What is the shelf life of the battery before use?

The battery is the main supplier of electrical energy to all consumers in the car when the engine is turned off. At the same time, it is also an indispensable assistant in starting the power unit. When choosing a battery for your vehicle, you should pay attention not only to the manufacturer, but also to the duration of its operation. Many drivers are interested in a logical question: what is the shelf life of the battery before use? This is exactly what we will do now.

Legislative acts

It is worth noting that the service life of a car battery is regulated by current legislation. The Law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights” contains articles numbered 18 and 19, which all ordinary consumers should rely on.

According to their content, the buyer has every right to present reasonable claims to the seller regarding the defects of the goods sold to him. They are valid when discovered during the warranty period. The shelf life should be understood as the duration between the day the battery was manufactured (however, this applies to absolutely any product) and the date before it was put into operation.

Battery storage life before use according to GOST

Any regulatory act, including GOST 959-2002, regarding lead-acid batteries is developed taking into account design features and operating conditions. The section of the document “Reliability Requirements” contains information regarding the shelf life depending on the type of battery:

If the electrolyte is not filled - 3 years.
With electrolyte – 12 months.

The average life of a car battery is also determined if its capacity decreases from the original parameter by 40% or less. But there are other cases when the service life of a car battery is considered over:

Serviced batteries: for a mileage of up to 90 thousand km - 24 months, up to 150 thousand km - a year (3,000 operating hours).
Maintenance-free batteries: with a mileage of up to 100 thousand km - 48 months (4,000 operating hours).

Foreign-made batteries are marked with an additional letter “T”. What is the shelf life of the battery before use? As practice shows, the entire operating cycle of any battery can be divided into several types - warranty and real.

Planned service life of a car battery for write-off

The role of road transport in the transportation of goods and passengers can hardly be overestimated. But each vehicle is equipped with batteries of varying power. Battery life varies from car to car. Equipment in vehicle parks works intensively, but is under the supervision of specialists. Therefore, the battery service life for professionally operating vehicles is set depending on the mileage or operating hours.

Based on the standards, the service life of lead acid batteries is regulated by the standard RD-3112199-1089-02.

Private transport companies set vehicle battery life limits based on their own regulations. In personal cars, they try to use every opportunity to extend battery life.

Warranty period

As a rule, the warranty duration can range from six months to 4 years - everything mainly depends on the manufacturer. Moreover, during this period he obligatorily undertakes to eliminate manufacturing defects (if their presence is proven).

One interesting pattern has been noticed - the longer the warranty period of the battery, the longer its service life. Manufacturers of serviced batteries give the shortest period of time. At the same time, it is worth noting that most factory defects in batteries are discovered within six months from the date of their sale.

Real lifespan

Unlike the shelf life of a new battery before use, its service life is affected not only by the vehicle's mileage (or engine hours). There are a number of other factors to consider:

The resource of the entire structure, which includes several components - the amount of active mass, the alloy of the plates, the quality of the electrolyte, compliance with production technology. It is very important that the battery arrives to customers in a “fresh” form.
On-board vehicle system. In particular, we are talking about its energy saturation. If the generator's capacity is exceeded, including current leakage, this leads to undercharging of the battery. As a result, the battery life is reduced.
Incorrect operation of the generator can result in a deep discharge of the battery. In turn, this brings the deadline for its write-off closer.
Due to violations of vehicle operation rules in winter, battery banks may freeze if the electrolyte loses its density. This, in fact, may be the end of the battery life.
If you keep the car battery clean during the entire storage period before using it, charge it in a timely manner, and also check the electrolyte from time to time, then you can preserve the long service life of the battery.

When the battery is running at about 60% charge or in case of overcharging, sulfation may occur due to a faulty voltage regulator.

This is also fraught with detachment of the active mass from the battery plates and lead oxidation. Ultimately, the resource, including battery life, is noticeably reduced.

What affects the duration of work?

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

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

Whether gasoline has an expiration date, read the next article.

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

Service life of gel analogues

Gel batteries are not that uncommon these days. The wide popularity of these batteries is largely due to their high performance properties. And this, in turn, became possible thanks to the aggregate form of the electrolyte. After all, it is the gel substance that completely eliminates leakage and fits tightly onto the plates, thereby helping to increase electricity generation.

Such batteries have a fairly long charge-discharge cycle, and the battery’s shelf life before use can reach 10-12 years! As for self-discharge (as we know, this is a real problem with any car battery), it is about 20% over the course of a year. In addition, even a deep discharge of the battery does not lead to shedding of the plates.

Reduced battery life can occur for several reasons:

The vehicle's on-board network is more than 14.4 V - this parameter is critical for this type of battery.
The electrolyte is very sensitive to low temperatures and if the gel-like substance freezes, its properties will not be restored.
A short circuit damages the battery.

Each charging process must be complete. Otherwise, loss of capacity cannot be avoided. Because of this, the promotion of gel batteries to the masses is slowed down.

How to extend battery life

Many car enthusiasts are interested in a very important question: how to extend the life of a car battery? In fact, regardless of the type of battery, there are several universal tips, following which you can significantly extend the life of the battery without any problems. Among them:

Do not operate a discharged battery . Operating a battery at a low charge level can lead to a so-called “deep discharge”. This is a very harmful phenomenon, which usually leads not only to a significant decrease in the battery capacity value, but also to a decrease in the overall resource. This happens because the battery actually wears out, with all the ensuing consequences.

Recharge the battery regularly . This requirement is relevant for any time of year, but it is most acute in winter, when the air temperature drops significantly below zero on the Celsius scale. This can be done either directly on the car (if the battery is not very discharged and this is done, rather, for preventive purposes) or using an external charger. On a car, after warming up the engine (even in the warm season), let the engine run for about 10 minutes with electrical appliances turned off and at high speed. If we talk about proper charging of the battery with a charger, then in this case the charger value is usually set to 10% of the battery capacity. It is best to use automatic chargers that independently select the current value and the immediate charging time.
Depress the clutch pedal . On vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be depressed before starting the engine. This makes it easier to turn the starter and requires less electrical energy from the battery; accordingly, it “works” less and retains its resource longer. If the machine is parked on a slope and at speed, make sure the parking brake is on! The constant habit of depressing the clutch pedal greatly increases the life of your car battery.
Turn the starter briefly . The fact is that a spinning starter spends a lot of mechanical energy, which it receives as electrical energy from the battery. This means that the battery is also subjected to significant stress during engine starting. The maximum time period for cranking the starter is 4...5 seconds. It is better to limit the number of attempts to four. Otherwise, it is necessary to take additional measures to troubleshoot problems due to which the car engine does not start.
“Warm up” the battery . The “warming up” process in this case is relevant for the winter period, when the air temperature drops significantly. So, before starting the engine, you need to turn on the high beam headlights for 20...30 seconds. This is necessary to start a chemical reaction in the battery, which will allow it to warm up. After turning on the headlights, you can already try to start the engine directly. This simple procedure helps extend the life of your car battery.
Battery prevention . Any battery must be periodically removed from the car in order to perform a visual inspection of its body to look for possible damage and cracks, and remove dust and deposits from it.
Periodic charging . Despite the fact that the car battery is constantly recharged from the generator in its seat, you still need to periodically check the voltage it produces and recharge it if necessary. This is especially true for the winter season, when the car is operated in severe frosts. Thus, the normal value of the battery voltage without load is 12.7 Volts. If it drops to 12.2...12.4 Volts, then it is advisable to recharge the battery using an external charger.
Normal electrolyte level . For maintained batteries, it is imperative to periodically check the electrolyte level in them and, if necessary, add distilled water to it. A decrease in the electrolyte level threatens sulfation of the lead plates of the battery, which is very harmful to it and reduces the life of the battery.
Terminal oxidation . First of all, you need the reason for the appearance of oxides. And as a preventative measure, it is necessary to periodically inspect the condition of the terminals, clean them and lubricate them with special compounds for this purpose.

Using a thermal case . This is a very useful thing, but the thermal case must be heated, otherwise it will only cause harm.
Additional electrical equipment . If the car has many additional consumers of electricity (powerful audio system, speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers, etc.), then there is a risk that the generator may not be able to cope with such a load. In this case, energy will be taken from the battery, even while driving, and this will logically lead to its discharge, reduced service life and even failure. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the power of additional installed equipment.
Starter operation . If the starter is damaged and jams, then more energy from the battery is required for its operation. This naturally causes the battery to work harder, which reduces its service life. In this case, it is necessary to check the starter.

The listed rules for operating and maintaining batteries are quite simple, but they can significantly extend the overall life of the battery. However, the car owner must still pay attention to the type of battery. For example, modern gel batteries do not like to be “overcharged,” that is, when they are charged with a very high current and beyond its capacity. Therefore, such subtleties must always be taken into account.

If you plan to store the car for a long time (for example, a month or more), then it makes sense to disconnect the wires from the battery terminals. And before starting the car, charge it to a full charge level.

Conclusion

As can be seen from the content of the material, the service life of the battery depends on many factors. First of all, when purchasing a new battery, a car owner should always pay attention to its type, brand and production quality. There is no need to expect that a cheap Chinese or domestic device will last a long time. Therefore, initially you need to try to purchase more or less high-quality products from the middle or expensive price range. And you must definitely follow the recommendations regarding extending their service life, depending on its specific type. And remember that completely worn-out batteries must not just be thrown into a landfill, but must be disposed of at specially designated points for this purpose (in extreme cases, they can be taken to a scrap metal collection point, where they will be sold separately as batteries).

General storage rules

Many rechargeable batteries are products that deteriorate over time and lose their properties. Therefore, long-term storage of the battery before use is not recommended.

The main rule in this case is to treat the battery with care and caution. This means that under no circumstances should you hit the battery, throw it, and even more so do actions that lead to depressurization of the battery.

Chemical reactions occur inside a car battery even during storage. But over time, the active substances become less active and eventually lose their properties.

Temperature plays an important role here:

High values lead to acceleration of activity processes.
Low parameters have the opposite effect.

If the battery is stored in a discharged state, crystallization of the lead plates occurs. Because of this, service life and storage are reduced.

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 .

In this article you will find information about the expiration dates of a car first aid kit.

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.

Features of storing a dry-charged battery

Now it’s worth touching on the issues of storing batteries of different types, and let’s start with the shelf life of a dry-charged battery before use. In the case where the use of a dry-charged battery is not intended, the original packaging is not removed from it yet. The temperature in the battery storage room should be in the range from 0 °C to 35 °C. In this case, avoid exposure to direct sunlight. In addition, the room itself should be well ventilated.

If there are several batteries, then under no circumstances should you “build” “high-rise buildings” out of them, placing one on top of the other. They should always be openly accessible!

It is generally accepted that dry-charged batteries do not need recharging during the entire storage period, since they are packaged in original packaging. It is unlikely that sellers will print it immediately before selling, as this is considered a rather serious violation.

In contrast to the shelf life of a maintenance-free battery before use, it is recommended to store dry-charged analogues for no more than a year. Although, as practice shows, this period may exceed 12 months. This is due to the fact that subsequently, before putting the battery into operation, it takes longer to charge it.

Types of batteries and service life

Depending on the tasks assigned, 7 types of rechargeable batteries are currently widely used. Each type has both positive and negative sides, so far it has not been possible to invent an ideal battery, but progress does not stand still and the battery life is constantly increasing, for example, antimony batteries have a service life of only 2-3 years, while alkaline batteries can reach 25 years. Therefore, to solve a specific problem, you need to select your own type of battery, the main ones are presented below.

Antimony battery

An antimony battery is a rather old and obsolete type of battery. It got its name due to the presence of antimony (Sb) of 5% or more in lead plates. It is added to give strength, since initially lead plates are soft and elastic; pure lead without impurities is not suitable for use in batteries.

Antimony batteries, due to the use of old technologies in their production, do not last long and are inferior to modern batteries. The average service life of such a current source is 2-3 years.

When operating such a battery, it is necessary to regularly check the electrolyte level, since over time the water evaporates from it and the lead plates become exposed, which leads to undesirable consequences and a decrease in the service life of the battery.

The main advantage of this type of battery is its unpretentiousness and low cost; they are still used in electrical circuits where high starting currents are not required.

Oil-antimony battery

The main difference between an oil-antimony battery and an antimony battery is the presence of antimony in the plates of less than 5%. This was done in order to reduce the rate of evaporation of water from the battery, since antimony causes an electrolysis process, which releases hydrogen and oxygen. Simply put, the electrolyte in the battery begins to boil when the voltage reaches 12 Volts.

The use of plates with a reduced antimony content made it possible to avoid the problem of constantly adding distilled water, but still this type of battery cannot be considered maintenance-free. When operating an oil-antimony battery, it is necessary to monitor the electrolyte level, since the problem has not been fundamentally solved.

The advantages of this type of battery are increased resistance to self-discharge during long-term storage, as well as stability of operation during voltage surges in the vehicle’s on-board network. Due to the low cost of materials used in the manufacture of batteries and the relatively simple production technology, batteries have an affordable price.

With proper maintenance and proper and careful operation, the service life of an antimony oil battery is 2-4 years.

Calcium battery

Technology does not stand still, and the next stage in the development of rechargeable batteries was the addition of calcium (Ca) to lead plates instead of antimony. As a result, even more advanced and durable batteries were born. Their main advantage is reduced water evaporation - by reducing the intensity of the electrolysis process in the battery. Also, in calcium batteries, to reduce the internal resistance, they began to add a small amount of silver, as a result of which it was possible to increase the efficiency and capacity of the battery. All these technologies have made it possible to significantly increase the service life of calcium batteries.

The service life of calcium batteries is 8-9 years. This type of battery eliminates the need for constant monitoring of the electrolyte level.

The disadvantage of calcium batteries is their increased sensitivity to strong discharge and voltage surges in the electrical circuits of the car. It is enough to completely discharge it only 2-3 times for it to lose its consumer properties. Before installing a calcium battery, check the serviceability of your car's electrical equipment, and in particular the generator and voltage stabilizer, in order to extend the battery life and not waste money.

Gel battery

Due to the fact that conventional batteries contain electrolyte and if the battery case is damaged, sulfuric acid may leak, which is very dangerous for humans and the environment, engineers have developed a new type of battery in which the electrolyte is in a gel state (GEL). The use of this technology has made it possible to significantly improve a number of consumer properties of the battery, and in particular they have the following characteristics:

Low self-discharge;
High starting current;
Possibility to place the battery in an inclined position;
Restore its capacity after a deep discharge;
The total number of charge-discharge cycles is about 200;
No maintenance required.

The use of new technology has made it possible to increase the service life of gel batteries to 10-12 years.

The disadvantage of this type of battery is a strong decrease in capacity when the temperature of the ambient air decreases (the capacity can drop two or more times), and these batteries are also afraid of short circuits (short circuit). It is also necessary to monitor the charging voltage of the gel battery; it should not exceed 14 Volts.

Alkaline battery

This type of battery uses alkali instead of electrolyte. Alkaline batteries are used quite rarely in cars; they are more widely used in warehouse equipment as traction batteries. The positive aspects when using alkaline batteries include the light weight of the device, high performance at low temperatures, minimal self-discharge and the ability to quickly recover from deep battery discharges. During operation, alkaline batteries do not emit harmful substances, which cannot be said about antimony batteries.

The service life of an alkaline battery is 4000 charge-discharge cycles, which can reach 25 years with proper care. These figures significantly exceed the service life of acid batteries.

Li-ion battery

In the modern world, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are widely used in all spheres of human activity. They are used both in household electrical appliances and in industry, in particular the automotive and aircraft industries. Laptops, mobile phones, power tools, electric cars, photo and video cameras - here is a small list of devices where this type of battery is used. The first lithium-ion battery was created back in 1991. by Sony and was used in an audio player.

The service life of a lithium-ion battery reaches 3-7 years, this corresponds to 500-1000 charge-discharge cycles.

The principle of operation of a lithium-ion battery is as follows: it has a cathode on aluminum foil and an anode on copper foil, they are separated from each other by a porous separator, which is impregnated with electrolyte. To reduce their size, all battery elements are rolled into a tube and enclosed in a sealed case. The charge carrier used is lithium ion, which can be incorporated into the crystal lattices of other metals, forming chemical bonds.

The service life of lithium-ion batteries is affected by such parameters as: frequency of use, operating temperature, storage conditions, correct battery charge, connected load. When using such an energy source, avoid short circuits, the temperature should be in the range from -20 to +50 °C, charge the battery only with a charger that has a charge controller and is designed specifically for this type of battery.

Hybrid battery

Hybrid batteries are gradually replacing antimony batteries from the market due to their undeniable advantages: low self-discharge and the absence of the need to monitor the electrolyte level each time. In the construction of such batteries, 2 types of plates are used: lead-antimony and lead-calcium. Thus, it was possible to increase the battery’s resistance to deep discharges and reduce the evaporation of water from the electrolyte during battery operation. With such a battery, you can safely leave your car for a long time, without worrying about not starting it later.

The average service life of hybrid batteries is about 5 years, but many drivers note that with proper care they have a service life of up to 7 years.

The disadvantages of hybrid batteries include their high cost and labor-intensive manufacturing. It is also necessary to control the electrolyte level, especially in the warm season when the air temperature reaches 30°C and above. During such periods, the battery is subject to the boiling process. When the acid level decreases, simply add distilled water to the level, monitoring the density of the electrolyte with a hydrometer (see below), since it is sold at any auto parts store and is inexpensive.

How to store a flooded battery?

In this case, the batteries already contain electrolyte (mostly liquid) and it is charged at the factory. The storage space for such batteries is subject to the same requirements as for the previous type. But since the battery already contains electrolyte, the temperature regime will be slightly different.

And since it is sensitive to this parameter, its service life will be different:

From 0 °C to 20 °C – no more than 18 months.
At temperatures above 20 °C – 9 months, no more.

It is worth noting that this type of battery is characterized by the presence of a small self-discharge, which fully depends on the temperature regime.

During storage, it is recommended to periodically charge the car battery. However, not every seller, even if necessary, decides to open the original packaging. But this is a violation of the battery’s shelf life before use.

Therefore, buyers should be interested in how long the battery has been stored. This will then allow you to decide whether to charge the new battery before subsequent commissioning or not.

How to store a car battery

Finally, let's consider the question of how to store a car battery. Removing it from the car and simply placing it on the floor in a suitable place is not an option, since before this it is necessary to perform some manipulations on the battery to help extend its preservation period.

The first rule is that the battery must be charged to a voltage at the terminal terminals that lies in the range of 12.4-12.6 V. Rule No. 2 - rid the battery case and terminals of dirt, engine oil, electrolyte residues and other contaminants, of which there are plenty in the engine compartment . Pay special attention to the cleanliness of the terminals themselves and the space between them. After cleaning, be sure to wipe these places with a dry cloth to protect the power source from conductive bridges.

The third rule is to lubricate the terminals with grease or technical petroleum jelly after the first two manipulations - they will protect the metal from oxidation.

Finally, make sure that the battery is in a strictly horizontal plane. Any tilt can expose the plates, and they will begin to rapidly collapse. Such a scenario cannot be allowed to happen.

The level of self-discharge of a car battery within 1%/month is considered normal. At this rate, nothing will happen to your battery over the winter, and in the spring you won’t even notice that it has stood for three long months.

Troubleshooting

The main symptoms of malfunctions include the following:

The battery began to discharge faster than usual.
Starting the engine is difficult.
There is oxidation of the terminals.
There are noticeable interruptions in the operation of current consumers in the car.
Damage to the battery case is visible.
Sulfation of the plates has occurred.
Obvious problems with the electrolyte.

The quality of battery components is not always high, as required by norms and standards.

Therefore, in some cases, power supplies begin to work intermittently or fail completely.

Using batteries in a car

Electrochemical power supplies have found their application in various types of transport and many other industries. In a car, a battery is needed to fulfill specific purposes:

engine starting;
supplying electricity to functioning systems when the engine is turned off;
use as an auxiliary tool for a generator.

Car batteries are divided into 4 categories - low antimony, calcium, gel and hybrid. When choosing an AB, you should consider not only the price, but also its functionality:

Low antimony battery is a regular lead battery without adding additional components to the plates.
Calcium - this battery has all the plates made of calcium.
Gel - filled with gel-like contents that replace the usual electrolyte.
A hybrid battery includes plates made of different materials: the positive one is low-antimony, and the negative one contains an admixture of silver.

We recommend: Calcium battery for a car: pros and cons of batteries Low-antimony batteries are most susceptible to water boiling away from the electrolyte and they lose their charge faster than others.
But at the same time, they are easy to charge and are not afraid of deep discharge. The diametrically opposite situation occurs with calcium batteries. If such a battery is deeply discharged several times in a row, it will be impossible to restore it. The optimal choice would be a hybrid battery. Gel batteries are convenient because there is a gel inside that does not leak out in an inverted position and cannot boil away.

They are capable of delivering maximum starting current until the moment of complete discharge, and they have the property of recovery at the end of the charging cycle. One significant disadvantage of this type of battery is its high cost.

For new foreign cars with high-quality electric lighting, it is recommended to install calcium batteries, and for older models of the domestic automobile industry, the best choice would be low-antimony battery cells.

Bottom line

It is worth considering that the battery is a consumable item for the car, just like oils and other options. Only, unlike all other consumables, batteries have a longer service life and storage. In addition, it is necessary to regularly monitor its condition and monitor performance indicators.

To do this, you should charge it in a timely manner and avoid extreme operating conditions that negatively affect its functionality.

If you observe the battery storage period before use, including careful and caring treatment, it can last 5-6 years, if not more. Not bad for such a consumable?!

Age verification

Timely replacement of the old battery is only possible if the owner carefully monitors and records all dates for replacing components. It is simply impossible to keep all the information in your head, especially considering that a high-quality battery can last 5 years or more. In addition, sometimes car enthusiasts buy used cars. You should not trust the seller unconditionally. The battery life can be easily checked.

We recommend: Car starting battery and its device

There are no universal rules for date placement. Different manufacturing companies have different labeling methods. Well-known Western brands (Bosch, Berga, Balckmax, Varta, etc.) have a code of 24 characters. The fourth position from the left indicates the year of production, and the fifth and sixth positions indicate the month.

The Titan Arctic and Titan companies have the month and year positions swapped. You can find information about the year of manufacture on the fifth and sixth digits, and the month of manufacture under the third and fourth serial numbers. A special system was introduced by battery manufacturers Bost and Atlas. When searching for the year of manufacture, you should pay attention to the first digit. Behind it you can find letters that indicate the month of production.

Information about age verification methods can be obtained from your retailer or online. Operating instructions for each model are most often freely available. With such information, you can closely monitor the service life and carry out timely maintenance and replacement.