Fact or fiction about life of batteries in hot areas
Just curious...I was told yesterday that batteries in cars/trucks only last about 5 or 6 years in AZ heat. "Sitting in hot weather cooks them and shorten their lives". Fact or fiction?
Forum Discussion
I do not know of a battery under the hood of a motor vehicle that is not mistreated. Try as they might, charging system controls can and do not apply proper correct voltage for minus temperatures, short trips, lights, heater, you name it. To verify this yourself look at a corrected temperature chart, then imagine a slow-engine-speed with the alternator output barely able to maintain amperage then the voltage is in the fourteens. For -20F temps? Gimme a break. Going home and connecting the car to a battery maintainer that supports CORRECT float voltages would enhance battery lifespan multi-fold. You WILL notice that cars and trucks in frigid area that are started then ALWAYS driven long distances will have much longer battery life in frigid climes.
Hot, low and high Ph agents are infinitely more reactive than cold media. This is normal and expected behavior in chemistry. Chill battery acid in a freezer to 0F, drop a spoonfull of raw hamburger in it wait 2 hours and examine. Heat the same acid to 200F in a PYREX vessel and do the same with the hamburger. Oooooo! Now imagine the hamburger as being your eyeball.
Batteries in elevated temperature climes do not operate at ambient temperatures. I have seen 190F underhood (battery lead) temperature in summer desert areas. What "charging" voltage is correct for a flooded lead acid battery at 190F.? This temp is so severe it cannot be touched with a finger without screaming OUCH!
Battery OEM scream 120F is the absolute maximum temperature limit for even the most infinitesimal of charging. With the battery in the trunk or inside a hatch at 120F how much charging "should" it see? How about if it's discharged and needs to be charged?
These are quandaries that have no practical answer. To put it bluntly, the battery takes it in the shorts. Surplus acid batteries like golf car and industrial tolerate elevated temperatures better because they have thicker plates to absorb ablation, and more surface area on their case to dissipate heat.
Go ahead. Access those temperature charts. Compare the date versus what your charging system insists on doing...
Then wince...
Hot, low and high Ph agents are infinitely more reactive than cold media. This is normal and expected behavior in chemistry. Chill battery acid in a freezer to 0F, drop a spoonfull of raw hamburger in it wait 2 hours and examine. Heat the same acid to 200F in a PYREX vessel and do the same with the hamburger. Oooooo! Now imagine the hamburger as being your eyeball.
Batteries in elevated temperature climes do not operate at ambient temperatures. I have seen 190F underhood (battery lead) temperature in summer desert areas. What "charging" voltage is correct for a flooded lead acid battery at 190F.? This temp is so severe it cannot be touched with a finger without screaming OUCH!
Battery OEM scream 120F is the absolute maximum temperature limit for even the most infinitesimal of charging. With the battery in the trunk or inside a hatch at 120F how much charging "should" it see? How about if it's discharged and needs to be charged?
These are quandaries that have no practical answer. To put it bluntly, the battery takes it in the shorts. Surplus acid batteries like golf car and industrial tolerate elevated temperatures better because they have thicker plates to absorb ablation, and more surface area on their case to dissipate heat.
Go ahead. Access those temperature charts. Compare the date versus what your charging system insists on doing...
Then wince...
