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Why do batteries die prematurely?

For two reasons - the fuss of manufacturers and improper use.

Car batteries are usually not delivered - they regularly serve for five years, after which they are replaced with new ones. However, there are exceptions. Often, batteries do not “die” from old age at all, but because of poor quality, a lot of sores on the car, or negligence on the part of the car owner.

Why do batteries die prematurely?

The life of each battery is limited. It generates electricity due to reactions taking place inside the device. Chemical and electrochemical reactions take place continuously even after the battery has been manufactured. Therefore, storing batteries for future use is, to put it mildly, a short-sighted decision. High-quality batteries work smoothly for 5-7 hours, after which they stop holding a charge and turn the starter poorly. Of course, if the battery is no longer original or the car is old, everything is different.

The secret of a relatively short battery life is usually outrageously simple: products of well-known brands that enter the secondary market (that is, not on the conveyor) are massively counterfeited, and many companies and factories produce, though original, but only externally high-quality factory batteries.

Why do batteries die prematurely?

In order to reduce production costs and at the same time the selling price of the battery, battery manufacturers are reducing the number of lead plates (plates). Such products, like new ones, are practically not “drawn up” and the car starts up without problems even in winter. However, happiness does not last long - reducing the number of plates greatly affects battery life.

Such a battery can only be checked in luggage a few months after purchase, especially with increased load. You can determine that you are dealing with a low-quality product even at the stage of selection and purchase. The rule is simple: the heavier the battery, the better and the longer. A light battery is useless.

The second reason for the rapid failure of batteries is improper use. Here, different scenarios are already possible. Battery performance is highly dependent on ambient temperature. In winter, their power drops sharply - they are subjected to very deep discharges when the engine is started, and at the same time it is poorly charged by the generator. Chronic undercharging, combined with deep discharges, can destroy even a high-quality battery in just one winter.

Why do batteries die prematurely?

Some devices cannot be reanimated after only one dilution to "zero" - the active mass of the plates simply collapses. This happens, for example, when the driver tries to start the engine for a long time at extremely low temperatures or when driving with a failed generator.

In summer, there is often another nuisance: due to overheating, the electrolyte in the battery begins to boil actively, its level decreases and the density changes. The plates are partially in the air, resulting in reduced current and capacitance. A similar picture is caused by the failure of the generator regulator relay: the voltage in the on-board network can rise to very high values. This, in turn, also leads to the evaporation of the electrolyte and the rapid "death" of the battery.

For vehicles with a start / stop system, special batteries made using AGM technology are used. These devices are much more expensive than conventional ones. When replacing a battery, car owners usually try to save money, but forget that AGM batteries initially have a longer life, since they are designed for many more charge-discharge cycles. Premature failure of the “wrong” battery installed on cars with a start / stop system is an easily explained norm.

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