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My relative replaced the OEM Exide in his 2002 Zen with a Base Terminal last year. While still at the dealer, he asked for these parameters and the dealer checked what looked like a tech-specs sheet but to no avail.

I think, it should be mandatory for manufacturers to clearly mention the specifications if not on the product's packaging, then on the box or their dealer should be able to furnish this information.

Read more about car batteries here.

Car battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lead-acid battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These articles confirm what little knowledge (errr.. it is a dangerous thing, no?) I have about batteries - the secret of a long lasting battery, and its charge life, lies in the plates, their "quality" and number.

And I have seen almost all kinds of materials used for making cells - FRP, sintered PVC, cellulose and rubber. And yes, I have used "assembled" batteries. But that was on commercial vehicles, and it was in the 1990s. Would not use them on my car, now.

But, is it illegal to make own batteries? Under what law?

Like I said, usually companies will mention things very prominently when it is in their favour. Those who don't will likely have lower ratings. Or maybe there is a smaller chance that they think its not worth the cost of the ink to mention this as most Indian customers wouldn't know or bother about these parameters anyway... lol!

Anyway, if this info is mentioned, it has to be on the battery or its packing. Putting it on the website would be very useful to make a purchase decision. But any oral info given by the company or dealer has no value. Even giving it only on tech-spec sheets is no good... they may always claim that its subject to change, etc, etc.

Anyway, does any other company mention these parameters? What about Tata? Bosch?

Do all the companies mention the AH rating on all their models. If I am not mistaken, I have seen models from popular brands without the AH on them.

Yes they do though it is not mentioned explicitly. Like the VIN that carries the vehicle mfg date, the battery model gives an indication though you must confirm with the mfr as there is no standard except in case of DIN labelled batts. Some Exide notations are as follows:

For example a 38B20L - 38 is a 35AH battery, L denotes the +ve terminal is on the left when fitted in the car. A DIN55 is a 50AH or 55AH battery with the +ve terminal on the left and a 46B24L is a 45AH battery with a +ve terminal on the left. Specs also denote the dimensions of the battery though I havent figured the mapping to each individual code.

The DIN specifications are more standardised in nature and used on European cars while the others are mfr specific (JIS based) for Jap cars.

When in doubt always consult the dealer or mfr. I had to for my OEM battery specs.

Rgds,

I don't think that it's illegal if you are manufacturing it for personal use. But you need a manufacturing license if you want to make money out of it.

It is illegal to make batteries as the primary raw material is lead oxide and lead is a heavy metal which is deadly if ingested or handled without sufficient precautions. I wont go into details of lead poisoning as you can look it up on the net.

All dead batteries are to be returned to licensed recyclers or battery mfrs under the BATTERIES MANAGEMENT AND HANDLING RULES (BMHR) 2001 NOTIFIED. Check the text at www.sfsonicpower.com

Rgds,

Amron...!

As many of us know Exide rolls over and dies as soon as the 18 months "warranty" is done.

Car : Zen
Make : 2000 Oct

Battery replaced 2002 (forgot when exactly Mid 2002 I'd say) - Amron
Approximate odo reading at that time : 28k

Battery now : Amron (Yup the same battery)
Odo reading now : almost 93K

Trying to find the Original Bill so that I can write to Amron guys.
Its simply amazing...!

EDIT : Thought I should add this too

Car runs 95% with A/C
Stereo (its a basic setup) will be on always (read as soon as car is running).
Headlights are 130/100 Philips
Central locking is still working (remote locking died)
Roots dual tone horn. (Electric Air hone died 5 yrs back) anyway does't use the loud button

^^^ Seven years on the same battery and still going strong!! :) That should set an example for other manufacturers!

Can you tell us how many times you had to top up (if any) in this period? And does your usage pattern include rides in afternoon hot sun in summers, etc (batt would be sitting in a really hot environment)? Since you are in Chennai, I'd assume it does...

Folks,

I need some advice regarding the car battery. My car has completed about 32K, and I took it for a check up at a local battery shop. (mainly to get the deposits cleaned).
He told me one of the cells is weak. He said the battery can stop working anytime. Battery readings were fine though. I felt he was trying to psyche me up to buy a new one. Should I just wait till the car stalls? I dont see any problem with the battery :)
Could you suggest a better place in South Bangalore to get it checked thoroughly?

PS: Not sure if this query was worth starting a thread, so I put it in here !

Karthik

Its a "maintenance free" as they call it.

Was topped up around 4 times(in my knowledge, I'm not sure if service guys check it for every service. Car serviced every 5000kms as a rule), 1 time it went dead here in Chennai (Car was not used for around 2 weeks). Local battery guy topped up the acid and charged the Battery.

Car is in Chennai for only 8 months now and before it was in Chennai for around 3 months in 2007. In Chennai its always open to the elements.

Here car is used for my daily commute to office 22kms round trip.
Starting time 13:30-14:00
Return : 22:00- 22:30 hrs

Most of the life was spent in Cochin. There it was always parked in a covered car park.

Here too car was driven 3-4 times a week adding up to around 1000-1500kms / month on a average.

Again half of the total 93K Kms would have been driving at night.
Our "normal" weekend trips tend to be 400-1000 kms.

Car has been to Bangalore and back 4 times.
Chennai and back 3 times.
Mangalore 5 times
Countless trips to Calicut.
3 Wayand trips.
Idukki, Munnar, Ponmudi, Trivandrum, Mysore, Ooty and to almost all places around Kerala.

EDIT : Last time I was on long vacation, car was left standing for 12 days. When I came back it started without any fuss.

What counts is age of the battery, and not Kms the car has done.

He is probably right. You can check with a multimeter - a digital multimeter should cost around 100 bucks.

A vehicle which runs for about one hour a day will keep the battery charged for around 36 hours. (well, sort of - there are several variables).

There would be some advance warnings - dim lights which brighten up with higher revvs.

As luck would have it, I step into this thread & my OE battery from SF starts to slow down after 44 months of trouble-free performance. Inlcudes multiple 5-6 weeks storage (connected & in place in the engine bay).And the advice I got is to stay away from Tata-Green. They're new, and they dont have much of a service network yet.

Amaron or Exide is the recommendation. So if Exides are reported to leak, then it leaves just Amaron. Amaron is also said to have the best service.

From some one who was working in the factory, and who used to get me my batteries.

He may very well be trying to get you to buy a new battery. How old is your battery anyway? Brand?

If you don't have the means or know how to check it yourself, you could try to get it checked out by someone who does not have a vested interest in selling you a battery... like your service centre. If you check it with a multimeter, remember to remove the surface charge. Else simply check the OCV after the car has been left standing couple of days.

Even without explicitly checking the battery, you can tell a weak battery when you crank the car and also by using the headlights. Just turn them on in the dark. Note any change in intensity before and after starting the car. Avoid starting car with headlights on as routine, though.

Car may be open to the elements, but the battery always has the protection of the bonnet. So that does not matters. What matters is the under-hood operating temperatures. The temperature under your bonnet is what can eat up the battery life to quite an extent.

Battery is Amaron and its 3 years old.

I'll get it double checked with the service center too.

-karthik