Tractor Battery vs. Car Battery: How Are They Different?

April 25, 2022 by Hardik K

Are you someone who believes that a tractor battery and car battery are the same?

Although both of these batteries are the batteries used to start a vehicle, still, there are some fundamental differences between the two. A farm tractor battery may be used in a car; however, a car battery cannot be used for a farm tractor.

Let’s dive deeper to learn the actual difference between a farm tractor battery and a car battery.

Durability and Service Life

The key factor that differentiates a farm tractor battery from a car battery is its durability and service life.
Every battery has a different Cold Cranking Ampere (CCA). It is the ability of a battery to start (crank) an engine in a cold environment at low temperatures.
Since a tractor is driven in harsh climatic conditions and rugged terrains, it needs higher cold cranking amps to start the engine.
Not just CCA, but a farm tractor battery needs a deep-cycle service, which delivers more amp-hours (AH).
AH is the measure of power that a battery can provide over a given length of time.
AH determines the tractor battery

Difference In The Design

A car battery is designed to produce a large amount of current in a short time period.
On the other hand, a farm tractor battery, which is a deep-cycle battery, generates a steady amount of current over a long time period.
A tractor battery is capable of withstanding a higher number of discharge cycles compared to a car battery.

Why Does a Farm Tractor Battery Have Higher Durability Than a Car Battery?

An alternator is a direct source of electric current for the vehicle. Along with the battery, it works to generate power for the different electric components in a vehicle.
An alternator transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy as an alternate current.
Proper functioning of the alternator helps to recharge a vehicle’s battery.
In a tractor, the alternator is unable to recharge the farm tractor battery sufficiently to keep pace with the requirement.
For this reason, a farm tractor battery has a higher cranking power and reserve capacity.
The reverse capacity of a battery is the number of minutes that a fully charged battery can sustain at 25 amps current before the voltage starts decreasing.

A car battery generates a higher cranking power at the start. However, a deep-cycle battery such as a tractor battery is more durable. Both car batteries and tractor batteries are lead-acid batteries, having a voltage of 12V.

It is important to choose the right battery for the right application. It is essential to use a farm tractor battery in a tractor and not think about installing a car battery in it and vice versa. Choosing the right battery is crucial for the performance and life of your vehicle.

How Hot and Cold Weather Effects a Car Battery

December 16, 2020 by Hardik K

When you put your key in the ignition and turn it, your car starts. This is made possible by the car battery hidden under the hood. Without a battery, your car won’t even start much less drive. A battery provides electrical energy to a vehicle to start and keep running. You will need emergency battery booster Calgary service to start the car and get going if your battery is not sufficiently charged.

No matter which brand car battery you are using, it has a limited life of around 3-5 years. After this, the performance and power of the battery start declining. Moreover, the weather conditions and the way you take care of the battery also extend or reduce the battery life.

Scorching heat and freezing cold are the two times when the car battery is under tremendous stress. This is the reason why you need to choose a battery depending on the weather and climate conditions where you live. If not – you might get stranded on the road looking for an emergency onsite vehicle battery replacement.

To know how the weather affects the battery, first understand some important information related to the vehicle battery.

Components of Automotive Battery:

Electrode plates (positive and negative)
Electrolyte solution
Battery lid
Battery case

Functions of a Battery:

Starts the ignition system of a vehicle
Provides sustainability to the vehicle
Supplies energy to the engine
Serves as the power bank of a vehicle
Regulates voltage

In a country like Canada, some regions experience intense heat during the summer and extreme cold during winter. This has a direct impact on the automotive battery.

Effects of Extreme Heat On Your Car Battery:

Just like the human body loses a lot of fluid when there is excessive heat, a car battery also gets dehydrated.
The electrolyte liquid inside the car battery that generates the electrochemical reactions gets drained.
Blistering heat also causes permanent damage to the internal components of the battery that cannot be repaired.
Excessive heat accelerates the chemical reactions occurring inside the battery. However, this also speeds up the corrosion.
Internal corrosion is extremely detrimental to battery life.

Effects of Extreme Cold On Your Car Battery:

As the mercury levels drop, the current reserve stored within a battery reduces drastically.
It is unable to supply sufficient power to start the car.
The water inside the battery freezes and expands causing irreversible damage to the battery.
In cold conditions, the motor oil also thickens putting an excessive load on the battery.

Battery Type Suited To The Climate At Your Location:

You want to avoid spending money on onsite vehicle battery replacement again and again! For that, depending on the location you are staying in Canada, you need to choose a battery that can adapt to the fluctuations in temperature in different seasons.

How to Winterize a Car for Winter?

November 28, 2020 by Hardik K

Winter is approaching fast in Canada. Getting ready to drive your car on slushy roads becomes necessary now. You need to winterize your car, so it can give good performance even in low temperatures.

To help you create a checklist to winterize your car, here is what you must do along with essential tips.

1. Winter Tire Change

This has to be the first thing you do to winterize your car: winter tire change.
Winter tires are necessary to have a better grip on the roads and keep moving with great control even in low temperatures.
Even if the roads in your region stay clear and slush-free, switching to winter tires is necessary.
Do not make the mistake of using all-season tires in winter. You must contact your tire change and replacement mechanic to switch to winter tires.

2. Oil Change

Oil viscosity changes with changing temperature. This can cause friction and other issues during winter. This makes warranty approved oil change necessary.

3. Battery Booster or Changing Battery

Winters are hard on car batteries, which makes them as important as tire and oil change
You might not need to change the battery, but you might need to tune it.
Get your car battery examined by your mechanic. If needed, invest in servicing or changing the battery.
The life of a Canadian car battery is usually 5 years, so if your battery is about to complete this period, it would be better to change it before winters to winterize your car.

4. Winter Wipers

It is often ignored, but it must be on your checklist to get your car winter-ready.
Winter wipers are different from the alternative. It will not lose contact with your windshield due to its aerodynamic shape. This will ensure you can have a clear vision.
Even during snowfalls, it can keep moving, unlike other wipers due to its sturdy and thick rubber.
Your automotive service provider can help with this as well.

5. Antifreeze

Your car radiator will have fluid, which should have an equal blend of water and antifreeze.
You must get this fluid ratio checked by your mechanic offering warranty approved oil change.

6. Tire Pressure

This fact might be surprising, but the fact is a change in temperature also changes tire pressure. According to a tire change and replacement provider, at every 10 Fahrenheit, tire pressure changes up to 1 PSI.
This fact is a clear indicator that changing temperature changes tire pressure. To keep good traction with the road, it is necessary to have recommended pressure in your tires. Therefore, frequently check tire pressure and do the needful, if required.

7. Winter Kit

It is recommended to have a kit to get winter-ready. Important items, which you must have in your winter kit, are:

Antifreeze
A toolkit for your car
Jumper cables
Ice scraper
Flares
And other essentials

Contact Urban Lube to winterize a car and for other automotive services like oil change, tire change, battery boost and much more.

How to Winterize a Car Battery?

November 27, 2020 by Hardik K

Winters can be hard on your car. The cold temperature usually creates pressure on the car battery. Therefore, being prepared for the winters by winterizing your car battery is necessary.

1. Get the Right Battery

A winter car battery usually has a CCA rating, which indicates the cold cracking amps. CCA indicates how a battery works in cold temperatures. Unlike the CA rating of the battery, it can even measure the temperature at zero degrees. If you are using CA raring car battery, you must use a mobile battery replacement service to change the battery. It is necessary to use the right battery if your region faces low temperatures, i.e., 20 Fahrenheit or even lower than that.

2. Completely Charge the Battery

Even if you use CCA rating batteries, they can get damaged during very cold days if your battery is not fully charged. If damaged, you will have no other option than a mobile battery replacement. Therefore, it is advisable to completely charge up your car battery.

You can visit your repair store or call them to charge car batteries. Battery booster stations will also help you with checking and charging your car battery.
Alternatively, you can use tools like a battery charger with float functionality to charge the battery at home.

3. Do Not Let Dirt Pile Up

Dirt, dust, and corrosion are common obstacles that prevent car batteries from performing optimally.
We all know car battery initially starts and circulates power in all parts of the car. Therefore, any obstacles in this process can result in poor performance.
In winters, batteries need more power to start the car. Therefore, it is necessary to keep it clean.
Another issue caused due to dust and dirt is moisture collection. This causes the flow of electric current from one post of the battery to the other. This leads the battery to get self discharged. This would increase the need for frequent battery booster.

Therefore, you must keep car batteries clean and moisture-free.

4. Maintain the Right Temperature

Extreme temperature can damage batteries as explained earlier. Damaged batteries need to be replaced by on-site or mobile battery replacement technicians. Therefore, taking precautionary steps would be great. Maintaining batteries at the correct temperature can help to extend the life and performance of the batteries. Follow below-mentioned tips for the same:

Only use CCA rating batteries.
Charge up the batteries before winter. During winter keep it charged with a battery booster. If you have removed your CA rating batteries, then keep them in a dry place, which should not get direct sunlight. It also should be away from HVAC vents.

Read Related Blog: The Importance of a Battery Check before Winter

Do not let winter damage your car batteries or keep you stuck with a dead battery on the go. Winterize your car batteries at the earliest possible.

For a hassle-free experience, you can also take the help of a mobile battery replacement company. Technicians will visit you and do the needful to make your car batteries winter-ready.

The Importance of a Battery Check before Winter

August 26, 2020 by Hardik K

Winters can be tough on your car battery and winter is approaching in Calgary. It’s good to check the car battery to be certain whether it needs to be replaced or not. It also ensures you won’t need urgent mobile battery replacement in Calgary in winter. In fact, regardless of your region, it is necessary to check the battery before winter arrives to ensure that severe cold does not leave you with a dead battery.

If you are thinking of testing the car battery manually, grab the manufacturer’s guide for your car. It will give details on where you can find the battery and how to ensure whether it needs a mobile battery replacement or is good to go.

An alternative approach – and the recommended one – is to get it checked from your local repair shop, or if there isn’t a local repair shop nearby, you can also look for a mobile battery replacement in Calgary – like Urban Lube. Some repair shops will check the battery for free if you take the vehicle to the repair shop, and others charge for the test. Please remember, charges ensure that along with the battery, they will also check other important parts which can get affected by winter.

Here are the top things to get checked by a professional to get your car battery ready for winter:

The overall health of the battery ensures it will give the same performance during the winter without any need for mobile battery replacement.
Terminals and cable connections for their accurate position.
Test the battery performance when under a heavy load.

These days, mobile battery replacement service providers use gadgets, which give a pass or fail result after testing the battery. Generally, modern batteries are examined according to how several cool cranking amps are currently put out by your battery compared to precisely what it is ranked for.

Steps After Battery Check

Whether you test the car battery manually or get it examined by a mechanic, it is necessary to ensure it can survive the severe cold in Calgary. It should not leave you with a dead battery in the morning or on the road and you won’t need urgent mobile battery replacement in Calgary. If your battery is not good to go, you must get it replaced. Keep these points in mind:

It is advisable to buy a battery with a long warranty and better performance. Of course, your budget also matters.
Do not buy an old battery as it will not give the performance you need.
Get it replaced by an expert mobile battery replacement Do not try replacing it yourself as a car battery is full of acid and it is also very heavy. Moreover, if it is not placed properly, it can damage your vehicle. Also, you may harm yourself. It is strongly recommended to take the help of an experienced professional.

Read Related Blog: How to Boost a Car Battery with a Booster Pack

This is one important step to get ready for the winter.