Like it or not, 4WD vehicles are the pride and joy of all 4WD enthusiasts. Whether it be for a joy ride around country roads, out and about on the farms, doing it tough for tradies and boaties or some serious off-roading.
In this article bespoke Kiwi battery company Atomic Batteries says that there are three main factors keen NZ 4WD owners should know and understand about batteries before they can make a considered choice when they are in the market for a new battery for their pride and joy!
Regardless of what you are into you will always load up your 4WD with tons of accessories for comfort, pleasure or to keep out of trouble during serious off-roading.
You need your 4WD to start at every turn of the key and have the grunt to get it going in the coldest of the morning. Yes, I am talking about the starting (SLI: start, light, ignition) battery in your 4WD.
What to look for when shopping for A 4WD battery
Of course it needs to be fit for purpose and generally the manufacturers give you a recommendation (OEM spec), however it is vital that you are aware of some common jargon. Like;
Cold cranking Amps (CCA) rating.
This describes the ability of the battery to start the vehicle in cold conditions. A high cranking ability (CCA) means that the battery will be able to crank the motor with ease without extra stress on the battery, hence giving the battery a longer life.
How do they test for this?
Well, since ‘cold’ is in the name, they put a battery in a cold environment (-18°C) and measure the discharge load in amperes that a new, fully-charged battery can deliver for 30 seconds, while still maintaining terminal voltage equal to or higher than 7.20 volts for a 12 volt battery.
Amp-hour (AH) rating
The second measurement that you need to consider is the amp-hour (AH) rating of your battery. This is the measurement of the capacity of your battery an is the measure of the amount of current a new fully charged battery can deliver consistently over a 20-hour period without the battery voltage dropping below 10.5 Volts.
This takes care of all on-board auxiliary demands that come with the vehicle. It is important to note that should you add on heaps of accessories namely a winch, RT and fridge you will need a second battery (deep cycle battery) as a dedicated battery for your accessories.
The reserve capacity (RC)
The third point that you need to consider is the reserve capacity (RC) of the battery. This is the measure of how long the battery will operate essential accessories if the alternator is inoperative or the battery is put to work with the engine turned off.
It is calculated by the number of minutes a fully charged battery at 27°C will discharge 25 amps until the battery drops below 10.5 volts.
Other important considerations are the construction of the battery. Ensure, too, that you have a maintenance free battery as batteries with inspection caps can leak on rough off-road terrain.
Where to start?
A good place be a sealed AGM valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery. These will do better off-road as the battery cells are compressed into the box, protecting the cells from damage from vibration. They might cost more at time of purchase, but that higher initial investment in an AGM battery will pay off by giving you low internal resistance, twice the life of a conventional battery, extended cycle life, vibration resistance and greater mounting flexibility.
Finally, do not use your starting battery for deep cycling. Deep cycling starting batteries kills the battery prematurely. Install an AGM deep cycle battery to run accessories like fridge, winch, RT, TV, and all the other big boys’ toys. A dual battery system will ensure that your starting battery is preserved to start your 4WD any time anywhere.
Atomic Batteries are sourced from some of the world’s largest manufacturers. All batteries are developed to meet our specifications which in most cases exceed OEM specifications. Atomic Batteries carries a range to cater to all your needs and can assist with any technical questions you may have.
If you are in the trade Atomic Batteries provides you with a dedicated Sales Account Manager and technical expertise to help grow your business.
The company also ensures quality product and service, with state of the art battery testing plus the ability to offer competitively priced equipment that will enable you to analyse and register new batteries at your facility.
Atomic Batteries is also a responsible brand which has environmentally sound solutions for disposal of used batteries.
0508 422 883
For any further info you can call Atomic Batteries on 0508 422 883 or visit atomicbatteries.co.nz
