Batteries: Preparing for winter

How to survive temperature extremes — the battery story

WINTER TEMPERATURES WILL FIND THE WEAKNESS IN OLDER BATTERIES, HASTENING THEIR END. IT’S BEST TO START THE SEASON WITH A BETTER BATTERY, LIKE A KOBA

Winter is around the corner and that means auto electrical workshops, mechanics, and parts distributors across New Zealand are busy preparing for the influx of customers with vehicle-related issues. The effect of cold temperatures on batteries is well known in the industry, so it is not surprising that many vehicle issues are battery-related.

A battery uses a chemical reaction to store and deliver energy. As the temperature drops, the speed of the chemical reaction becomes slower, reducing the amount of power a battery can deliver. A battery which is near the end of its life will have more difficulty delivering starting power in the winter, or cease functioning altogether. In some cases, a healthy battery operating at or below freezing temperatures may struggle to meet the demands of a starter motor. Making the job harder, cooler weather thickens the vehicle’s motor oil, thus causing the starter motor to draw more current when cranking the engine.

Batteries are more likely to have problems when they are operating outside their optimum temperature range, in winter or summer. To maximise the life of batteries in colder weather, vehicle owners or their workshops should do a visual inspection of the battery, checking for cracks, broken pieces, leaks, bulging, corrosion at the terminal, or any other sign of damage. Performing a battery check for your customers ahead of the coldest weather could save them from an inconvenient breakdown, or failure to start a vehicle you have just serviced. Checking it now is good customer service and it can lead to a sale that might otherwise go to a breakdown service.

Batteries in seasonally used vehicles or other applications need to be maintained, in other words charged, even when in storage, by using a multistage charger. Above all, the best way to increase the likelihood of a battery surviving extreme temperatures is to fit the application with a good quality and reliable battery. R&J Batteries suggests Koba batteries.

Manufactured in one of the most experienced calcium battery facilities in South Korea, Koba batteries deliver reliable power to a wide range of applications, including automotive, commercial, and marine. Over the past decade, Koba batteries have become a well-known battery brand in New Zealand, due to its many features and benefits.

Koba maintenance-free calcium batteries have sizes to suit most automotive or commercial vehicles. These batteries are designed to provide safe, reliable starting power with improved durability and cycle life. Their envelope separators provide low electrical resistance, maximising the electrical performance and minimising self discharge. The durable and safe nature of these batteries make them an effective choice for everyday automotive and commercial use.

Koba batteries’ range of Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) and Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFB) are designed to meet the evolving needs of modern vehicles. Koba’s AGM battery range has an even higher durability and cycle life than the calcium battery range. These batteries have high charge acceptance and are able to deliver increased starting power, which is critical in Stop Start vehicles. Due to their compressed internal construction, these AGM batteries also have superior resistance to vibration when compared to flooded batteries.

The EFB range from Koba batteries is designed to deliver the power required for Stop Start vehicles. These EFB batteries are designed to deliver two to three times the battery life of standard calcium batteries, and have very high charge acceptance so they can take advantage of

fuel-saving recuperation systems.

The complete range of Koba batteries are available at R&J Batteries. R&J Batteries is one of the leading battery distributors in Australasia, with 27 branches and more than 8000 stockists in the region. The battery distributor has branches in Wiri, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Albany, with stockists throughout the North and South Islands, making Koba batteries accessible to all.

Batteries in seasonally used vehicles or other applications need to be maintained, in other words charged, even when in storage, by using a multistage charger. Above all, the best way to increase the likelihood of a battery surviving extreme temperatures is to fit the application with a good quality and reliable battery

For more information on Koba batteries, please visit rjbatt.co.nz, or call 0800 546 000.