Everyone knows that cold weather is hard on a battery. But did you know that high heat is just as bad?
It’s common knowledge that extreme temperatures can wreak havoc on car batteries. Many drivers prepare for the biting cold of winter by ensuring their car batteries are adequately insulated. But how many consider the sweltering summer months? Both freezing cold and excessive heat can significantly impact a battery’s lifespan and performance. lifepo battery 12v
“Insulating a battery helps maintain its temperature in extreme weather conditions,” advises Garrett Tortelli of Batteries Plus. This is one of those car battery tips that can help improve your driving experience as weather conditions become more unpredictable, and it may even prevent you from getting stranded.
Insulate your battery and you’ll help prolong it’s service life. Here’s what you need to know.
Almost everyone recognizes the strain cold weather places on a car battery. Low temperatures reduce the battery’s capacity, meaning it has less power to start your car. This is particularly problematic on cold mornings when you need your vehicle the most.
But it might come as a surprise to many that high heat is an equally formidable adversary. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause the battery fluid to evaporate, leading to a weakened battery structure and, eventually, failure. The combination of heat from both the environment and your vehicle’s engine can speed up this deterioration process.
This points to the need for battery insulating jackets. “They wrap around the battery and can either passively insulate or, if electrically powered, heat the battery to ensure it starts more easily in freezing conditions,” says Tortelli. Primarily provided with late-model cars, this jacket acts as a protective barrier to insulate the battery, helping it retain necessary warmth during winter while shielding it from excessive engine heat in summer months.
The consequences of neglecting this insulating jacket can be drastic. Removing one or failing to ensure that it fits properly can reduce the battery’s life by nearly two-thirds — even more for those residing in particularly hot climates.
It’s vital to reinstall the battery insulating jacket when replacing or checking your battery. When you upgrade to a larger battery, the original jacket becomes obsolete due to size differences, so you need to get a replacement that snugly fits the new battery. After all, a loose jacket can’t perform its protective function effectively.
If you’ve recently bought a vehicle or replaced its battery and noticed it doesn’t have an insulating jacket, it might be time to make a trip to your local auto parts store. Most modern vehicles come with them as standard, but older models or certain brands might not have this feature. Adding a jacket is a small investment in prolonging your battery’s life and ensuring consistent performance.
“Foam or rubber-based insulation wraps are common choices for keeping batteries at optimal temperatures,” advises Tortelli. He also recommends battery blankets that wrap around the battery, and for particularly cold climates, they should be electrified. “For hot climates, heat shields can be used to protect the battery from excessive heat that might cause it to degrade faster.”
This is not a great idea, says Jeffrey Rand of Interstate Batteries. “The concept of wrapping a car battery in a blanket may seem logical, but regular cotton blankets are unsuitable. Cotton deteriorates with exposure to battery acid, rendering it a poor choice for insulation.” It’s best to stick with a material that’s designed to insulate a car battery, such as rigid foam, plastic or rubber.
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