Lead-Acid Battery Knowledge
CCA, groups, ratings, technology and applications for automotive and truck lead-acid batteries.
CCA cluster
- Types of lead-acid batteries (the complete family)
- What is CCA (Cold Cranking Amps)?
- CCA vs CA vs MCA: the temperature ladder
- How CCA is tested
- CCA by battery group
- CCA and temperature
Battery groups
- Battery group sizes explained (H4–H9, L1–L6, JIS, BCI)
- What size battery does my car need?
- H6 vs H7 vs H8
Ratings
Product types
- What is an SLI battery?
- What is an AGM battery?
- What is an EFB battery?
- What is a gel battery?
- Truck battery (N-series, Group 31/8D)
- Marine battery (starting / deep-cycle / dual-purpose)
- UPS battery (standby power)
- Motorcycle battery (AGM, JIS sizes)
- Forklift battery (motive power, lead-acid vs lithium)
- RV battery (house vs chassis, AGM vs lithium)
- Solar battery (off-grid storage, lead-acid vs lithium)
- AGM charging (voltages, limits, overcharge)
- Battery equalization (flooded-only controlled overcharge)
- How to desulfate a battery (what works)
- Lead-acid battery disposal (the recycling loop)
- Telecom battery (tower standby power)
- Industrial battery (motive / standby / stationary)
Technology
Charging & maintenance
- How to charge a lead-acid battery (bulk / absorption / float)
- What is battery sulfation (the failure you can prevent)
- How to read a battery date code
- 12V voltage chart (state of charge by voltage)
- How long does a car battery last?
- Battery terminal corrosion (the crust that stops starting)
- Why batteries weaken in cold weather
- Battery self-discharge (going flat while idle)
- Battery warranty (pro-rated, what voids it)
- Why is my car battery draining? (parasitic draw)
- Battery maintainer vs charger
- How to jump start a car safely
- How to test a battery at home
- Battery terminal types (SAE / JIS / stud / side)
- Dual-purpose battery (starting + cycling)
- Battery water level (watering a flooded battery)
- How to calculate battery runtime
- How long does it take to charge a battery?
- How much battery capacity do I need?
- Lead-acid recycling (the ~99% closed loop)