Battery Codes Explained
There are more than 719,000 km of roads in BC. Whether you’re exploring BC by car, truck, or ATV, you rely on your vehicle to get you to your destination.
Your car battery is critical for your vehicle’s reliability. Understanding the battery codes can help you get the most from your battery. It will also help you select the right battery to replace when it’s time for a new one.
Learn more about battery codes and where to find the best battery store in British Columbia.
Wet Cell, AGM, or Gel Cell
Lead acid batteries are used as car batteries, marine applications, and solar off-grid systems.
Three types of lead acid batteries are wet cell, absorbed glass mat (AGM), and gel cell. AGM and gel cell batteries are more expensive.
Wet Cell Batteries
Wet cell batteries have liquid electrolyte that moves freely in the cell compartment. Wet cell batteries can be serviceable or maintenance-free.
With a serviceable flooded battery, you have to add distilled water to the cells as they dry out. Maintenance-free batteries are sealed. The manufacturer has included enough acid to support normal use throughout the warranty period.
AGM Batteries
An AGM battery is technically wet cell. However, the liquid electrolyte is suspended in a fiberglass mat. The battery can discharge and recharge more efficiently.
Gel Cell Batteries
The electrolyte in a gel cell battery has a silica additive. This makes the electrolyte set, so it’s no longer a wet liquid.
People often use the term “gel cell” to refer to any sealed, maintenance-free battery. Be sure to make sure the type of battery you need when you’re looking for a charger or a replacement.
Battery Output and Capacity
Battery codes tell you about the output and capacity of the battery. Decoding these abbreviations tells you about the battery’s performance.
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
Cold cranking amps is a measurement of how many amps a lead-acid battery can produce:
- At a temperature of -17.8ºC,
- For at least 30 seconds, and
- With at least 1.2 volts per cell
A higher CCA rating means the battery will perform better in cold weather. This is especially important for a car battery in cold weather regions.
Cranking Amps (CA)
Unlike cold-cranking amps, cranking amps are measured at 0ºC. You may see this rating called marine cranking amps (MCA).
Reserve Capacity (RC)
Reserve capacity tells you how long a fully-charged battery will discharge 25 amps before it drops below 1.75 volts per cell. It tells you how long the car battery will keep powering essential accessories if the alternator or generator stops working.
Amp Hour (AH)
You’ll usually see an amp-hour rating on deep-cycle batteries. AH measures the electrical storage capacity of the battery. Multiplying the current in amps by the hours of discharge gives you the AH.
For example, a battery with a 100 AH rating should deliver five amps for 20 hours.
Date Codes
Most battery manufacturers stamp a date code on the battery. Letters indicate the month, and numbers show the year. For example, A0 would be a battery produced in January 2020.
Some date codes only use numbers. In that case, 0120 would indicate January 2020.
Group Size
The group size tells you the size of the battery case. It indicates the height, width, length, and terminal position. The group size for car batteries usually depends on the vehicle’s make, model, and engine type.
Finding the Right Battery Store in British Columbia
Battery codes tell you about the performance you can expect from the battery. It helps you choose the right battery for your vehicle.
Polar Battery is your trusted battery store in British Columbia. We carry top-rated car batteries, marine and deep cycle batteries, and solar off-grid systems. Contact us today to find the battery you need.
