Northeast Battery | Blog | Prolong Battery Life (2023)

FAQs

Which battery has the longest lifespan? ›

Lithium Ion batteries

They have an extremely long lifespan due to aspects such as the battery management, very low self-discharge, the lack of memory effect and a discharge of up 20 %.

Some cars will get up to five or six years out of their battery, while others will need a new one after only two years. In general, your car will usually need a new battery after three to four years. Replacing your car battery is another part of routine maintenance.

What's The Lifespan of a LiPo Battery? The battery life of a LiPo battery will vary from 300 to 500 cycles. Ideally, a LiPo battery pack can last up to 3 years if properly maintained. It's a bit impractical to measure the lifespan of your LiPo battery because they experience a different depth of release while in use.

Car batteries have a finite lifespan

Batteries gradually deteriorate until they can no longer provide enough power to start an engine. This wear time could take three to five years and a vehicle's usage pattern is one factor contributing to the rate at which a battery will age.

Batteries can become worn down in as little as three years

Although batteries can last for five years or more when properly cared for, most car batteries will become worn down and inefficient within three years of everyday use in normal conditions.

Factors that can shorten its life include an extended period of partial or full discharge, vibration from not being properly secured, under- or overcharging, extreme temperatures, water loss, electrolyte contamination and corrosion on terminals.

Turn on your headlights

It seems almost too easy, but the best way to test the strength of your car battery may be to simply flick on the headlights. If the lights seem dimmer than usual, then it probably means it's time to replace the battery.

Wired has put together a comparison between expensive batteries and dollar stores batteries that answers the question. According to their study, name brand batteries from Duracell and Energizer last over twice as long as dollar store batteries.

How can you tell how long a battery will last? ›

To determine how long your battery will last, calculate the battery's total capacity and divide it by your circuit's power. Multiply the battery's reserve capacity by 60. With a reserve capacity, for instance, of 120: 120 x 60 = 7,200. How long does a 5000mAh battery last?

Jump Starters Require Charging and Don't Last Long

Even when you take good care of your jump starter, it is likely only to last about three or four years.

When the total voltage is equal to about 3.3 volts per cell you can move the battery over to your LiPo balance charger and balance charge at 0.5C rating. This will take longer than charging at 1C but is safer. Once the balance charge has completed balancing you should have a fully recovered LiPo battery.

You should never store a fully-charged LiPo battery. Instead, it should be brought down to “storage voltage”, which is 3.8 to 3.85 volts per cell. There are a few ways you can achieve this. If the LiPo cells are currently under 3.8-volts then you can charge them up to this level.

Discharging a LiPo beyond it's critical minimum voltage (often 3.0v) can cause damage to the battery. Ensure that charging leads are connected correctly. Reverse charging can lead to cell damage, fire or explosion. If you have dropped or damaged a LiPo battery in any way, do not attempt to charge it.

General wisdom says you should replace your car battery about every three years, but you could end up needing a replacement sooner. Factors like your climate and driving habits can affect your battery's lifespan and leave you needing a new one before the three-year mark.

Unfortunately, few car batteries ever see five years of service, much less six or seven; those that do last that long operate at a significantly reduced capacity. But if you pay for a 60-month battery and it fails in regular use before that, you'll get some money toward a new battery on a pro-rated basis.

On average, your car battery should last about three years, but the general range of a battery's lifespan is two to six years.

Your car battery's lifespan depends on many factors, such as the charging system, driving frequency, weather and temperature conditions and many others. On average, a car battery lasts three to five years if you take care of it properly.

“Today, most EV batteries have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years within the car – and a second life beyond.”

Why did my car battery only last 2 years? ›

Extreme temperatures, frequent short trips, and general everyday use could shorten the life of your battery to two to three years. If your car battery dies quickly, even after a jumpstart, it might be time for a new one.

Use a multimeter to test your car battery

You can get one for a tenner online, and then you just need to set it to volts and put the connectors on the battery terminals. You should be seeing 12.7 volts for excellent health, 12.4 is okay, whereas anything less than 12v is a battery running out of life.

This happens when something – a glovebox light, an amplifier, any electrical component – is pulling power from the battery when it shouldn't. Since the alternator isn't generating vehicle electricity, the problem component pulls from the battery, slowly draining it overnight until your vehicle won't start.

Your car battery can drain over time from stereo components (subwoofers), phone chargers, and anything you leave plugged into vehicle outlets that continue to draw power from the battery after the car is turned off. Other power drains include interior and below-vehicle LED lights. Loose or corroded connections.

If the alternator is in good condition, the dead car battery won't affect anything as you drive. However, if the alternator dies with the battery, there will be a discontinuation of current flow to the dash lights, engine, radio, HVAC, power steering, and dashcam. When this happens, safely pull over and get a solution.

Simply put, no car battery, whether healthy or dead, can charge itself. It always requires an external power source to get charged. Can Dead Batteries be Charged? Once a car battery is dead, the alternator will fail to recharge it completely.

Battery Limited Warranty

This warranty expires when you sell or transfer your vehicle. If the battery is found defective during the free replacement period on your receipt, bring the battery to any AutoZone store and you will receive a free replacement.

Do dollar store batteries work? ›

But experts say that the batteries you can buy at dollar stores are lower quality, Kiplinger reports. The carbon-zinc batteries that dollar stores typically sell don't last as long as the alkaline name brands.

Yes, the battery will still have energy in it, but if it won't run the device correctly who cares? The bottom line: Cheaper, lesser-known brands can be fine for less demanding devices such as TV remote controls. And buying them in bulk, say from a big-box store such as Costco, could save you a lot of money.

When replacing the batteries, it is best to use new and unused alkaline batteries. We recommend name brand batteries, Duracell or Energizer brands are always good choices. Store brands do not operate at the same level of reliability.

The average car battery will last three years, though this could be affected by your battery brand, vehicle type, area's climate, car care, and driving patterns.

Always recharge your portable jump starter/battery booster pack after each use and at least once every 6 months.

So what about your car when jump-starting another battery? This process will put slight stress on your battery and alternator. However, in most cases, this process is harmless. A healthy battery will be unfazed by the jump-start, and your battery will recharge as you drive.

Jump-starting your car battery once is not a problem. However, if you have to jump-start your battery up to three times a week, it's time to get a replacement, as it is probably damaged. Also, when jumping-start a car, avoid cranking it more than three times if the car refuses to start.

When a LiPo battery sits for a long period of time (and not at proper storage voltage), it tends to discharge itself. If it drops below 3.0V per cell, the vast majority of LiPo chargers will not charge it. Sometimes, batteries with this problem can be rehabilitated, but just as often, they are a lost cause.

The reason for this is that a lipo battery is most stable at that voltage. Any more or less energy in the cell will cause the battery to slowly degrade and lose efficiency. This is also why it is important to charge or discharge your batteries back to storage voltage shortly after using them.

Never leave your LiPo batteries sitting around on a full charge for more than 2-3 days. If by the 3rd day you realize you are not going to use your battery today, you need to discharge your battery down to 3.6v-3.8v per cell for safe storage until you are ready to use the battery again.

Do LiPo batteries drain over time? ›

When a LiPo battery sits for a long period of time (and not at proper storage voltage), it tends to discharge itself. If it drops below 3.0V per cell, the vast majority of LiPo chargers will not charge it. Sometimes, batteries with this problem can be rehabilitated, but just as often, they are a lost cause.

When overcharged, lithium ion batteries may overheat, explode and cause fires. Even slight overcharging reduces a cell's discharge capacity, leading to overdischarging, which increases impedance and heat generation, and decreases cell lifetime.

The battery life of a LiPo battery will vary from 300 to 500 cycles. Ideally, a LiPo battery pack can last up to 3 years if properly maintained. It's a bit impractical to measure the lifespan of your LiPo battery because they experience a different depth of release while in use.

The voltage starts at 4.2 maximum and quickly drops down to about 3.7V for the majority of the battery life. Once you hit 3.4V the battery is dead and at 3.0V the cutoff circuitry disconnects the battery (more on that later.

LiPo cells are susceptible to the same troubles of other lithium-ion cells; overcharge, over-discharge, over-temperature, short circuit, crush and nail penetration can all result in thermal run away and catastrophic failure leading to explosion and fire.

If your battery is 3 or more years old, it will likely need a replacement to avoid repeated failure. While you may be able to get it going with a jump-start, the catalyst for its initial failure is still threatening the lifespan of your battery. It will likely continue to die until you get a replacement.

THREE TO FIVE, WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR

Battery manufacturers suggest the average lifespan of an auto battery falls anywhere between three and five years — and for good reason.

Don't leave your car sitting idle or it won't charge as quickly. After 30 minutes, your car should start again next time and each drive after that will continue to charge it.

If your battery is over 4 years old we'd advise replacing it with a new one. You may find you're able to temporarily recharge a battery this old, however it's likely to lose its charge again very soon. Older batteries do deteriorate over time and naturally lose their ability to hold a charge.

“Electrical devices or lights left running, a defective charging system or alternator, and extreme weather are some common reasons but maybe it's just time to get a new battery.”

What drains a car battery overnight? ›

This happens when something – a glovebox light, an amplifier, any electrical component – is pulling power from the battery when it shouldn't. Since the alternator isn't generating vehicle electricity, the problem component pulls from the battery, slowly draining it overnight until your vehicle won't start.

Depending on power, size, and quality, prices for a replacement car battery range from about $45 to $250. Your local dealership, auto parts store or automotive service center can check your current battery or hook you up with a new car battery.

Even though many batteries last much longer, that's when you can notice a change in how well they work. Unfortunately, car batteries rarely last five years, let alone six or seven. Those that last that long have less power than they used to.

Average Price of a Car Battery

Based on the make and model of your vehicle, you can expect to pay around $50 to $120 for a standard car battery and around $90 to $200 for a premium type.