With an old battery - this is not life.
Yu.I. Detochkin
The crisis hit everything, and the battery market is no exception. Buyers look primarily at the price. Even the owners of prestigious cars are in no hurry to splurge on expensive AGM and EFB batteries, which a few years ago everyone predicted unconditional dominance.
It’s even somehow embarrassing to talk about amps, coulombs and degrees, if the mass consumer chooses what is cheaper. On the other hand, budget products often lack quality, and savings can cost a pretty penny... This time we decided to focus on inexpensive batteries.
Battery cheaper?
At first, the search for the most inexpensive batteries of the most popular dimension 242 × 175 × 190 mm gave a modest result - only five products priced from 2610 rubles for a Podolsk battery to 3002 rubles for a Tyumen one. Not enough for a full review. They raised the price bar to 3,500 rubles - six more batteries were added. But what about without high-profile foreign names - Varta, Bosch, Mutlu? In addition, domestic batteries close to them in price were left behind - for example, AkTeh. Along the way, it turned out that some oriental brands did not set “crisis” prices for their products at all: the most expensive battery was not Bosch at all, but the Korean Solite for as much as 5,000 rubles!
As a result, we scored two dozen batteries. Let's see how price is related to amp-hours and coulombs.
The purchase was carried out in a retail network in April - May 2016. The research results refer only to this sample and cannot serve as a basis for evaluating all products of a particular brand.
MAIN CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING BATTERY QUALITYReserve capacity. Shows how long the car will last with all the energy consumers turned on (headlights, windscreen wipers, ventilation system), if its alternator has deteriorated. Measured in minutes. The higher the score, the better. Reduced starting energy with declared current. Characterizes the energy of the battery in the starting mode. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the score, the better. Reduced single current starting energy at -18 and -29 ºС. Allows you to compare the current characteristics of all batteries under the same conditions, regardless of their passport data. Simply put, the higher the energy, the more attempts to confidently start the motor, ceteris paribus. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the score, the better. Receiving a charge at a constant external voltage. Indicates the ability of the battery to recover from a deep discharge. In practice, a battery that accepts a charge better than others will charge faster when traveling. All batteries passed the test. Note. Technical measurements were carried out by specialists from the NIITs AT 3 of the Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. The test results refer to a specific sample of batteries and cannot be used as a characteristic of all products of the same name as a whole. |
And will it do so?
The overall impression of the test results is painful. There are three main reasons for frustration. Firstly, sellers still slip stale goods, albeit with guarantees, smiles and seals. Secondly, it is 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 separation from rivals was serious. And, curiously, the advantage is obvious both with and without price.
Run through the first columns of the table, which shows the reserve capacity of brand new batteries. In parentheses, we give the actual "volume" of electricity that the buyer pays for. By analogy with gas station: you ask to pour full tank, and the tanker splashed only on the bottom. But there is a difference: a “mistake” of a gas station will not lead to anything terrible, but a discharged battery, as the pros say, “turns sour”. Often this is irreversible: it loses its capacity and loses its efficiency. We were ready for this, so before the start of the tests, as usual, we charged all the batteries to capacity. And you need to do this before you put the battery on the car. Our measurements confirm this.
Now about the "overpayments" for the brand. The 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 size of the battery. He must be guaranteed to fit in his workplace - in the engine compartment or trunk. Simultaneously determine the polarity. An old battery will help here: look - plus on the right or on the left? Often the length of the wires does not allow you to connect a battery of the “wrong” polarity. When choosing a battery brand, we strongly recommend be guided by the list of our winners recent years. Don't rely on 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 is better to take the maximum, even if it is a little more expensive. Not worth buying products that have units of the “A / h” type on the labels or in the passport. This indicates the technical illiteracy of their compilers and raises doubts about the quality. The purchased battery without fail need to be charged. After charging and soaking (storing 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. |
All in place
To identify leaders and outsiders, we have introduced a point system. In each type of test, the best and worst results were taken and assigned five points (maximum) and one point (minimum), respectively. Each of the other participants received an intermediate score proportional to their position between the leader and the outsider. For example, if when freezing reserve capacity the leader showed the result of 112 minutes, and the outsider - 78, then the participant with the result of 87 minutes gets 2.06 points. If the battery fails in one or another type of test, it receives 0 points.
The total score based on the results of measurements is the arithmetic average of five intermediate estimates. 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.
Out of competition in our tests were Tyumen Battery Premium and Varta Blue Dynamic batteries. Taking into account the much more attractive price, the “Siberian woman” climbed to the top. If we did not take prices into account, Varta would be the first. However, the “foreigner” has one more paradoxical advantage over the Russian battery: it is easier to find it on sale. It sounds illogical, but it is true, and not only in Moscow.
Conclusion? You can not buy a battery, looking only at the price tag. Savings can go sideways. Better take some time to get acquainted with the results of our expertise. Good luck with your purchase and stable voltage in the on-board network!
THE BEST BATTERIES FOR A CAR: THE WINNERS OF ZARULEV EXPERTISE |
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| 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 | Acom | Medalist |
| 2006 | Varta | Medalist | Bosch |
| 2004 | Tyumen | Tyumen | Medalist |
| Place | first | second | third |
20th place | 19th place | 18th place | 17th place |
| Estimated price 4900 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 500 A Measured/declared weight 13.63/ 13.99 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - 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 frail: all scores are below two points. And at -29 ºC, she asked for mercy: the voltage sank below the prescribed 6 V. Taking into account the price, she took the last place in the all-around. | Estimated price 4500 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 510 A Measured/declared weight 14.03 kg / not specified gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Weak "energy" did not hold up in the Russian frost: after 15 seconds of torment, the tension dropped sharply - that's it, we arrived. The reserve capacity is useless. The overpricing only exacerbated the negative effect. Penultimate place. | Estimated price 5000 rub. 62 Ah (105 min.) Declared current 600 A Measured/declared weight 13.54 kg / not specified gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - We bought this battery after seeing the price tag that is prohibitive for a low-profile brand. And suddenly this new leader market? But in the cold, the voltage quickly dipped below the mark, and the price-quality ratio determined the place at the tail of the table. | Estimated price 3110 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 460 A Measured/declared weight 13.6/ 15.0 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - The reserve capacity is the lowest. At -18 ºC - the worst. At -29 ºC - loss of performance. That's the whole biography. And what's the use of the fact that the price is low? |
16th place | 15th place | 14th place | 13th place |
| Estimated 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 control through traffic jams How it all started well ... The price is only 3000 rubles. And even the reserve capacity is indicated in minutes. But then the carriage turned into a pumpkin: ratings below two plus a failure after four seconds of operation in the cold - the voltage is below 6 V. | Estimated price 2610 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 420 A Measured/declared weight 12.42/ 15.8 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control through traffic jams The cheapest battery in the selection. It doesn't matter that the declared current is only 420 A, as long as it works. But the difference between the real mass and the promised one was 3.38 kg - lead was not reported. Bottom line: all scores below two points. And in the cold "electricity is over." | Estimated price 3300 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 520 A Measured/declared weight 14.05/ 16.95 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control 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 charge the worst of all. | Estimated price 3450 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 470 A Measured/declared weight 12.8/ 15.0 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control through traffic jams The price is reasonable, but it looks like they saved again on lead plates. At -29 ºС, the battery failed: the voltage sank below the "waterline". However, the initial reserve capacity also did not inspire optimism: only 11 minutes! Therefore, although not the last, but still an unhappy place. |
12th place | 11th place | 10th place | 9th place |
| Estimated 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 control through traffic jams Only 17 minutes of original reserve capacity. The reason is obvious: the sellers did not service the battery! We loaded it and brought it back to life. Weighing showed a lack of lead. After only seven seconds of operation in the cold, the battery refused to cooperate. | Estimated price 4200 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 520 A Measured/declared weight 14.25/ 15.5 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control through traffic jams The price is high, and lead for this money is clearly not enough. The battery is afraid of cold weather: it could not give out decent joules in the cold, holding out for 17 seconds instead of the promised thirty. In general, I did not like it. | Estimated price 4750 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 540 A Measured/declared weight 13.35 kg / not specified gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - For many years now I have to write the same thing about Bosch: famous brand nothing surprised. 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, but the energy is not enough. | Estimated price 2900 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 500 A Measured/declared weight 13.31/ 15.7 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control through traffic jams Very attractive price. And the same question: where is the lead? Too light product came from Kazakhstan. The lack of lead quickly backfired: in the cold, the battery got a "steering wheel" because it failed to deliver the required energy. |
8th place | 7th place | 6th place | 5th place |
| Estimated 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 control through traffic jams The heaviest battery in the test: lead was spared. But a miracle saved the battery from failure: 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. | Estimated price 4500 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 600 A Measured/declared weight 13.73/ 14.4 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control through traffic jams This brand has always looked decent. So it is now: the battery delivers the high declared current regularly, it 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. | Estimated price 3500 rub. Declared capacity 55 Ah Declared current 450 A Measured/declared weight 13.95/ 14.3 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control through traffic jams The Siberian "bear" has firmly settled in sixth place both in terms of characteristics and adjusted for price. The reserve capacity upon purchase turned out to be quite small - apparently, the battery had been in the warehouse for a long time. A typical situation: sellers do not like to keep track of batteries. | Estimated price 4100 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared current 600 A Measured/declared weight 15.67 /16.4 kg gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - The battery honestly delivered what was promised, including a solid 600 A. The price blocked the way to a higher place: a little expensive for a Russian product! |
Electrolyte level control -
The winner of numerous examinations of past years today is experiencing better times. The brand left our market, then returned again. Therefore, the fourth place is, of course, a success. Note that too high a price did not let the “medalist” on the pedestal.
Estimated price 3520 rub.
Declared capacity 63 Ah
Declared current 550 A
Measured/declared weight 15.3/ 15.6 kg
gas outlet central
Electrolyte level control -
In the top three winners, the "Turkish woman" brought a relatively low price. Judging only by electrical parameters, it would be the fifth. But the value for money helped to beat the competition. However, this brand has always been in the group of leaders.
Estimated price 4550 rub.
Declared capacity 60 Ah
Declared current 540 A
Measured/declared weight 14.78 kg / not specified
gas outlet central
Electrolyte level control -
Two nominations won, three - 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 eventually moved it to second place.
Estimated price 3000 rub.
Declared capacity 64 Ah
Declared current 590 A
Measured/declared weight 16.6/ 17.2 kg
gas outlet central
Electrolyte level control through traffic jams
"Sibiryachka" won in three nominations, in two more it was the second. In the final, the price tag brought the battery to the first place - Varta is much more expensive. The rest of the participants lagged behind in terms of parameters quite strongly. By the way, this is one of the heaviest batteries in our sample: no one dreams of gold without lead.
TEST RESULTS*
To view the table in its entirety, use horizontal scrolling.
*All ratings are given on a five-point scale (more is better).
**Domestic batteries are highlighted.
***In parentheses for reference is the original reserve capacity of the batteries at the time of purchase. This parameter does not participate in the distribution of seats.
Our last year's examination of batteries received an unexpected continuation (ЗР, 2015, No. 10). Specialists from the AT 3 Research Institute of the Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, who were conducting research at that time, proposed, for the sake of mutual interest, to leave the whole dozen batteries with them for another four months. For what? To conduct tests that we have never taken before. The idea is to evaluate the battery life of European size batteries (242x175x190 mm) after many months of storage in an unheated room. Of course, we immediately agreed - it's interesting! Military specialists are also interested, since they have not carried out such studies since the era of ancient batteries filled with black mastic. By the way, then the results were deplorable. Despite careful care of the batteries, including regular wiping of their surface with a soda solution, the charge disappeared after a month of storage. The materials of which the plate gratings are made are to blame. The alloys had an increased content of antimony (5-7%), which accelerated the process of water electrolysis, due to which the composition of the electrolyte changed rapidly (water boiled away). By the way, that's why those batteries were produced dry-charged, and after filling the electrolyte and recharging, the open circuit voltage dropped before our eyes. After three months of storage, the voltage dropped well below the "waterline" and the batteries again required electricity.
In the next generation batteries, self-discharge was reduced by reducing the antimony content in the plates to 1.5-2% and using alloying additives. Modern batteries use calcium instead of antimony; such sources not only hold the charge longer, but also do not require maintenance (there is no need to add water to them).
And how will coulombs (it is in these units that electric charge, or the amount of electricity is measured) behave today, in the most modern batteries?
To freedom with a clear conscience
The tests took place over 120 days from the fall of 2015 to the winter of 2016. For four months, no one touched the initially charged batteries. No recharging, no topping up, no wiping! Temperature environment at the same time, it fluctuated within more than 40 degrees: from -21 to -22 ° С. After the expiration of the “conclusion period”, the batteries were placed without recharging in a freezer and kept for another day at -18 °C. And then they sent me to pass the standard - a discharge with a single current of 315 A with voltage control at the terminals after 30 seconds of discharge. The results are in our photo gallery.
Batteries were required to spin a conditional starter after four months of oblivion. Everyone managed to do this - therefore, the results are good. Not a single battery sank below 8 V - their ancestors never dreamed of such a thing. However, some participants passed the test with a huge margin, others at the limit. Champion - Tyumen Battery Premium again; besides it, only Exide Premium, Varta Blue Dynamic and Topla kept the voltage at the terminals above 9 V. It is curious that Varta Blue Dynamic, which frankly did not perform well in the main competitions, changed its mind after a four-month imprisonment and showed the third result.
A little upset domestic products. Having won the last year's tests in the total standings, here they slipped down a little, losing the middle of the ranking table to "foreigners". True, the difference in numbers is small - only a couple of percent.
Tests have shown that modern batteries tolerate lack of attention. But all patience comes to an end, so we repeat once again: before installing it on a car, the battery must be charged. Even brand new, just bought. I assure you, not a single seller is puzzled by this. Therefore, under the guise fresh battery may be hiding already tired. And after a week or two of operation, he will die, even if at first he turned the starter. In conditions of chronic undercharging, the matter will end with the sulfation of the plates with all the ensuing troubles.
The places in the battery test Behind the Wheel in 2016 were distributed as follows:
12 PLACE
Silverstar Russia
Declared capacity, Ah 65
Declared current, A 610
8.03 V
11
11 PLACE
Delkor country not specified
Declared capacity, Ah 60
Declared current, A 525
Voltage at the terminals after a 30 second discharge with a current of 315 A8.21 V
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 12
10 PLACE
AKOM Russia
Declared capacity, Ah 62
Declared current, A 540
Voltage at the terminals after a 30 second discharge with a current of 315 A8.53 V
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 10
9 PLACE
Titan Euro Silver Russia
Declared capacity, Ah 61
Declared current, A 620
Voltage at the terminals after a 30 second discharge with a current of 315 A8.75 V
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 6
8 PLACE
Bosch Germany
Declared capacity, Ah 63
Declared current, A 610
Voltage at the terminals after a 30 second discharge with a current of 315 A8.92 V
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 7
7 PLACE
Tyumen Bear Russia
Declared capacity, Ah 62
Declared current, A 560
Voltage at the terminals after a 30 second discharge with a current of 315 A8.96 V
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 4
6 PLACE
Beast Russia
Declared capacity, Ah 60
Declared current, A 600
8.98 V
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 5
5 PLACE
Mutlu Silver Evolution Türkiye
Declared capacity, Ah 63
Declared current, A 550
Terminal voltage after a 30-second discharge with a current of 315 A9,0
0
IN
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 8
4 PLACE
TOPLA country not specified
Declared capacity, Ah 66
Declared current, A 620
Terminal voltage after a 30-second discharge with a current of 315 A9,02
IN
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 2
3RD PLACE
Varta Blue Dynamic Country not specified
Declared capacity, Ah 60
Declared current, A 540
Terminal voltage after a 30-second discharge with a current of 315 A9,10
IN
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 9
2ND PLACE
EXIDE PREMIUM country not specified
Declared capacity, Ah 64
Declared current, A 640
Terminal voltage after a 30-second discharge with a current of 315 A9,17
IN
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 3
1 PLACE
Tyumen Battery Premium Russia
Declared capacity, Ah 64
Declared current, A 590
Terminal voltage after a 30-second discharge with a current of 315 A9,20
IN
Place occupied by the battery in the main series of tests (ZR, 2015, No. 10) 1
There is no fundamental difference between for "Asians" and "Europeans". In fact, the same lead bathed in acid. "Asian" only gives out a design with protruding terminals. In the "Europeans" they seem to be buried in the body. And the proportions are slightly different: "Asian", ceteris paribus, is usually a little shorter and narrower, but at the same time somewhat higher.
For examination, we selected "Asians", united by the D23 standard size. 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 the classic "Europeans", but at the same time they are very popular. They are installed on super-popular subcompacts Kia Rio And Hyundai Solaris, as well as other models of Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and so on. Note that some of the batteries are designed for fastening not with a clamping bar through the top, but for the tide of the case at the very bottom of the battery. In most cases, these lugs do not prevent installation in vehicles designed for top-bar mounting.
HOW TO CHOOSE A BATTERY?
Have you chosen? The battery must be installed before installation on the machine. For those who do not realize the need for this stage, we suggest that you study our table, where in the column "Reserve capacity" the parameters of the batteries at the time of sale are given in brackets. You can't call them fully charged. |
We collected 14 batteries. We tried not to involve completely unknown players. The most expensive battery in our sample is the Korean Rocket. A deafening 9,000 rubles had to be paid because it was precisely this price that the official Kia dealer had broken. The cheapest is the domestic Tyumen Battery 6ST‑60L Asia for 3150 rubles. Of course, prices can vary greatly in different 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 places - the "price / quality" parameter is purely for reference.
All purchased batteries are under warranty. But for the battery, the terms “new” and “warranty”, alas, are not synonymous. Therefore, one should not be surprised that when measuring in the delivered state, the results are always so different that it is immediately clear who and how much was lying in the warehouse. But for the seller, everything that is on the shelf is new: he only puts a seal and the date of sale.
PLACING METHOD
In tests of each type, we assigned the best and worst results, respectively, 5 points and 1 point. All other participants received intermediate points proportional to the position they took between the leader and the outsider. For example, if when measuring the reserve capacity, the leader showed the result of 128 minutes, and the outsider - 88 minutes, then the participant with the result of 96 minutes received 1.80 points. And so - for tests of all five types. If the battery failed in certain tests, it received 0 points. The final score is the arithmetic mean of five intermediate marks. The "price / quality" parameter is for reference only, since the price of batteries is highly dependent on the place of purchase and can vary significantly in different outlets. It was not taken into account in the distribution of seats.
MAIN CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING BATTERY QUALITY
Reserve capacity. Shows how long the car will last with all the energy consumers on (headlights, audio system, windshield wipers), if its alternator has deteriorated. Measured in minutes. The higher the score, the better.
Best result: Medalist, 128 minutes. Worst result: Rocket, 88 minutes.
Reduced starting energy with declared current. Characterizes the energy of the battery in the starting mode. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the score, the better.
Best result: Medalist, 29.55 kJ. Worst result: Globatt, 9.67 kJ.
Reduced single current starting energy at -18ºС. Allows the current characteristics of all batteries under the same conditions, regardless of their passport data. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the score, the better.
Best result: Medalist, 55.11 kJ. Worst result: Globatt, 10.49 kJ.
Reduced single current starting energy at -29ºС. Similar to previous tests, except temperature: -29ºC instead of -18ºC. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the score, the better.
Best result: Medalist, 12.63 kJ. Worst result: Globatt; complete failure, the battery “dipped” below 6.0 V already at the 21st second of discharge instead of the prescribed 30 s.
Receiving a charge at a constant external voltage. Shows the capacity of the battery after a deep discharge.
Better than others accepts a 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 NIITs AT 3 of the Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. The test results refer to a specific sample of batteries and cannot be used as a characteristic of all products of the same name as a whole.
| Estimated price 4200 rub. Declared capacity 65 Ah Declared reserve capacity - Declared current 540 A (SSA) 14.06 kg/- Dimensions 232×173×222mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge in the fifth bank Perhaps, in greenhouse conditions, the battery would have behaved better, but in the cold it became ill. Current at -18ºС it gives out the worst. And at -29ºС, the poor fellow simply died: the voltage at the terminals quickly dropped below 6 V - no credit. The country of origin is not specified, there is only a reference to some "German technology". | Estimated price 9000 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared reserve capacity 92 min. Declared current 550 A (SAE); 440 A (EN) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 15.55/15.5 kg Dimensions 231×170×222mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge - The expensive battery was bought solely because it was sold from an authorized Kia dealer. I still feel sorry for the money: the lowest reserve capacity, extremely weak results at -29ºС, complete failure in terms of price and quality. |
| Estimated price 4700 rub. Declared capacity 70 Ah; 110 min. Declared reserve capacity 100 min. Declared current 580 A (CCA) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 13.5 kg/- Dimensions 238×168×207 mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge in the second bank The mass 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 score even three points out of five possible. Weak result. | Estimated price 5900 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared reserve capacity - Declared current 510 A (EN) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 15.7 kg/- Dimensions 230×171×224 mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge - The Austrian brand is usually unlucky in our tests. There are no failures, but it is far from the stars. This time, let's note only a good reserve capacity (more than 100 minutes) and ... And that's it, probably. At -29ºС, the battery barely survived, it takes a charge worse than others, and the price is far from attractive. |
| Estimated price 7200 rub. Declared capacity 66 Ah Declared reserve capacity - Declared current 575 A (EN) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 15.2 kg/- Dimensions 231×172×223mm gas outlet through traffic jams Electrolyte level control through traffic jams Eye of charge - Why pay that kind of money? Only Rocket is more expensive in our sample. In no test, the battery did not even score three points. And if you take into account the price when arranging places, then you get the third place from the end. | Estimated price 4500 rub. Declared capacity 62 Ah Declared reserve capacity 550 A (EN) Declared current - Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 15.04 kg/- Dimensions 230×173×223 mm gas outlet through traffic jams Electrolyte level control through traffic jams Eye of charge in the second bank The Russian battery delivered the promised current well at -18ºС: the sixth result in our sample. This is what allowed him to take ninth place. All other results are below 2 points. |
| Estimated price 4800 rub. Declared capacity 70 Ah Declared reserve capacity - Declared current 600 A (SSA) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 16.03/16.6 kg Dimensions 232×175×225 mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge in the second bank "Korean" showed the sixth result in terms of reserve capacity and declared current at -18ºС. General level average. | Estimated price 4350 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared reserve capacity - Declared current 540 A (EN) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 14.04 kg/- Dimensions 230×171×220 mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge- The Bosch battery performed without brilliance. We note only the sixth result at -29ºС. The battery takes charge without appetite, which indicates an unimportant ability to recover from a deep discharge. You expect more from a manufacturer with such a big name. |
| Estimated price 4725 rub. Declared capacity 65 Ah Declared reserve capacity - Declared current 590 A Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 17.11/17.3 kg Dimensions 231×175×223 mm gas outlet through traffic jams Electrolyte level control through traffic jams Eye of charge in the fourth bank "Sibiryachka" deserved participation in the "flower ceremony" - the sixth result. We especially note the high reserve capacity - the second indicator among all participants. | Estimated price 6900 rub. Declared capacity 65 Ah Declared reserve capacity 126 min. Declared current 600 A (SSA) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 16.04 kg/- Dimensions 232×172×221 mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge in a third bank The battery came fourth in the reserve capacity test and in the discharge energy measurements at -29ºC. In terms of reserve capacity - the fifth result. In general, very good. |
| Estimated price 4200 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared reserve capacity - Declared current 540 A (EN) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 14.04 kg/- Dimensions 232×171×220mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge - The battery won the competition in receiving the charge current, in other nominations it performed as expected. In general, the battery has confirmed compliance with the big name. | Estimated price 4500 rub. Declared capacity - Declared reserve capacity 120 min. Declared current 650 A Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 15.66 kg/- Dimensions 230×171×223 mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge in a third bank The second result at -29ºС commands respect. We also note a good reserve capacity. Recommended. |
| Estimated price 3150 rub. Declared capacity 60 Ah Declared reserve capacity - Declared current 520 A (EN) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 16.05/16.1 kg Dimensions 230×171×216 mm gas outlet through traffic jams Electrolyte level control through traffic jams Eye of charge - The battery once again confirmed the status of the best Russian battery. In terms of price-quality ratio, the product even turned out to be the best. We note the second result in the issuance of cold scrolling current at -18ºС, as well as the third result at -29ºС and in terms of reserve capacity. Recommended! | Estimated price 4500 rub. Declared capacity 70 Ah Declared reserve capacity 120 min. Declared current 650 A (BCI) Measured/declared weight with electrolyte 15.7 kg/- Dimensions 230×172×222 mm gas outlet central Electrolyte level control - Eye of charge in a third bank The Korean battery remembered the past and again won the competition with a large margin, winning in four out of five nominations. In terms of the off-screen ratio of price and quality, it was second only to the domestic Tyumen Battery 6ST-60L Asia. Recommended! |
WINNERS OF THE EXPERTISE OF THE MAGAZINE "BEHIND THE RULING" OF THE LAST YEARS |
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| 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
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| Tyumen Battery | American |
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| Tyumen Battery Premium | Varta | ||
| Tyumen Battery Premium | Topla | Exide Premium |
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| Varta | |||
| Tyumen Battery Leader | |||
| Topla |
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| Medalist | Panasonic | Titan |
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| Medalist | Varta | Beast |
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| Varta | Medalist | A-mega |
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| 2008 | Bosch | Medalist | Varta |
| 2007 | Mutlu | Akom | Medalist |
| 2006 | Varta | Medalist | Bosch |
| 2004 | Tyumen | Tyumen | Medalist |
BASIC UNITS USED IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERINGIn volts (V), the voltage U is measured. In amperes (A), the current I is measured. In ohms (Ohm), the resistance R is measured. 1 V \u003d 1 A × 1 Ohm. Watts (W) measure power R. Joules (J) measure energy W. In addition, it is often measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). P = U·I; W = U I t 1 W = 1 V × 1 A = 1 J/s = 1 N m/s = 1 kg m²/s³ 1 J = 1 V × 1 A × 1 s = 1 W × 1 s = 1 N m = 1 kg m²/s = 0.00028 kWh 1 kWh = 1000 W × 3600 s = 3600 kJ In coulombs (C) measure the charge q. In addition, it is often measured in ampere-hours (Ah)*. 1 ampere-hour is an electric charge that passes through the cross section of the conductor for one hour in the presence of a current of 1 A in it. q = I t; 1 C = 1 A × 1 s; 1 Ah = 3600 C *Battery capacity is also indirectly estimated in ampere-hours, but this estimate is incorrect. |
POPULAR QUESTIONS1. Why are not all batteries equipped with a peephole indicator? Such an indicator is not really needed. Formally, it helps to visually assess the level and density of the electrolyte, but only in one of the cans. Many manufacturers introduce it into the design only so that the buyer immediately calms down: they say, if there is a peephole, then the battery is modern. But, between us, it's just a fun toy. 2. Is it worth it to “warm up” the battery by turning on the headlights in the cold season before starting? No. Previously, this technique was promoted, but today it is considered useless. The battery does not have time, but the charge is losing. 3. Is it true that when installing the battery larger capacity Will she be constantly undercharged? Of course not. What can prevent it from fully charging? If, for example, when starting a cold engine, the battery gave 1 Ah, then the generator should return exactly the same amount. And what is the capacity indicated on the battery label, it does not matter. 4. What is the easiest way to assess whether the battery is alive or not? Using any tester or voltmeter. It is necessary to measure the open circuit voltage (OCV) with a cold motor. It is not necessary to remove the clamp. After charging and holding (storing the battery disconnected from the charger) for 10–15 hours, the NRC should be 12.5–12.7 V. If the voltage is below 12.5 V, and in a warm room. If the measurement is carried out immediately after charging, the device will not show the NRC at all, but the voltage during charging, which can be much higher. 5. Why check batteries at maximum currents if in practice they are not required? If we talk about regions with a hot climate, then perhaps such currents are not needed. But in the cold, when the starter cranks the crankshaft with difficulty, the maximum high currents. In addition, the declared current indirectly characterizes the quality of the battery: the larger it is, the lower its internal resistance. And the last. If instead of A∙h you see the inscription A / h (on the label, in the article, in the advertisement - it doesn’t matter), do not mess with this product. Behind it are uneducated and indifferent people. If they are not able to understand the elementary designations of their own product, then what can you expect from them at all? |
The TOP 10 included best batteries for cars 2016-2017, which were selected based on battery tests and owner reviews.
Battery #10. Deka
Price from 12 thousand rubles
Series line Deka opens the top ten batteries. When tested, the batteries showed themselves on the good side - they are able to withstand a deep discharge and at the same time give off enough power to start the engine. To cope with this task, manufacturers use only high-quality lead for the alloy of the plates. The calcium and AGM technologies used in the production also increase the performance of the batteries in this range. The disadvantages of Deka include the inflated price of devices, the cost of which starts from 12 thousand rubles.
No. 9. Banner
Price 4 thousand rubles
Banner- the best option in terms of reliability, but not the cheapest. Application innovative technology full calcium allows you to start with a deep discharge of the battery. Banner, with excellent power, are able to provide smooth operation vehicles with very high energy requirements. Also, the Austrian product, according to the results of testing, showed good resistance to temperatures up to minus 30 degrees, which ensures a cold start of the engine. The quality of Banner is confirmed by the fact that many German car industries install batteries of this brand on cars. average cost devices - 4 thousand rubles.
No. 8. Exide
Price 5 thousand rubles
Ruler from Exide represented by good batteries with best capacity. Batteries are designed for vehicles with high energy consumption. They have more power, unlike analogues by 30%, and have increased performance. According to the manufacturers of Exide, their batteries have high starting power and stability under all conditions. weather conditions. But as the test results showed, the battery did not lead to starting the engine at a temperature of minus 30 degrees. Data cost chargers is 5,000 rubles or more.
No. 7. Optima
Price 14 thousand rubles
Optima– the best batteries from American manufacturer. In harsh winter conditions you can count on starting the engine the first time, thanks to the very high current launch Optima Batteries. These batteries also differ in a peculiar spiral layout, which provides a lower self-discharge rate, as well as minimal wear with frequent repetition of recharge cycles. In the production of Optima Batteries, AGM technology is used: a fiberglass separator is impregnated with electrolyte, so that the device becomes protected from deterioration of electrical parameters.
Also, as a result of testing, it was found that these batteries are quite durable and resistant to mechanical stress - in the case of average accident gravity, with partial destruction of the body, it is possible to start the engine. These batteries are completely maintenance free. The disadvantages of this product line include its inflated price -14 thousand rubles.
No. 6. Vortex
Price 3.5 thousand rubles
Vortex- one of the best batteries for cars according to the results of testing for 2016-2017. The device has high current characteristics and behaves well at low temperatures to start the engine. It is recommended for vehicles requiring increased power. Even in the event of a deep discharge, the battery can be restored. The battery is well protected external sources sparking, thanks to the filter system "flame arresters" that are built into the cover. Vortex fully justifies its cost and is in the middle price category- 3.5 thousand rubles.
Battery #5. Aktex
Price 2.7 thousand rubles
Aktex is the best budget option and at the same time with high performance characteristics. The product is manufactured using hybrid technology using calcium and antimony. This makes the battery more resistant to deep discharge at low temperatures. In addition, calcium negative plates minimize self-discharge. In terms of "reserve capacity" Aktex are the absolute leaders among analogues. However, at a temperature of -30 degrees, the battery does not guarantee the engine will start. The price of such a unit is about 2.7 thousand rubles.
No. 4. Tudor
Price 3-3.5 thousand rubles
Tudor- one of the most popular batteries in the Russian market, thanks to high performance operational characteristics. In the production of car chargers, the company uses a special CMET technology, which consists in adding calcium to the battery plate by stretching, which provides better plate strength. Due to this, the battery is less susceptible to corrosion and shedding, and therefore will last longer. long term. Also, thanks to this technology, the plates acquire better starting power and the engine starts at temperatures below 30 degrees. On average, these batteries can be in operation for up to 4-5 years. This the best choice in terms of price-quality ratio. The average cost of Tudor is 3-3.5 thousand rubles.
Battery #3. Topla
Price 5 thousand rubles
Topla one of the top three batteries for cars. They are very popular in the Russian market and have proven themselves due to their reliability, quality and durability. These batteries are produced using Ca / Ca technology, which extends the service life and improves the electrical performance of the device. Topla is distinguished not only by durability, but also by starting characteristics in harsh winter conditions. The average cost of such a battery is 5 thousand rubles.
No. 2. Varta
Price 7-12 thousand rubles
Varta is considered one of the recognized leaders among other batteries for cars. The high-capacity battery provides a confident start of the engine even at a temperature of minus 30 degrees. The patented Power Frame grille technology is responsible for the durability and high resistance to corrosion of the device. Varta has higher performance than its counterparts. In addition, these batteries are more environmentally friendly and produce about 20% less emissions. greenhouse gases. Thanks to the sponge filter, which acts as a flame arrester, the possibility of ignition by an accidental spark is eliminated. The service life is on average 5-7 years, and the cost varies between 7-12 thousand rubles.
Best Battery #1. Bosch
Price from 7 thousand rubles
Bosch becomes the leader in the ranking of the best batteries for cars. A battery with an increased capacity and a reduced self-discharge rate has high operational characteristics. The battery provides start-up at temperatures down to minus 30 degrees. In the event of a deep discharge, the battery is capable of recovery. The manufacturers of the product also took care of the environment, providing a reduced level of electrolyte evaporation. The disadvantage of this device is the rapid damage when working as part of an electrical network with non-ideal characteristics, for example, with faulty generator. It is also worth noting that the Bosch series batteries are far from the cheapest, their cost starts from 7 thousand rubles and more.
The battery is one of the fundamental elements of any modern car, because without it, not only the initial start of the engine is practically impossible, but also the operation of other electronic systems. But which one to choose in the huge variety on the market?
This question can be answered only after full-fledged tests in “combat” conditions, which included batteries of the “European” size 242x175x190 mm, both domestic and foreign (both six of them).
It so happened in Russia that foreign products in our country are held in high esteem, and most motorists choose exactly those goods where the brand is indicated in Latin. And many are of the same opinion. Russian manufacturers, which is why AKOM, Tyumen Battery Premium, Titan Euro Silver and SilverStar batteries have foreign names. Only "The Beast" and "Tyumen Medved" are not shy about the Cyrillic alphabet.
But, as they say, “they are met by clothes, but they are escorted by the mind”, therefore, having discarded all prejudices about names, one should check the battery in action. And here the Russian "representatives" showed themselves very well, even against the background of such a "star team of the world" as Delkor, Bosh, Multi Silver Evolution, Exide Premium, VARTA Blue Dynamic and Topla.
Well, it's time to start the cycle of real tests, and the first of them was the assessment of the reserve capacity - it shows how long the car is able to work at night in cold, rainy weather with a faulty generator. Results are measured in minutes, and the longer the time, the better the battery. The winner of this test was the Tyumen Battery Premium, which lasted 110 minutes, and quite a bit - 1 and 3 minutes, respectively - gave way to Topla and Exide Premium. The worst here was Delkor, running only 91 minutes (the only contestant to clock less than 100 minutes).
The next test criterion is to check the starting energy with the declared current, which characterizes the energy of the battery in starting mode and is measured in kilojoules (the higher the final figures, the better). The palm in this discipline again went to Russian battery Tyumen Battery Premium with an indicator of 29.13 kJ, but SilverStar "beat out" as an outsider - only 7.58 kJ.
To compare the current characteristics of the taken batteries under equal conditions, ignoring the data indicated in the passport, allows the reduced starting energy with a single current of 525 A. Its measurement is carried out in kilojoules, and it is better when the result is higher. As in previous tests, the Tyumen Battery Premium battery, which gave out 35.39 kJ, climbed to the first line of the rating, but other representatives of the “top three” lost significantly to it: Topla - 27.29 kJ, Zver - 25.46 kJ. The last position went to SilverStar - only 6.88 kJ.
The following measurements were carried out by analogy with the previous test and were recorded in similar units, but at a temperature of -29 degrees Celsius. Top Score once again demonstrated by the "Russian" Tyumen Battery Premium, gaining 10.44 kJ, and the worst were three batteries at once, which completely failed after a short period of time - SilverStar, AKOM and Delkor.
Only in the only discipline all the batteries showed approximately equal results and passed the test with a decent margin - this is the acceptance of a charge at a constant external voltage. It characterizes the ability of the battery to return to full capacity after a deep discharge.
But what about the tested batteries with “survivability” without recharging, that is, with the ability to maintain a charge after many months of inactivity in an unheated room? And this question is very interesting, because old batteries, which had a high content of antimony (it accelerated the process of electrolysis of water), lost their charge after a month. In modern batteries, antimony has been replaced by calcium, which is why they not only hold a charge longer, but also do not require maintenance.
Electric charge (the amount of electricity) is measured in coulombs, and how good are they in new batteries? Additional test took 120 days, and during this time the ambient temperature varied from -21 to +23 degrees Celsius. The test participants were completely deprived of attention (no maintenance and recharging), and after the expiration of the allotted time they were placed for a day at -18 degrees Celsius in the freezer.
Having gone through all these “bullyings”, the batteries were subjected to new tests - a discharge with a single current of 315 A with control of the voltage at the terminals after 30 seconds of discharge. Each of the "experimental" after a four-month downtime was able to spin the conditional starter, and even none of them sank below 8 V.
The undisputed champion was the Tyumen Battery Premium battery, and together with it the voltage at the terminals above 9 V was shown only by Exide Premium, Topla and Varta Blue Dynamic. Not surprisingly, SilverStar had the worst result - 8.03 V.
Of course, modern batteries are resistant to the lack of attention, but even new battery must be charged before installation in the car. The fact is that most sellers do not bother with this issue, so even a freshly purchased battery can fail after a short period of operation.
- Tyumen Battery Premium;
- Exide Prime;
- VARTA Blue Dynamic;
- Topla;
- Multi Silver Evolution;
- Beast;
- Tyumen Bear;
- Bosch;
- Titan Euro Silver;
- AKOM;
- Delkor;
- Silver Star Plus.
The test winner is obvious - it was the Tyumen Battery Premium battery, which showed the highest possible rating and was "ahead of the rest" in all disciplines. In addition to this, it turned out to be the best in terms of price and quality. In general, only AKOM and SilverStar spoiled the reputation of domestic batteries, but the Tyumen Medved, Zver and Titan Euro Silver received good ratings and entered the TOP-6.
If we take the average figures, then the "Russians" turned out to be much better than the "team of the world" both in terms of characteristics and in terms of value for money. But that doesn't mean that domestic market will be able to do without foreign products - after all, four domestic brands are not able to fully satisfy the existing demand for car batteries.
