What is the service life of a car battery, what does it depend on, and how to extend it? Ways to find out the release date

Legislation

replaced from time to time .

However, there is a guaranteed service life during which the battery must operate uninterruptedly.

In most cases, manufacturers set it within 3 to 5 years .

According to the law (clause 1 of Article 5 of the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”), the service life of a product is the period of time from the date of production until the moment after which it becomes unsuitable for subsequent use.

Throughout this time, the seller is responsible to the consumer.

If during the warranty period the consumer discovers deficiencies that interfere with uninterrupted operation and/or affect the safety of the battery, then he has the right to demand that the battery be restored to functionality at the expense of the manufacturer.

It is important that the breakdown is not the fault of the car owner . That is, the consumer followed the operating instructions, but the product still does not work.

This rule is established in the articles of the law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”.

Battery life law

The expiration dates and the period for troubleshooting individual elements and products as a whole are determined by legislative acts .

For buyers, the “handbook” is the Consumer Protection .

Main article – 19 of this Law.

The battery, as an integral component, cannot have a shelf life shorter than the same characteristic of the whole product.

In this case, you should doubt the quality and refuse to purchase .

Even if the battery is a spare part, the time of its high-quality operation should in no case be shorter than the period of operation of the main product.

If this product is purchased separately, the expiration date is set by the seller/manufacturer and is indicated in the documentation accompanying the purchase.

What is the expiration date and how is it determined?

The service life of a machine's battery is the period of time when the manufacturer guarantees absolute safety of operation.

Since in fact it begins from the moment of production, it is best if the car owner starts using the battery no later than six months from the date of production.

This recommendation is due to the fact that any battery will discharge during long periods of inactivity.

If the battery belongs to the lead-acid type of battery, then such devices have “memory”.

This means that the longer the battery is not used, the lower its maximum charge level becomes. Accordingly, the closer the release date of the battery, the more profitable it is to purchase it.

All manufacturers are required to indicate the date of manufacture of the battery. Most often, it is indicated on the packaging or on the product itself. The marking is a digital code, which in some cases contains letters, so you should check with the seller for the decoding.

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For example, the following code is written on the package: 18С25А3 . In this case, the date is the first five characters. 18 is the year, C is the month (March) and 25 is the date of production.

What determines the battery life and how to determine it

The battery must operate uninterruptedly throughout its entire service life; only this condition will ensure reliability and safe use of the car. Some battery models, if used correctly, can last up to 5-6 years.

In fact, the battery begins to work even before use, from the moment of its manufacture, because Irreversible processes begin in it, leading to a change in its user properties, aging and, over time, failure to operate (failure). You should not believe sellers' assurances that the shelf life of a new battery is unlimited - usually it is 1.5 years. The aging process, when installing a battery in a car, only accelerates under conditions of heavy use, and it is advisable to start using the battery no later than 6 months from the date of its manufacture.

About proper storage conditions

In the automotive industry, lead-acid batteries are most often used, in which lead .

The electrolyte in them is a water-based solution containing sulfuric acid.

The shelf life and storage of such batteries depends on the filling of electrolyte .

If electrolyte is present, the maximum shelf life of a new battery in a warehouse is 3 years .

For dry-charged batteries, the lifespan increases to 5–7 years (depending on the manufacturer). Because of this, most batteries go on sale without filling the electrolyte.

If the battery has already been used, the electrolyte cannot be drained.

The shelf life of a used device will be no more than 2 years , provided that the battery is charged to maximum at least once every 30 calendar days.

In addition to lead-acid batteries, there are also hybrid and calcium batteries.

When storing new devices, recharging should be carried out at least:

• once a quarter for lead-acid ;
• once a year for hybrid ;
• once every year and a half for calcium .

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Regardless of the type of product, it is important to avoid direct exposure to sunlight and maintain temperature conditions .

Batteries can be stored at temperatures from 0 to +18°C .

Deviation from the recommended parameters significantly reduces the battery life.

Life time

This is the operating time after which batteries can pose a danger to life and health, cause damage to property or the environment. Are batteries really that dangerous? It must be remembered that lithium batteries, when depressurized, spontaneously ignite from contact with atmospheric oxygen. That is why they are prohibited from being disassembled, bent, crushed, broken or pierced. During battery operation, multiple redox reactions occur. Their side effect is the release of hydrogen and other flammable gases. Gases accumulate and swell the battery, so old batteries usually have an increased thickness (up to +20%) compared to new ones. But some batteries swell significantly more, which can lead to their depressurization. This is the main reason for the limited service life. We recommend paying attention to this and proactively replacing swollen batteries without waiting for them to spontaneously depressurize. At the end of their service life, dispose of batteries properly.

What affects the duration of work?

The following factors influence the duration of operation and shelf life :

1. type of device;
2. conditions of use (storage period or work in a car);
3. temperature conditions of use;
4. number of cycles from full charge to discharge;
5. presence of mechanical influence (vibration, shock, etc.);
6. adjustment of vehicle electronic devices , which affects the electrical characteristics of the battery;

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7. time the battery is in a discharged state;
8. state of the plates , including the influence of the sulfation process during discharge;
9. presence and frequency of extreme use ;
10. short circuit in the battery banks.

Limitation of Warranty

The standard one-year warranty is a voluntary manufacturer's warranty. It provides rights regardless of those established by the Consumer Protection Law. Therefore, the benefits provided by the standard warranty do not replace, exclude, limit or suspend, but are in addition to, the rights provided by consumer law. You have the opportunity to choose whether to claim service under the standard warranty or under the Consumer Protection Act. The terms of the standard warranty do not apply to claims made under the Consumer Protection Act. Important restrictions:

• Craftmann products purchased outside of Russia are serviced in Russia on a general basis, however, refunds will be made in rubles and at prices valid in Russia.
• Service for Craftmann products purchased in Russia is also serviced under general rights in other countries, depending on the presence of an authorized distributor. In the absence of an authorized distributor, you will be asked to make a return/exchange by sending the defective products back to Russia.
• In case of violation of the rules of safe operation, as well as gross violation of recommendations for use, the warranty may be canceled unilaterally.
• Re-sticking the sticker, deliberately erasing the QR code, changing other significant designations and means of individualization is a clear reason for refusal of warranty service.
• The warranty does not cover damage to batteries or mobile devices themselves that occurs during battery installation. If you are not confident in your abilities, we recommend contacting our partners for professional battery installation.
• Data loss during battery installation is not covered under warranty. Before replacing the battery, we recommend that you back up the data on your mobile device.
• The absence of a receipt is not grounds for denial of the warranty, but if at the time of filing the claim the battery turned out to be expired, then you will need to prove that it was purchased and installed in the mobile device before its expiration date.
• The warranty also does not apply to any damages related to your business, loss of profits, data or opportunity, or to the reasonably foreseeable consequence of violation of the User Agreement.
• Warranty service is suspended in the event of death or injury to health, fraudulent acts or acts committed due to gross negligence, filing complaints with government, judicial authorities, the media, in order to increase compensation for warranty obligations, as well as in case of any intentional misrepresentation for any other purpose that cannot be limited or excluded by law.

What happens if you use a battery of the wrong capacity?

Some car enthusiasts believe that they should install a battery of strictly standard capacity. However, this is not always true .

It is not prohibited to install a battery with a larger capacity.

This will not in any way affect the life of the battery itself or the quality of the car.

But you really can’t . This is due to the fact that due to frequent discharges it will quickly fail. In addition, in the winter season it may simply not have enough power to start the engine.

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Standard Warranty

When purchasing any CRAFTMANN product, it is covered by the standard (free) manufacturer's warranty. Depending on the time that has passed since the purchase, there are 3 scenarios for implementing the warranty (return and exchange):

• Within 14 days from the date of purchase, goods of good quality can be returned or exchanged.
• During the warranty period, only goods of inadequate quality are exchanged or returned.
• Complaints related to manufacturing defects will be reviewed within 2 years from the date of purchase.

How to extend the service life?

Failure to comply with the operating conditions of the battery significantly reduces its service life. Experts recommend adhering to certain rules to ensure uninterrupted operation of the battery throughout its shelf life.

Check the voltage level at the battery terminal. To do this, you need to start the engine, turn on the oven, heated windows, mirrors, seats and music.

, the voltage should vary between 13.5 and 14.5 V. After this, turn off all additional devices, turn off the engine and check the current leakage indicator.

During normal operation of the generator it will not exceed 200 mA.

At least once a quarter you need to remove the battery and charge it from the network.

This reduces sulfation and also increases the life of the battery.

Monitor the starter's operation . If the engine starts after 2-3 attempts, and the shaft idles for several seconds, this significantly reduces the battery life, and this also leads to a significant decrease in the charge level.

How can you tell when your battery is reaching the end of its life?

Signs of the imminent end of battery life and resource expiration are:

• rapid battery discharge due to reduced electrical capacity;
• insufficient current supplied by the starter to start the engine;
• When charging, the battery does not charge to full voltage.

Some battery malfunctions are noticeable by eye during external inspection:

• damage to the body;
• terminal oxidation.

When is decommissioning and replacement required?

The need to replace the battery is determined by the following criteria:

1. long start or regular inability to start the engine the first time;
2. indications of the need for recharging on the on-board computer;
3. the presence of a sour, unpleasant odor from the battery;
4. inability to charge the electrolyte to the minimum density standard (1.25 g/cm³);
5. darkening of the electrolyte (this is a sign of corrosion of the plates or a change in the consistency of the electrolyte).

If these signs are detected, the battery must be replaced immediately.

A failed battery can cause an explosion .