months due to lack of vehicle maintenance, that’s according to CTEK the leading global brand in the care and maintenance of vehicle batteries.

Summer heat is tougher on car batteries than the winter chill. And, with the warmer weather upon us, motorists should be making sure that their vehicle is protected against the summer heat. It may seem counterintuitive, but higher temperatures have an impact on the power-generating chemistry inside the battery.

Excessive heat causes the water in your battery’s electrolyte fluid to evaporate, weakening the battery’s charge and causing plate corrosion. This eventually leads to sulphation, or crystals forming on the battery’s plates, which can make your battery unstable. And with these challenges, it’s easy to think that that charging your battery over the summer months is the last thing you need to do. Mark Poole, CTEK Sales Manager explains why it’s just as important and how you can beat the heat and keep your vehicle running all summer long.

Heat gives you a false sense of security when it comes to the state of your battery during the summer months. It is easy to think that everything is OK – however, that may not be the case. Even if the battery is not maintained during the warmer weather, it will still be able to start the vehicle because it doesn’t need as much energy to get the engine started, but if motorists don’t realise that their battery is becoming discharged in the heat, it could result in a flat battery the moment temperatures begin to drop.

Not only is it important to charge over the summer, it’s also important to charge with the right charger to protect against over-charging. Charging any battery just got a whole lot simpler with the CTEK CS ONE charger and maintainer.

Its revolutionary APTO™ (Adaptive Charging) technology does all the thinking for you – you don’t even have to worry about which clamp goes where! The APTO™ Technology automatically recognises the type of battery you’re using, and then automatically delivers a customised charging program, telling you how long until the battery is charged and ready to go. No buttons to press or modes to select – just connect the CS ONE to any 12V battery and simply charge. Polarity free clamps mean you don’t even need to worry about which clamp goes where, so you’ll never make a wrong connection again. The clamps are spark free too, so don’t worry if you accidentally touch them together.”

For more information on the CTEK CS ONE visit https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/cs-one-uk

The Cold Reality: How Frigid Temperatures Impact Car Batteries

As the cold snap is upon us, car owners throughout the UK should brace themselves for the challenges posed by cold weather conditions. Among the critical vehicle components affected, the car battery takes centre stage. In this technical article, we will delve into the science behind how cold weather affects car batteries. Understanding car owners can take proactive measures to preserve battery health and ensure reliable vehicle performance during harsh winter months.

Chemical Reactions in Cold Temperatures:

Car batteries rely on chemical reactions to produce electrical energy. In colder conditions, these chemical reactions slow down significantly due to the reduced mobility of ions in the battery’s electrolyte. As a result, the batteries ability to accept or deliver sufficient current decreases, resulting in diminished overall performance.

Reduced Cranking Power:

One of the most evident consequences of cold weather on car batteries is reduced cranking power during engine start-up. Cold temperatures cause the battery’s internal resistance to increase, making it more challenging for the battery to supply the necessary power to turn over the engine. This can lead to slow starting, or in severe cases, a no-start situation, leaving the vehicle stranded in freezing conditions. If the ambient temperature is a warm 25°C a fully charged battery has approximately 100% of its power available for engine cranking. When the temperature drops to 9°C a fully charged battery has approximately 66% of its power available to crank the engine. At -20°C a fully charged battery has approximately 40% of its power available to crank the engine.

Energy Drain from Accessories:

During cold weather, drivers tend to rely more on vehicle accessories like heaters, demisters, and heated seats. Running these electrical components places additional strain on the car battery, depleting its charge faster. If the battery is not adequately recharged, it may become unable to power essential systems, resulting in malfunctions or complete failure.

Freezing of Battery Electrolyte:

Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can lead to the electrolyte within the battery freezing. The formation of ice can cause the electrolyte to expand, potentially cracking the battery’s internal components. Once the battery is damaged, it will no longer hold a charge and will need replacement. With a battery at 40% state of charge, the electrolyte will freeze at -8°C. With a battery at 100% state of charge the electrolyte will freeze at 33°C.

Sulphation:

Cold weather actually slows down the process of sulphation within the battery (chemical reaction slows down with low temperatures) but the increased usage of heaters, lights etc will mean it’s likely that the battery will not be fully charged which could lead to suphation. Sulphate crystals can reduce the battery’s capacity over time and hinder the recharging process. If not addressed promptly, sulphation can lead to permanent damage, necessitating the replacement of the battery.

CTEK’s CS ONE can be the saviour during the winter months. CS ONE has APTO™ Technology which effortlessly identifies your battery type and initiates a tailored charging program without the need for manual intervention. Simply connect the CS ONE to any 12V battery, and let it handle the rest. Forget about buttons, modes, or concerns regarding polarity – our polarity-free clamps eliminate the guesswork, ensuring you’ll never make a wrong connection. Even better, these clamps are spark-free, providing peace of mind even if they accidentally touch. It also adapts to the temperature making it safe to use in any conditions.

Cold weather can be especially harsh on car batteries, affecting their capacity, cranking power, and overall performance. By understanding these effects and implementing preventative measures, car owners can safeguard their batteries and ensure reliable vehicle operation throughout the winter months. Regular maintenance and proactive measures are essential to overcome the challenges posed by frigid temperatures, ensuring a smoother driving experience and peace of mind during the colder seasons.

For more information on the CTEK range of battery charging and support units, click here