Which systems in a car are most harmful to a non-new battery?
- October 3, 2023
- 0
The closer we get to the dark and cold season called winter, the clearer the role of the electrical system and especially the battery in the daily operation
The closer we get to the dark and cold season called winter, the clearer the role of the electrical system and especially the battery in the daily operation of the car. Especially since modern cars are much more dependent on their ‘health’ than vehicles of recent years.
Recently, the Russian fleet of used cars has been intensively replenished with ‘Chinese’ cars – instead of the almost dried up flow of foreign cars from other origins. The electronics in these cars are through the roof. This means that starter batteries have a hard time in Russian conditions due to the constant threat of chronic undercharging. The latter can cause accelerated death of an already worn-out battery.
For example, let’s take the Chinese 1.5-liter turbo engine SQRE4T15C, widely known in Russia, with a power of just under 150 hp. Of. from Chery. This unit is installed on many models of this Chinese car brand and its sub-brands. The generator produces a voltage of 14 volts and a current of up to 140 amperes. These properties are sufficient to charge the battery of almost any passenger car. But the fact is that the car is full of other electricity consumers.
First of all, these are the power supply, ignition and engine and gearbox control systems. Like it or not, give them about 20-25 “consumer” amps. The digital dashboard and the large multimedia screen always work and consume at least 10 A more in the energy balance. We have electric power steering. It consumes 5 A in silent mode up to 30-40 amps during intensive taxiing. LED DRLs, side marker lights and low beams require a total of at least 5 amps. Active use of multimedia and wireless charging of the phone – at least another ten amps.
And in winter we still have (at least periodically) electric heating of the steering wheel (10 A), the rear window and rear-view mirrors (20 A), as well as the windshield (up to 40 A). Has the driver turned on the seat heating? Also “extinguishes” 15 amps. Remember, we only have 140 amps for everything the generator is capable of!
In addition, we would like to remind you that starting the engine “consumes” a significant amount of energy from the battery and that it must be restored at least during the journey. The generator is most efficient at engine speeds around 2500 rpm. Meanwhile, during short city trips through traffic jams, smart electronics constantly strive to shift the automatic transmission to the highest possible level to save fuel – so that the engine runs almost at idle. That is, in this mode virtually no energy is pumped into the “battery” – even if the above-mentioned on-board electricity consumers are not fully involved.
No normal battery will last long in this mode. Therefore, we can only advise owners of modern cars, filled with a lot of electronics, to use all kinds of electric heating as little as possible. And as a preventive measure, drive at least 200 kilometers (or better yet: more) on the highway at least once a week at a cruising speed such that the engine runs at least 2500 rpm. This will charge your vehicle’s “battery” to a good level. This mode of operation significantly extends the service life.
photo globallookpress.com
Recently, the Russian fleet of used cars has been intensively replenished with ‘Chinese’ cars – instead of the almost dried up flow of foreign cars from other origins. The electronics in these cars are through the roof. This means that starter batteries have a hard time in Russian conditions due to the constant threat of chronic undercharging. The latter can cause accelerated death of an already worn-out battery.
For example, let’s take the Chinese 1.5-liter turbo engine SQRE4T15C, widely known in Russia, with a power of just under 150 hp. Of. from Chery. This unit is installed on many models of this Chinese car brand and its sub-brands. The generator produces a voltage of 14 volts and a current of up to 140 amperes. These properties are sufficient to charge the battery of almost any passenger car. But the fact is that the car is full of other electricity consumers.
First of all, these are the power supply, ignition and engine and gearbox control systems. Like it or not, give them about 20-25 “consumer” amps. The digital dashboard and the large multimedia screen always work and consume at least 10 A more in the energy balance. We have electric power steering. It consumes 5 A in silent mode up to 30-40 amps during intensive taxiing. LED DRLs, side marker lights and low beams require a total of at least 5 amps. Active use of multimedia and wireless charging of the phone – at least another ten amps.
And in winter we still have (at least periodically) electric heating of the steering wheel (10 A), the rear window and rear-view mirrors (20 A), as well as the windshield (up to 40 A). Has the driver turned on the seat heating? Also “extinguishes” 15 amps. Remember, we only have 140 amps for everything the generator is capable of!
In addition, we would like to remind you that starting the engine “consumes” a significant amount of energy from the battery and that it must be restored at least during the journey. The generator is most efficient at engine speeds around 2500 rpm. Meanwhile, during short city trips through traffic jams, smart electronics constantly strive to shift the automatic transmission to the highest possible level to save fuel – so that the engine runs almost at idle. That is, in this mode virtually no energy is pumped into the “battery” – even if the above-mentioned on-board electricity consumers are not fully involved.
No normal battery will last long in this mode. Therefore, we can only advise owners of modern cars, filled with a lot of electronics, to use all kinds of electric heating as little as possible. And as a preventive measure, drive at least 200 kilometers (or better yet: more) on the highway at least once a week at a cruising speed such that the engine runs at least 2500 rpm. This will charge your vehicle’s “battery” to a good level. This mode of operation significantly extends the service life.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
