Car batteries are as essential to your car as the fuel you put in. A failed car battery, just like having no fuel and you're going nowhere. Today, more than ever before, car batteries are under extreme pressure. Read more: Car Batteries

One of the most essential parts of your car is its battery. Car batteries supply the power to run all those electrical gizmos that you just can't seem to live without. Read more: Car Batteries - How They Work

So have you got a car battery charger? Think that you'll never get a flat battery? Well considering the low cost of car battery chargers these days is it really worth taking the risk. Read more: Car Battery Chargers

The range of car batteries today are a lot different compared to your twenty or thirty years ago. Then, most cars would have been using the common lead-acid type of car battery. Read more: Different Kinds of Car Batteries

Looking after the pennies has never been more important. This is especially true if you are a car owner, not cheapest of things to maintain. Read more: Make Your Car Batteries Last Longer

 

Welcome to Car Batteries UK

Car batteries are as essential to your car as the fuel you put in. A failed car battery, just like having no fuel and you're going nowhere.

Car BatteriesToday, more than ever before, car batteries are under extreme pressure. Years ago car batteries were needed just to supply the power to get your car started and power your lights.

Today, cars are fitted as standard with items such as a clock; CD player; radio; heated windscreens; cigarette lighter (used more now to charge your mobile or laptop); air conditioning; heating; and so on.

So more than ever, it is important to keep your car's battery maintained and regularly checked for age.

Do you know where you car battery is? When is the last time you checked it? Most batteries are under the bonnet, and very easy to spot. It will be that large square or rectangular shaped box with two heavy duty thick cables coming out of it.

Most car batteries are of a12 volt type and will be divided up in to two 6 volt cells. The battery is packed with lead plates which are positively and negatively charged, with insulated separators. Inside the battery is a solution called electrolyte. Electrolyte is a solution of one part sulphuric acid and two parts distilled water. This solution interacts with the lead plates and produces a chemical reaction which creates a battery's energy.

If you didn't already know, sulphuric acid is an extremely corrosive and dangerous chemical, so extreme care should be taken whenever handling a battery or performing maintenance. Also, be aware that when a battery is being charged, it produces gases. So if you have removed the battery to recharge it, make sure to do it in a well ventilated area.

Car battery life will vary both according to your car and driving style. The more gadgets you have on, how often you drive at night and have to use lights and heating, whether your journeys are generally short or long, all will have a bearing on battery life. On average, a car battery should last anywhere between 3 to 5 years.

Maintenance plays a key role in the life of your car battery, and you should familiarize yourself on your car battery's maintenance schedule. This will involve keeping the terminals clean and greased, and making sure that the electrolyte solution is topped up.UK Car Batteries

But, sometimes the inevitable will be happen, and your battery will fail. So a bit of planning now can make a bad situation a bit more bearable. Always carry what are called "jumper cables" in your car. These are specially designed cables that connect one car battery to another. Easy to use, you connect your "dead" battery to a working battery. The most important thing to remember here is to connect together the correct terminals. Looking closely at your battery you will notice that one is marked "+" (positive) and one marked "-" (negative). Be sure to attach + to + and - to -.
You will find specific instructions on how to do this in your car’s driver manual.

So, why not go and check your battery right now. Many companies now put a date stamp on them, so you can see how old yours is. What would you prefer, to break down late at night with a dead battery and have to pay £XXX's for a garage to rescue you, or invest a few minutes a week to check your battery. At worst, you may have to spend some money now for a new car battery - better that than getting stranded.

For more articles on car batteries, maintenance, car battery chargers, check the top of this page.