With an old battery, this is not life.

Yu.I. Detochkin

The crisis has hit everything, and the battery market is no exception. Buyers look first of all at price. Even owners of prestigious cars are in no hurry to splurge on expensive batteries such as AGM and EFB, which everyone predicted unconditional dominance a few years ago.

It’s even somehow awkward to talk about amperes, coulombs and degrees, if mass consumer chooses what is cheaper. On the other hand, budget products often have poor quality, and the savings can cost a pretty penny... This time we decided to focus on inexpensive batteries.

Is the battery cheaper?

At first, the search for the most inexpensive batteries of the most popular size 242x175x190 mm gave a modest result - only five products priced from 2610 rubles for a Podolsk battery to 3002 rubles for a Tyumen battery. Not enough for a full examination. They raised the price bar to 3,500 rubles - six more batteries were added. But what about without big foreign names - Varta, Bosch, Mutlu? In addition, domestic batteries close in price to them - for example, AkTech - were left behind. Along the way, it turned out that some eastern brands set prices for their products that were not at all “crisis”: the most expensive battery was not Bosch at all, but the Korean Solite for as much as 5,000 rubles!

As a result, we collected two dozen batteries. Let's see how price relates to amp hours and coulombs.

The purchase was carried out in a retail network in April - May 2016. The research results relate only to this sample and cannot serve as a basis for evaluating all products of a particular brand.

MAIN CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING BATTERY QUALITY Reserve capacity. Shows how long a car will last with all power consumers turned on (headlights, windshield wipers, ventilation system) if its generator is damaged. Measured in minutes. The higher the result, the better. Reduced starting energy with declared current. Characterizes the battery energy in starting mode. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the result, the better. Reduced starting energy with a single current at -18 and -29 ºС. Allows you to compare the current characteristics of all batteries under the same conditions, regardless of their rating data. Simply put, the higher the energy, the, other things being equal, the more attempts to reliably start the engine. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the result, the better. Acceptance of charge at constant external voltage. Shows the battery's ability to recover after a deep discharge. In practice, a battery that accepts charge better than others will also charge faster when traveling. All batteries passed the test. Note. Technical measurements carried out by specialists from the Research Center AT 3 Central Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The test results relate to a specific sample of batteries and cannot characterize all products of the same name as a whole.

Will that do?

The overall impression of the test results is painful. There are three main reasons for the disorder. Firstly, sellers are still slipping in stale goods, albeit with guarantees, smiles and seals. Secondly, it’s unpleasant that in the Russian frost, out of twenty brand new batteries, eleven failed. Thirdly, out of two dozen batteries, only two really fought for victory - Tyumen Battery Premium and Varta Blue Dynamic. Their gap from their opponents turned out to be serious. Moreover, curiously, the advantage is obvious both with and without price.

Take a look at the first columns of the table, which shows the reserve capacity of brand new batteries. In brackets we give the actual “volume” of electricity for which the buyer pays. By analogy with gas station: you ask to fill full tank, and the tanker only splashed on the bottom. But there is a difference: a gas station “error” will not lead to anything terrible, but a discharged battery, as the pros say, “goes sour.” Often this is irreversible: it loses capacity and becomes inoperable. We were ready for this, so before starting the tests, as usual, we charged all the batteries to capacity. And you need to do this before you install the battery on the car. Our measurements confirm this.

Now about the “overpayments” for the brand. A miracle did not happen: all the little-known batteries accumulated together at the bottom of the table. The most annoying thing is that the prices for many of them are not cheap at all. There is clearly no point in overpaying for such imports. And the first half of the table was filled with familiar names - we advise you to focus on them.

First thing determine the battery size. It must be guaranteed to fit in its workplace - in engine compartment or trunk. Simultaneously determine the polarity. An old battery will help here: look - is the plus on the right or on the left? Often the length of the wires does not allow connecting a battery of the “wrong” polarity. When choosing a battery brand, we strongly recommend follow the list of our winners recent years. Don't be fooled by low price- there are no philanthropists on the market. The brand determines the value. As a rule, with the same dimensions, serious companies offer batteries of different energy capacities (for example, different declared amperes and ampere-hours). It’s better to take the maximum, even if it’s a little more expensive. Not worth purchasing products that have “Ah” type units indicated on the labels or in the passport. This indicates the technical illiteracy of their compilers and raises doubts about the quality. Battery purchased in mandatory need to charge. After charging and holding (keeping the battery disconnected from the charger) for 10–15 hours, the voltage should be 12.5–12.7 V. If measured immediately after charging, the readings can significantly exceed the actual open circuit voltage.

Everything is in place

To identify leaders and outsiders, we introduced a scoring system. In each test type, the best and worst results were taken and assigned five points (maximum) and one point (minimum), respectively. Each of the remaining participants received an intermediate score proportional to their position between the leader and the outsider. For example, if, when measuring reserve capacity, the leader showed a result of 112 minutes, and the outsider - 78, then the participant with a result of 87 minutes gets 2.06 points. If a battery fails in one test or another, it receives 0 points.

The total score based on the results of measurements is the arithmetic average of five intermediate assessments. Then we divided it by the price of the battery, after which we again brought it to a five-point scale. So the final score is essentially value for money.

The Tyumen Battery Premium and Varta Blue Dynamic batteries turned out to be unrivaled in our tests. Taking into account the much more attractive price, the “Siberian” rose to the top. If we didn't take prices into account, Varta would be first. However, the “foreign” battery has another paradoxical advantage over the Russian battery: it is easier to find on sale. It sounds illogical, but it is true, and not only in Moscow.

Conclusion? You cannot purchase a battery looking only at the price tag. Savings may backfire. It is better to spend a little time to familiarize yourself with the results of our examination. Good luck with your purchase and stable voltage in the on-board network!

BEST CAR BATTERIES: WINNERS OF ZARULEVSKY EXAMINATIONS
	Tyumen Battery Premium	Varta	Mutlu
2015	Tyumen Battery Premium	Topla	Exide Premium
2014	Varta	Banner	Bosch
2013	Tyumen Battery Leader	Mutlu	Royal
2012	Varta	Medalist	Topla
2011	Medalist	Panasonic	Titan
2010	Medalist	Varta	Beast
2009	Varta	Medalist	A-mega
2008	Bosch	Medalist	Varta
2007	Mutlu	Akom	Medalist
2006	Varta	Medalist	Bosch
2004	Tyumen	Tyumen	Medalist
Place	first	second	third

20th place	19th place	18th place	17th place
Approximate price 4900 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 500 A Measured/declared weight 13.63/ 13.99 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - It seems that the name of the battery should remind the buyer famous brand Exide - the difference is one letter. Hence, perhaps, the high price. However, the Korean battery turned out to be weak: all ratings were below two points. And at -29 ºC she asked for mercy: the voltage dropped below the required 6 V. Taking into account the price, she took last place in the all-around.	Approximate price 4500 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 510 A Measured/declared weight 14.03 kg/ not specified Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - The weak “energy” couldn’t handle the Russian cold: after 15 seconds of torment, the voltage dropped sharply - that’s it, we’ve arrived. The reserve capacity is useless. The inflated price only increased the negative effect. Second to last place.	Approximate price 5000 rub. 62 Ah (105 min.) Declared current 600 A Measured/declared weight 13.54 kg/ not specified Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - We bought this battery after seeing the prohibitive price tag for a quiet brand. What if this new leader market? But in the cold, the voltage quickly sank below the required level, and the price-quality ratio determined a place at the bottom of the table.	Approximate price 3110 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 460 A Measured/declared weight 13.6/ 15.0 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - The reserve capacity is the lowest. At -18 ºC it is the worst. At -29 ºC - loss of performance. That's the whole biography. And what good does it do if the price is low?

16th place	15th place	14th place	13th place
Approximate price 3000 rub. Declared capacity (reserve capacity) 55 Ah (88 min.) Declared current 420 A Measured/declared weight 12.95/ 15.8 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams How well it all started... Price - only 3000 rubles. And even the reserve capacity is indicated in minutes. But then the carriage turned into a pumpkin: ratings below two plus failure after four seconds of operation in the cold - voltage below 6 V.	Approximate price 2610 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 420 A Measured/declared weight 12.42/ 15.8 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The cheapest battery in the selection. It doesn’t matter that the stated current is only 420 A, as long as it works. But the difference between the actual mass and the promised one was 3.38 kg - no lead was reported. Result: all grades are below two points. And in the cold, “the electricity ran out.”	Approximate price 3300 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 520 A Measured/declared weight 14.05/ 16.95 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams After weighing everything became clear - almost 3 kg was missing. After nine seconds of operation in the cold, the battery died: the voltage dropped below 6 V. In addition, this battery also takes a charge the worst.	Approximate price 3450 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 470 A Measured/declared weight 12.8/ 15.0 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The price is reasonable, but it looks like they saved money again on lead plates. At -29 ºС the battery failed: the voltage dropped below the “waterline”. However, the initial reserve capacity did not inspire optimism either: only 11 minutes! Therefore, although not the last, it is still an unhappy place.

12th place	11th place	10th place	9th place
Approximate price 3250 rub. Declared capacity 62 Ah Declared current 550 A Measured/declared weight 14.63/ 15.8 kg Gas outlet through traffic jams Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams Only 17 minutes of original reserve capacity. The reason is obvious: the sellers did not service the battery! Having charged it, we brought it back to life. Weighing showed a lack of lead. After just seven seconds of operation in the cold, the battery refused to cooperate.	Approximate price 4200 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 520 A Measured/declared weight 14.25/ 15.5 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The price is high, and there is clearly not enough lead for this money. The battery is afraid of cold weather: it was unable to produce decent joules in the cold, lasting 17 seconds instead of the promised thirty. In general, I didn't like it.	Approximate price 4750 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 540 A Measured/declared weight 13.35 kg/ not specified Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - For many years now we have been writing the same thing about Bosch: the famous brand has not surprised us at all. A modest place in the middle of the table, not a single memorable result. The battery didn't fail, but it didn't attract attention either. The price is high and the energy is not enough.	Approximate price 2900 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 500 A Measured/declared weight 13.31/ 15.7 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams Very attractive price. And the same question: where is the lead? The product was too light and came from Kazakhstan. The lack of lead quickly backfired: in the cold, the battery suffered a “steering wheel” because it was unable to produce the required energy.

8th place	7th place	6th place	5th place
Approximate price 4100 rub. Declared capacity 64 Ah Declared current 570 A Measured/declared weight 17.05/ 16.8 kg Gas outlet through traffic jams Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The heaviest battery in the test: no lead was spared on it. But the battery was saved from failure by a miracle: at the time of purchase, “it” had only 14 minutes of reserve capacity. It’s good that the experts managed to bring her back to life after the charge. Against this background, the results shown can be considered excellent. But I didn't like the price.	Approximate price 4500 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 600 A Measured/declared weight 13.73/ 14.4 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams This brand has always looked decent. It’s the same now: the battery delivers the high declared current regularly and is not afraid of frost. It could have been better, but the battery was clearly not recharged in the store - this is evidenced by the original reserve capacity.	Approximate price 3500 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 450 A Measured/declared weight 13.95/ 14.3 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The Siberian “bear” is firmly in sixth place both in terms of characteristics and adjusted for price. When purchased, the reserve capacity turned out to be very small - apparently, the battery had been in the warehouse for a long time. Typical situation: sellers do not like to monitor batteries.	Approximate price 4100 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 600 A Measured/declared weight 15.67 /16.4 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - The battery honestly delivered what it promised, including a respectable 600 A. Way to go for more high place The price was a barrier: a little expensive for a Russian product!

Electrolyte level control -

The winner of numerous examinations of past years is now experiencing better times. The brand left our market, then returned again. Therefore, fourth place is, of course, a success. Note that the “medalist” was not allowed onto the podium because the price was too high.

Approximate price 3520 rub.

Declared capacity 63 Ah

Declared current 550 A

Measured/declared weight 15.3/ 15.6 kg

Gas outlet central

Electrolyte level monitoring -

The “Turkish woman” made it to the top three winners relatively low price. Judging only by electrical parameters, it would be fifth. But the price-quality ratio helped it outperform its competitors. However, this brand has always been among the leaders.

Approximate price 4550 rub.

Declared capacity 60 Ah

Declared current 540 A

Measured/declared weight 14.78 kg/ not specified

Gas outlet central

Electrolyte level monitoring -

Two nominations were won, three received silver. Without taking into account the price, Varta would have become the first, since it was ahead of the Tyumen battery by a fraction of a point. But the one and a half difference in price ultimately pushed it to second place.

Approximate price 3000 rub.

Declared capacity 64 Ah

Declared current 590 A

Measured/declared weight 16.6/ 17.2 kg

Gas outlet central

Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams

“Sibiryachka” won in three categories and was second in two more. In the finals, the price tag brought the battery to first place - Varta is much more expensive. The rest of the participants were quite far behind in terms of parameters. By the way, this is one of the heaviest batteries in our selection: without lead, one cannot dream of gold.

TEST RESULTS*

To view the table in its entirety, scroll horizontally.

*All ratings are given on a five-point scale (more is better).

**Domestic batteries are highlighted in color.

***The original reserve capacity of the batteries at the time of purchase is shown in parentheses for reference. This parameter is not involved in the distribution of seats.

IN winter time The starting battery becomes one of the most vulnerable elements of the car. Frosty morning You may find yourself in the unenviable position of being unable to start your car due to an old battery. It is worth taking care of its maintenance and, if necessary, replacement in advance. The range offered today in retail is amazing. I want to spend my hard-earned money productively. To do this, you need not only to know which brands offer the best batteries for cars for the winter, but also to choose the right battery.

Car batteries

Types of car batteries

The device you use today to start your car engine was invented more than a century and a half ago by the French scientist Gaston Plante. Since then, it has not changed much - technological improvements have occurred, but the principle of operation has remained the same. The main elements of the battery are lead plates and sulfuric acid. Today's variety of car batteries can be divided into the following types:

• Antimony. The antimony content (over 5%) in lead plates increases their strength. At voltages above 12 V, antimony activates chemical processes that destroy the plates. At the same time, hydrogen and oxygen are released - the battery “boils”. Such batteries require maintenance - periodic topping up with distilled water. Currently, they are practically not used.
• Low antimony. A lower antimony content (up to 5%) allows you to reduce the frequency of battery maintenance. However, they still need periodic refueling. One of the main advantages of such batteries is their tolerance to voltage surges in on-board network. That is why they are often equipped with domestically produced cars.
• Calcium. Calcium is added to lead gratings instead of antimony. This allows you to “push back” the beginning of the destructive chemical reaction electrolysis to a threshold of 16 V. The cost of such batteries is slightly higher. They do not require maintenance, but are afraid of being completely discharged. Two or three full discharge cycles are enough and the battery becomes unusable. They are best used in foreign cars with a conventional set of electrical equipment.
• Hybrid. Both materials are used to strengthen lead. Antimony and calcium, acting together, provide resistance to overcharge. Such batteries are less susceptible to problems of complete discharge. They have distilled water consumption, but they are usually classified as maintenance-free.

Aktech hybrid battery cross-section

The problem with all previous batteries is that the acid is present in them as a liquid. If the case is destroyed or the battery is turned over, it may spill. The active environment is dangerous for humans. In addition, the acid interacts with the metal, destroying it. In batteries manufactured using AMG technology, porous glass fiber is impregnated with electrolyte, laid between lead plates.

• Gel. In these sources electric current The liquid electrolyte is converted into a thick gel. According to manufacturers' advertisements, they can be used in any position. Their most important advantage is the ability to produce maximum starting currents almost completely discharged. After this, they easily restore capacity. The battery can withstand more than two hundred such cycles. Because of high cost Manufacturers equip them only with premium cars.

It is worth remembering another type of battery – alkaline. They are used in some types of trucks and in warehouse equipment as a traction battery.

Which battery is best for a car in winter?

As the temperature decreases, the density of the electrolyte decreases. This leads to the battery losing electrical capacity, which is the main factor determining inrush currents. In serviced batteries, this parameter can be monitored using a hydrometer, which measures the density of the car battery. In winter, it is recommended to maintain this value within the range of 1.26–1.29 g/cubic meter. see B maintenance-free batteries There is no control over the electrolyte.

In any type of battery, lead plates degrade over time. This process also reduces the battery capacity. The density of the electrolyte is also affected by the degree of charge of the battery. In winter conditions, it does not always have time to restore electrical capacity, especially for operating modes with short trips and long-term parking. The fact is that when starting a cold engine, a high starting current is consumed. It takes about an hour of charging to restore the battery.

Car batteries

To summarize, we can summarize that the best battery for a car in winter must meet the following requirements:

• be fully charged - it is worth checking the functionality of the generator and charging relay before winter;
• have full capacity - a worn-out battery has already partially lost its destroyed lead plates;
• be fully filled with electrolyte with a density appropriate for the season - this only applies to serviced batteries.

As you understand, the battery does not have to be new. The main condition is that it must be working. Some types of batteries, for example, gel batteries, are positioned by manufacturers as devices with a ten-year service life. Although, in practice, their service life rarely exceeds eight years, they do not require annual replacement.

How to maintain a battery before winter depends on the design of the battery. Maintenance-free batteries can be sent for service to specialized workshops that will carry out full diagnostics and possible power supply service.

Battery Maintenance

Rating of the best batteries 2017–2018 for winter

Consumers prefer to purchase products from well-known brands. This is a very correct solution, it allows you to take advantage of the following advantages:

• leading manufacturers conduct in-depth research and apply technological innovations that artisans have never even heard of;
• the service life of a “branded” battery will significantly exceed the life of its cheap counterpart;
• You'll get official guarantee, it leaves no doubt about replacing the battery if there are any problems;
• World-class brands offer a wide range of battery sizes, covering almost the entire the lineup any car manufacturer.

According to reviews from experts and consumers, market leaders lined up on the pedestal as follows.

• Bosch company. The products of this German corporation have long gained a strong leadership among other manufacturers. Probably, many remember the nineties, when our markets were flooded with used foreign cars from Germany. Standard battery, who served 7–8 years in conditions Western Europe, for another 3–4 years pleased the new owner with trouble-free operation at twenty degrees Russian winter. All this is thanks to the company’s innovative policy and high-tech engineering solutions.

Bosch car battery

• Varta. Another brand with German roots, which can easily be considered one of the most budget-friendly. The cost of the battery does not particularly affect the quality. The service life of this battery is almost as good as the leader in the winter rating. In terms of technology, these batteries are not much inferior to their competitors. A proprietary development - a sponge filter that prevents fire.

VARTA car battery

• Topla. The birthplace of this brand is Slovenia. Domestic consumers the company has been known since the seventies of the last century. Old drivers probably remember the prestigious batteries from Czechoslovakia, for which Soviet times There was a real hunt going on.

Topla car battery

• Mutlu. The Turkish manufacturer dates back to 1945. The respected company has been asserting the quality of its products on world markets for decades. This does not prevent the brand from pursuing an aggressive policy of innovative investments. Batteries are positioned in the middle price zone.

Mutlu car battery

• Akom. Still from the old ones Soviet factories sometimes it makes sense. This has been successfully proven by a company founded in 2002 in Russia. These batteries quickly became one of the leaders, thanks to strict control over product quality and the constant introduction of new technologies. We were especially pleased with such new items as a significantly reduced self-discharge rate and overcharge protection. The latter feature automatically turns off the battery when it reaches full capacity.

Akom car battery

By purchasing verified by expert commissions and automotive communities battery, you can be confident in the quality of the products and efficient work in harsh domestic winter conditions.

The simplest and most effective advice is to refer to the manufacturer's instructions. There you will see best option vehicle configuration. If you don’t have a manual at hand, then pay attention to the following factors:

• battery size – there is a regular place for the battery, do not try to stuff a large battery there;
• location of terminals - a tangle of wires under the hood can lead to a short circuit and fire;
• capacity - cars with a large engine capacity require more capacious batteries, the same applies to diesel engines;
• car generator power is too big battery will not be fully charged by the on-board power station;
• cold start current is the most important parameter for work in winter conditions, it is regulated by standards as a value measured at 18 degrees below zero;

The heart of the car, undoubtedly, is the engine, but no matter how powerful the engine is, it is impossible to start moving without a battery, so you need to choose the battery carefully. Modern market Auto parts and accessories are overflowing, so choose good device difficult, but the rating of car batteries 2017 can help in this difficult issue. When compiling it, we took into account both the opinion of experts and the best experts– motorists who have experienced all the advantages and disadvantages of batteries in their cars.

Types of batteries and battery ratings

When compiling the rating of car batteries (batteries) 2017, we paid attention only to devices that are in great demand among buyers, and despite the fact that several types of batteries are produced today, the most popular are time-tested lead-acid batteries. We included them in the 2017 rating of car batteries, although manufacturers offer gel devices and batteries made using innovative AGM technology. Exactly lead acid batteries today they occupy the majority of the market, and if you also don’t want to experiment, check out the rating of car batteries:

• Many companies can top the rating of battery manufacturers today, but we are more interested in the question of which model is included in the top car batteries. In our case, the well-deserved fifth place was taken by the Tornado 55 A/h battery, produced in Russia. Its main advantage is its low price, but it should be noted that Kursk batteries do not behave well in the cold, and it is not advisable to completely discharge them often.

• The rating of car batteries continues with the TYUMEN BATTERY STANDARD device, the production of which is established in Siberia, so the battery tolerates frosts well and is able to start your car even if you poured the “wrong” oil into it. The disadvantages of the device include poor tolerance to deep discharge. The price of the product is also affordable and deserves attention, and when correct operation it will last a long time.

• The Russian Beast (ZV) 55AZ, which has best performance starter current, due to which it helps to accelerate the rotation of the starter even at the most bitter frost. At the same time, he has good design solution, which also affects the increase in the number of sales, although in our case the external gloss should not be of particular interest.

• List best batteries for cars, another “Russian” continues - Aktech (AT) 55A3, produced in Irkutsk. Like all Siberians, it is ideal for use in conditions low temperatures. Significant disadvantage the product is considered to have a shorter service life - giving high current, it exhausts its capacity earlier.

• The best car battery, to our disappointment, is made in Turkey. We are talking about the Mutlu Silver Evolution 55 (450) battery model, which has a maximum resource, which is associated with the use of advanced plate production technology. Thanks to this, the self-discharge of the device is reduced, also leading the rating the best batteries for the 2017 car, its reliability allowed it, because without having “outstanding” performance, the device lasts a long time. It is worth noting that the owner does not have access to the filler plugs (the so-called maintenance free battery), meanwhile, it is very easy to control the degree of charging.

The traditional annual examination of batteries this time has an oriental flavor: we tested batteries for Korean, Japanese and other cars of Asian origin.

There is no fundamental difference between batteries for “Asian” and “European” ones. Essentially the same lead bathed in acid. “Asian” only gives away design with terminals protruding upward. For “European women” they seem to be buried in the body. And the proportions are slightly different: the “Asian”, all other things being equal, is usually a little shorter and narrower, but at the same time somewhat taller.

For examination, we selected “Asian women”, united by standard size D23. The letter D denotes a group of batteries about 170 mm wide and 200 mm high, and the index 23 is the approximate length of the battery in centimeters. Batteries of this type are not as widely represented in our country as classic “European” ones, but at the same time they are very popular. They are installed on extremely popular small cars Kia Rio And Hyundai Solaris, as well as others Kia models, Hyundai, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and others. Note that some batteries are designed to be fastened not with a clamping bar across the top, but by the casing at the very bottom of the battery. In most cases, these bosses do not prevent installation in vehicles designed for top mounting.

Two batteries from the same manufacturer and of different “nationalities” (“European” did not take part in our examination). If you install an “Asian” instead of a “European” one, check ten times that the protruding terminals of the hood do not touch it! The consequences can be extremely unpleasant.

HOW TO CHOOSE A BATTERY?

Dimensions. You need to buy a battery that will definitely fit on the regular place- under the hood, in the trunk or under the floor. It's a shame to be wrong by a centimeter when purchasing.

Polarity. The easiest way is to look at the old battery and find out where it is “plus” and where it is “minus”. The terminals on “European” and “Asian” may differ in both shape and location. On most cars it will not be possible to place a battery with non-standard polarity, since the wires are not long enough.

Price. The brand usually determines the price. The declared electrical parameters - current and capacity - depend on the dimensions. Do not pay attention to advisers who say something about the undesirability of “excessive” currents or ampere hours. They did poorly at school.

Have you chosen? The battery must be charged before installing it on the machine. For those who do not realize the need for this stage, we suggest studying our table, where in the column “Reserve capacity” the battery parameters at the time of sale are given in brackets. There is no way to call them fully charged.

We install the purchase in place. Bon Voyage!

BASIC UNITS USED IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

The voltage U is measured in volts (V).

Current I is measured in amperes (A).

Resistance R is measured in ohms (Ohm). 1 V = 1 Ax 1 Ohm.

Power R is measured in watts (W).

Energy W is measured in joules (J). In addition, it is often measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

P = U-I W = Ult

1 W = 1 V x 1 A = 1 J/s = 1 N m/s =

1 J = 1 V x 1 A x 1 s = 1 W x 1 s = 1 N m

1 kg m2/s = 0.00028 kW h 1 kW h = 1000 W x 3600 s = 3600 kJ

Charge q is measured in coulombs (C). It is also often measured in ampere hours (Ah)*. 1 ampere-hour is the electric charge that passes through the cross-section of a conductor in one hour when there is a current of 1 A in it.

1 C = 1 A x 1 s

1 Ah = 3600 C

*Battery capacity is also indirectly estimated in ampere hours, but such an assessment is incorrect.

We collected 14 batteries. We tried not to attract completely unknown players. The most expensive battery in our sample is the Korean Rocket. I had to pay a deafening 9,000 rubles because that’s exactly the price the official Kia dealer charged. The cheapest is the domestic Tyumen Battery 6CT-60L Asia for 3150 rubles.

METHOD OF PLACEMENT IN 2017 TESTS

In each type of test, we assigned the best and worst results 5 points and 1 point, respectively. All other participants received intermediate scores proportional to the position they occupied between the leader and the outsider. For example, if, when measuring reserve capacity, the leader showed a result of 128 minutes, and the outsider showed 88 minutes, then the participant with a result of 96 minutes received 1.80 points. And so on for testing all five types. If the battery failed in certain tests, it received 0 points. The final score is the arithmetic average of five intermediate assessments. The “price/quality” parameter is for reference only, since the price of batteries greatly depends on the place of purchase and can vary significantly at different retail outlets. He was not taken into account in the distribution of seats.

Of course, prices can vary greatly at different retail outlets: the same “Siberian” costs less than 2,000 rubles in a factory store. It is for this reason that we decided not to take into account the price of batteries when allocating seats - the “price/quality” parameter is purely for reference.

All purchased batteries are guaranteed. But for a battery, the terms “new” and “warranty”, alas, are not synonymous. Therefore, you should not be surprised that when measuring the reserve capacity of batteries in the delivery state, the results are always so different that you can immediately see who and how many were lying in the warehouse. But for the seller, everything that is on the shelf is new: he only puts a stamp and the date of sale.

MAIN CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING BATTERY QUALITY

Reserve capacity . Shows how long a car will last with all power consumers turned on (headlights, audio system, windshield wipers) if its generator is damaged. Measured in minutes. The higher the result, the better.

® Best result : Medalist, 128 minutes.

© Worst result : Rocket, 88 minutes.

Reduced starting energy by declared current . Characterizes the battery energy in starting mode. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the result, the better.

© Best result : Medalist, 29.55 kJ.

© Worst result : Globatt, 9.67 kJ.

Reduced starting energy with a single current at -18 °C. Allows you to compare the current characteristics of all batteries under the same conditions, regardless of their rating data. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the result, the better.

© Best result : Medalist, 55.11 kJ.

© Worst result : Globatt, 10.49 kJ.

Reduced starting energy with a single current at -29 °C. Similar to previous tests, except for temperature: -29 °C instead of -18 °C. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the result, the better.

© Best result : Medalist, 12.63 kJ.

© Worst result :Globatt; complete failure, the battery “sank” below 6.0 V already at the 21st second of discharge instead of the required 30 s.

Receiving charge at constant external voltage. Shows the battery's ability to recover after a deep discharge.

© Better than others accepts Varta Blue Dynamic charge - 26.03 A.

© Less than others charging current the Banner Power Bull battery has 20.86 A.

Note. The measurements were carried out by specialists from the Research Center AT 3 Central Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The test results relate to a specific sample of batteries and cannot characterize all products of the same name as a whole.

Test results Behind the Wheel 2017

14th place: Globatt, Country not specified (Bangladesh, note from the portal editor).

Perhaps in greenhouse conditions the battery would have behaved better, but in the cold it became worse. It produces the worst current at -18 °C. And at -29 °C the poor thing simply died: the voltage at the terminals quickly dropped below 6 V - a failure. The country of origin is not indicated, there is only a reference to certain “German technologies”.

13th place: Rocket, Korea.

They bought an expensive battery solely because it was sold at official dealer Kia. I still feel sorry for the money: the lowest reserve capacity, extremely weak results at -29 °C, complete failure in terms of price and quality ratio.

12th place: Solite, Korea.

The weight of the battery is suspiciously small - the winners are several kilograms heavier! This led to skepticism. And so it happened: the product passed all the tests, but at no stage did it even score three points out of a possible five. Weak result.

11th place: Banner Power Bull, Austria.

The Austrian brand is usually unlucky in our tests. There are no failures, but it’s still a long way from the stars. This time we’ll just note a good reserve capacity (more than 100 minutes) and... And that’s probably all. At -29 °C the battery barely lasted, it takes a charge worse than others, and the price is far from attractive.

10th place: Moll, Germany.

Why pay that kind of money? Only Rocket is more expensive in our sample. In not a single test did the battery score even three points. And if you take into account the price when arranging seats, you get the third place from the end.

9th place: Titan Asia Standard, Russia

The Russian battery delivered the promised current well at -18 °C: the sixth result in our sample. This is what allowed us to take ninth place. All her other results are below 2 points.

8th place: Westa, Korea.

Charge eye in the second bank

“Korean” showed the sixth result in terms of reserve capacity and declared current at -18 ° C. General level average.

7th place: Bosch, Germany.

The Bosch battery performed without sparkle. Let us only note the sixth result at -29 °C. The battery accepts a charge without appetite, which indicates an unimportant ability to recover after a deep discharge. You expect more from a manufacturer with such a big name.

6th place: Tyumen Calcium Bear, Russia.

“Siberian” deserved to participate in the “flower ceremony” - the sixth result. We especially note the high reserve capacity - the second indicator among all participants.

5th place: Yokohama Platinum, country not specified.

The battery came fourth in the reserve capacity test and when measuring discharge energy at a temperature of -29 °C.

In terms of reserve capacity - the fifth result. Overall, very good.

4th place: Varta Blue Dinamic, Germany.

The battery won the competition for receiving charge current, and performed as expected in other categories. In general, the battery confirmed its compliance with the big name.

3rd place: Amirican, Korea.

The second result at -29 °C is respectable. We also note good reserve capacity. We recommend.

2nd place: Tyumen Battery, Russia

The battery once again confirmed its status as the best Russian battery. In terms of price-quality ratio, the product even turned out to be the best. Let us note the second result in the output of cold cranking current at -18 °C, as well as the third result at -29 °C and in terms of reserve capacity. We recommend!

1 place: Medalist, Korea.

The Korean battery remembered the past and again won the competition by a large margin, winning in four out of five categories. In terms of price-quality ratio, it was second only to the domestic Tyumen Battery 6CT-60L Asia. We recommend!

With an old battery, this is not life.

Yu.I. Detochkin

The crisis has hit everything, and the battery market is no exception. Buyers look first of all at price. Even owners of prestigious cars are in no hurry to splurge on expensive batteries such as AGM and EFB, which everyone predicted unconditional dominance a few years ago.

It’s even somehow awkward to talk about amperes, coulombs and degrees if the mass consumer chooses what is cheaper. On the other hand, budget products often have poor quality, and the savings can cost a pretty penny... This time we decided to focus on inexpensive batteries.

Is the battery cheaper?

At first, the search for the most inexpensive batteries of the most popular size 242x175x190 mm gave a modest result - only five products priced from 2610 rubles for a Podolsk battery to 3002 rubles for a Tyumen battery. Not enough for a full examination. They raised the price bar to 3,500 rubles - six more batteries were added. But what about without big foreign names - Varta, Bosch, Mutlu? In addition, domestic batteries close in price to them - for example, AkTech - were left behind. Along the way, it turned out that some eastern brands set prices for their products that were not at all “crisis”: the most expensive battery was not Bosch at all, but the Korean Solite for as much as 5,000 rubles!

As a result, we collected two dozen batteries. Let's see how price relates to amp hours and coulombs.

The purchase was carried out in a retail network in April - May 2016. The research results relate only to this sample and cannot serve as a basis for evaluating all products of a particular brand.

MAIN CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING BATTERY QUALITY Reserve capacity. Shows how long a car will last with all power consumers turned on (headlights, windshield wipers, ventilation system) if its generator is damaged. Measured in minutes. The higher the result, the better. Reduced starting energy with declared current. Characterizes the battery energy in starting mode. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the result, the better. Reduced starting energy with a single current at -18 and -29 ºС. Allows you to compare the current characteristics of all batteries under the same conditions, regardless of their rating data. Simply put, the higher the energy, the, other things being equal, the more attempts to reliably start the engine. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the result, the better. Acceptance of charge at constant external voltage. Shows the battery's ability to recover after a deep discharge. In practice, a battery that accepts charge better than others will also charge faster when traveling. All batteries passed the test. Note. Technical measurements were carried out by specialists from the Research Center AT 3 Central Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The test results relate to a specific sample of batteries and cannot characterize all products of the same name as a whole.

Will that do?

The overall impression of the test results is painful. There are three main reasons for the disorder. Firstly, sellers are still slipping in stale goods, albeit with guarantees, smiles and seals. Secondly, it’s unpleasant that in the Russian frost, out of twenty brand new batteries, eleven failed. Thirdly, out of two dozen batteries, only two really fought for victory - Tyumen Battery Premium and Varta Blue Dynamic. Their gap from their opponents turned out to be serious. Moreover, curiously, the advantage is obvious both with and without price.

Take a look at the first columns of the table, which shows the reserve capacity of brand new batteries. In brackets we give the actual “volume” of electricity for which the buyer pays. By analogy with gas station: you ask to fill the tank full, but the gas station attendant only splashes on the bottom. But there is a difference: a gas station “error” will not lead to anything terrible, but a discharged battery, as the pros say, “goes sour.” Often this is irreversible: it loses capacity and becomes inoperable. We were ready for this, so before starting the tests, as usual, we charged all the batteries to capacity. And you need to do this before you install the battery on the car. Our measurements confirm this.

Now about the “overpayments” for the brand. A miracle did not happen: all the little-known batteries accumulated together at the bottom of the table. The most annoying thing is that the prices for many of them are not cheap at all. There is clearly no point in overpaying for such imports. And the first half of the table was filled with familiar names - we advise you to focus on them.

First thing determine the battery size. It must be guaranteed to fit in its workplace - in the engine compartment or trunk. Simultaneously determine the polarity. An old battery will help here: look - is the plus on the right or on the left? Often the length of the wires does not allow connecting a battery of the “wrong” polarity. When choosing a battery brand, we strongly recommend follow the list of our winners recent years. Don't be fooled by the low price - there are no philanthropists on the market. The brand determines the value. As a rule, with the same dimensions, serious companies offer batteries of different energy capacities (for example, different declared amperes and ampere-hours). It’s better to take the maximum, even if it’s a little more expensive. Not worth purchasing products that have “Ah” type units indicated on the labels or in the passport. This indicates the technical illiteracy of their compilers and raises doubts about the quality. The purchased battery must be charged. After charging and holding (keeping the battery disconnected from the charger) for 10–15 hours, the voltage should be 12.5–12.7 V. If measured immediately after charging, the readings can significantly exceed the actual open circuit voltage.

Everything is in place

To identify leaders and outsiders, we introduced a scoring system. In each test type, the best and worst results were taken and assigned five points (maximum) and one point (minimum), respectively. Each of the remaining participants received an intermediate score proportional to their position between the leader and the outsider. For example, if, when measuring reserve capacity, the leader showed a result of 112 minutes, and the outsider - 78, then the participant with a result of 87 minutes gets 2.06 points. If a battery fails in one test or another, it receives 0 points.

The total score based on the results of measurements is the arithmetic average of five intermediate assessments. Then we divided it by the price of the battery, after which we again brought it to a five-point scale. So the final score is essentially value for money.

The Tyumen Battery Premium and Varta Blue Dynamic batteries turned out to be unrivaled in our tests. Taking into account the much more attractive price, the “Siberian” rose to the top. If we didn't take prices into account, Varta would be first. However, the “foreign” battery has another paradoxical advantage over the Russian battery: it is easier to find on sale. It sounds illogical, but it is true, and not only in Moscow.

Conclusion? You cannot purchase a battery looking only at the price tag. Savings may backfire. It is better to spend a little time to familiarize yourself with the results of our examination. Good luck with your purchase and stable voltage in the on-board network!

BEST CAR BATTERIES: WINNERS OF ZARULEVSKY EXAMINATIONS
	Tyumen Battery Premium	Varta	Mutlu
2015	Tyumen Battery Premium	Topla	Exide Premium
2014	Varta	Banner	Bosch
2013	Tyumen Battery Leader	Mutlu	Royal
2012	Varta	Medalist	Topla
2011	Medalist	Panasonic	Titan
2010	Medalist	Varta	Beast
2009	Varta	Medalist	A-mega
2008	Bosch	Medalist	Varta
2007	Mutlu	Akom	Medalist
2006	Varta	Medalist	Bosch
2004	Tyumen	Tyumen	Medalist
Place	first	second	third

20th place	19th place	18th place	17th place
Approximate price 4900 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 500 A Measured/declared weight 13.63/ 13.99 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - It seems that the name of the battery should remind the buyer of the well-known Exide brand - the difference is just one letter. Hence, perhaps, the high price. However, the Korean battery turned out to be weak: all ratings were below two points. And at -29 ºC she asked for mercy: the voltage dropped below the required 6 V. Taking into account the price, she took last place in the all-around.	Approximate price 4500 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 510 A Measured/declared weight 14.03 kg/ not specified Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - The weak “energy” couldn’t handle the Russian cold: after 15 seconds of torment, the voltage dropped sharply - that’s it, we’ve arrived. The reserve capacity is useless. The inflated price only increased the negative effect. Second to last place.	Approximate price 5000 rub. 62 Ah (105 min.) Declared current 600 A Measured/declared weight 13.54 kg/ not specified Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - We bought this battery after seeing the prohibitive price tag for a quiet brand. What if this is a new market leader? But in the cold, the voltage quickly sank below the required level, and the price-quality ratio determined a place at the bottom of the table.	Approximate price 3110 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 460 A Measured/declared weight 13.6/ 15.0 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - The reserve capacity is the lowest. At -18 ºC it is the worst. At -29 ºC - loss of performance. That's the whole biography. And what good does it do if the price is low?

16th place	15th place	14th place	13th place
Approximate price 3000 rub. Declared capacity (reserve capacity) 55 Ah (88 min.) Declared current 420 A Measured/declared weight 12.95/ 15.8 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams How well it all started... Price - only 3000 rubles. And even the reserve capacity is indicated in minutes. But then the carriage turned into a pumpkin: ratings below two plus failure after four seconds of operation in the cold - voltage below 6 V.	Approximate price 2610 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 420 A Measured/declared weight 12.42/ 15.8 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The cheapest battery in the selection. It doesn’t matter that the stated current is only 420 A, as long as it works. But the difference between the actual mass and the promised one was 3.38 kg - no lead was reported. Result: all grades are below two points. And in the cold, “the electricity ran out.”	Approximate price 3300 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 520 A Measured/declared weight 14.05/ 16.95 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams After weighing everything became clear - almost 3 kg was missing. After nine seconds of operation in the cold, the battery died: the voltage dropped below 6 V. In addition, this battery also takes a charge the worst.	Approximate price 3450 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 470 A Measured/declared weight 12.8/ 15.0 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The price is reasonable, but it looks like they saved money on lead plates. At -29 ºС the battery failed: the voltage dropped below the “waterline”. However, the initial reserve capacity did not inspire optimism either: only 11 minutes! Therefore, although not the last, it is still an unhappy place.

12th place	11th place	10th place	9th place
Approximate price 3250 rub. Declared capacity 62 Ah Declared current 550 A Measured/declared weight 14.63/ 15.8 kg Gas outlet through traffic jams Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams Only 17 minutes of original reserve capacity. The reason is obvious: the sellers did not service the battery! Having charged it, we brought it back to life. Weighing showed a lack of lead. After just seven seconds of operation in the cold, the battery refused to cooperate.	Approximate price 4200 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 520 A Measured/declared weight 14.25/ 15.5 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The price is high, and there is clearly not enough lead for this money. The battery is afraid of cold weather: it was unable to produce decent joules in the cold, lasting 17 seconds instead of the promised thirty. In general, I didn't like it.	Approximate price 4750 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 540 A Measured/declared weight 13.35 kg/ not specified Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - For many years now we have been writing the same thing about Bosch: the famous brand has not surprised us at all. A modest place in the middle of the table, not a single memorable result. The battery didn't fail, but it didn't attract attention either. The price is high and the energy is not enough.	Approximate price 2900 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 500 A Measured/declared weight 13.31/ 15.7 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams Very attractive price. And the same question: where is the lead? The product was too light and came from Kazakhstan. The lack of lead quickly backfired: in the cold, the battery suffered a “steering wheel” because it was unable to produce the required energy.

8th place	7th place	6th place	5th place
Approximate price 4100 rub. Declared capacity 64 Ah Declared current 570 A Measured/declared weight 17.05/ 16.8 kg Gas outlet through traffic jams Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The heaviest battery in the test: no lead was spared on it. But the battery was saved from failure by a miracle: at the time of purchase, “it” had only 14 minutes of reserve capacity. It’s good that the experts managed to bring her back to life after the charge. Against this background, the results shown can be considered excellent. But I didn't like the price.	Approximate price 4500 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 600 A Measured/declared weight 13.73/ 14.4 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams This brand has always looked decent. It’s the same now: the battery delivers the high declared current regularly and is not afraid of frost. It could have been better, but the battery was clearly not recharged in the store - this is evidenced by the original reserve capacity.	Approximate price 3500 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 450 A Measured/declared weight 13.95/ 14.3 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams The Siberian “bear” is firmly in sixth place both in terms of characteristics and adjusted for price. When purchased, the reserve capacity turned out to be very small - apparently, the battery had been in the warehouse for a long time. Typical situation: sellers do not like to monitor batteries.	Approximate price 4100 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 600 A Measured/declared weight 15.67 /16.4 kg Gas outlet central Electrolyte level monitoring - The battery honestly delivered what it promised, including a respectable 600 A. The path to a higher place was blocked by the price: a little expensive for a Russian product!

Electrolyte level control -

The winner of numerous examinations of past years is going through hard times today. The brand left our market, then returned again. Therefore, fourth place is, of course, a success. Note that the “medalist” was not allowed onto the podium because the price was too high.

Approximate price 3520 rub.

Declared capacity 63 Ah

Declared current 550 A

Measured/declared weight 15.3/ 15.6 kg

Gas outlet central

Electrolyte level monitoring -

The “Turkish woman” was brought into the top three by its relatively low price. Judging only by electrical parameters, it would be fifth. But the price-quality ratio helped it outperform its competitors. However, this brand has always been among the leaders.

Approximate price 4550 rub.

Declared capacity 60 Ah

Declared current 540 A

Measured/declared weight 14.78 kg/ not specified

Gas outlet central

Electrolyte level monitoring -

Two nominations were won, three received silver. Without taking into account the price, Varta would have become the first, since it was ahead of the Tyumen battery by a fraction of a point. But the one and a half difference in price ultimately pushed it to second place.

Approximate price 3000 rub.

Declared capacity 64 Ah

Declared current 590 A

Measured/declared weight 16.6/ 17.2 kg

Gas outlet central

Electrolyte level monitoring through traffic jams

“Sibiryachka” won in three categories and was second in two more. In the finals, the price tag brought the battery to first place - Varta is much more expensive. The rest of the participants were quite far behind in terms of parameters. By the way, this is one of the heaviest batteries in our selection: without lead, one cannot dream of gold.

TEST RESULTS*

To view the table in its entirety, scroll horizontally.

*All ratings are given on a five-point scale (more is better).

**Domestic batteries are highlighted in color.

***The original reserve capacity of the batteries at the time of purchase is shown in parentheses for reference. This parameter is not involved in the distribution of seats.