How To Read Car Battery Date Codes And Specifications

1 Why Are Car Battery Stickers Important?

Car battery stickers are used to identify the grade of the battery in your vehicle. The words, codes, and numbers on the sticker contain important information that tells the life of your car’s battery, how old it is, and how it will perform.

They are one of the most important things to know if you plan to buy a car or sell your used vehicle. Just like other parts, they need to be in good condition before they can be used on the road. You might buy old batteries by mistake if you don’t know what a sticker or code is because they won’t fit the requirements of newer vehicles. Knowing this information can help you make better decisions when choosing the best battery for your car.

2 Important Car Battery Specifications And Their Meaning

Car battery standards and specifications are mandated by the Battery Council International (BCI) and the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE). These features and specifications appear on the battery label or sticker and in the manufacturer’s manual. It’s important to understand what battery labels and stickers mean in order to purchase the correct battery for your vehicle and prevent yourself from having a dead car battery.

1. Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)

A battery’s Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) rating determines the maximum discharge load that a brand-new, fully charged battery can deliver while holding a voltage of at least 1.20 volts per cell for 30 seconds at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. A battery produces all its rated power at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, 65 percent at 32 degrees, and only 40 percent at 0 degrees. The CCA rating represents a battery’s ability to start (crank) an engine in low-temperature conditions when the chemical reaction inside the battery slows down.

The higher the cold cranking amps (CCA) or CCA rating of a battery, the better the starting power. If you live in a cold area like Canada, it is important to purchase a battery with a high CCA rating. Also, do not change your battery with a low CCA rating compared to the OEM battery of your vehicle. It is essential to have a good battery and keep it from dying during the winter.

2. Cranking Amps (CA)

A battery’s cranking amps rating indicates the maximum discharge load in amps that a brand-new, fully charged battery can provide for 30 seconds at 32 degrees Fahrenheit while maintaining at least 1.20 volts per cell. These CA ratings can be 30% higher than the corresponding CCA rating, therefore, they can often be deceptive and can be confusing when comparing the CCA and CA ratings of a battery. According to the Battery Council International (BCI), a battery that carries a declaration of its CA performance must also list its CCA capacity.

3. Reserve Capacity (RC)

It is the point at which a brand-new, fully charged battery can withstand a 25-ampere discharge at 80 degrees Fahrenheit while maintaining a voltage of at least 1.75 volts per cell. A “75-minute” battery lasts 75 minutes under these circumstances. The RC rating is the number of minutes the battery can maintain 10.5 volts with a 25-amp drain. So if a 12-volt battery (six cells) is rated at 75 minutes, it can last 75 minutes under these conditions. With more features on modern cars, current discharge rates are much higher than 25 amps. Therefore, the greater the RC, the better.

4. Amp-Hours Rating (Ah)

This is also known as the “C20 rating” and is a measurement of the continuous supply of current by a battery for 20 hours at 80 degrees Fahrenheit without dropping below 10.5 volts. The Amp Hour (Ah) rating describes the power and longevity of a battery, and this also denotes how long a battery will last if it isn’t recharged. For example, if a battery is rated at 100 Ah, it will be able to provide 50 amps for 2 hours. If a battery has a capacity of 50 Ah, it will provide 50 Amps for one hour. The Ah rating does not always imply that a battery will only last one hour; for example, a 100Ah battery can last two hours when asked to produce only 50 amps and four hours when asked to produce 25 amps.

5. Date code

Most batteries have a date code, which is a long series of digits and letters that indicate when the battery was purchased and how old it is. The month is represented by a row of one or two-letter codes, while the year is represented by the other row of numbers. At the time of purchase, the date code is usually stamped or highlighted.

6. Group Size

According to BCI, the group size of a battery describes the envelope size of the battery. This corresponds to the height, breadth, length, and terminal location of the battery. Batteries with the same group number can be interchanged. Usually, the battery group size number is also part of the manufacturer’s part number.

3 How To Tell the Age of a Car Battery?

Depending on the manufacturer, different dates are printed on the car battery. Some refer to the in-service date, while others refer to the production date. Continue reading to learn more about where to find battery dates and how to determine the age of your car battery.

Knowing exactly where to look for the battery date code is crucial because it’s one of the simplest ways to determine the age of your vehicle’s battery. The battery date codes come in a variety of formats and are located at various locations on the battery.

4 Car Battery Stickers And Codes Explained

1. Battery In-Service Sticker

Usually, the date stickers are found on the top of the car battery. However, the location can differ depending on your manufacturer. These stickers show when the battery went into service. In other words, it’s not the manufacturing date but the date when you first used the battery, so the manufacturer can calculate the battery’s expiration date and warranty. This is usually a rectangular-shaped sticker.

2. Round Sticker

Apart from a rectangular date sticker on the battery, you might also see a round sticker that indicates the battery’s manufacturing date. It includes numbers and, in some cases, can also include characters. For example, a battery showing 3/17 means the battery was manufactured in March 2017. However, sometimes letters are also used to denote the month. The letters A to M are used to denote each month from January to December, respectively. For example, K/12 would indicate that the battery was manufactured in October (K) of the year 2012. This sticker and dating format indicate the manufacturing date of your car battery, not the in-service date. 

The letter “I” is often skipped because it can be mistaken for the number “1”.

3. Hot Stamped Letters

Manufacturers can also add a code to the side of the battery by hot stamping the letters into the battery casing. There is no standard code for this pattern, but the first two digits, just like the round sticker, usually represent the manufacturing date of the battery. For example, if the battery has a code 5BD01, it was manufactured in the year 2005 (5) and in the month of February (B). The letters and codes that follow are dedicated to the factory where it is manufactured, the time and day, and so on.

It’s important to note that the first two characters in the hot-stamped codes can be either month/year or year/month. So, the code can be 5BD01 or B5D01. It has the same meaning. In some batteries, the actual date and month are stamped on the casing in the standard format (DD/MM/YY).

5 What Are The Different Types Of Battery?

Before we get into what battery stickers and codes mean, it’s important to learn about some of the most common types of car batteries. Different cars have different needs and are equipped with batteries according to their requirements. Some of the most common batteries used in vehicles are discussed below.

1. Lead-Acid Batteries 

The flooded lead acid battery is the most traditional type of automobile battery. It is the most common and cheapest type of battery. SLI battery, which stands for Starting, Lighting, and Ignition, is another name for it. Flooded batteries are typically made up of six cells with a liquid electrolyte solution of sulfuric acid and water. It provides 12.6 volts when fully charged. 

It is a dependable battery for starting engines and offers sufficient electrical power for common car accessories. The electrolyte solution must be positioned vertically to minimize spills, and it must be topped up on a regular basis. If a wet cell battery is depleted below 50% of its depth-of-discharge capacity, its battery life is also significantly reduced.

2. Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFB)

The EFB battery is similar to a wet cell battery, but it performs better. It is a sealed battery with a liquid electrolyte solution and has twice the endurance compared to a lead acid battery. These batteries are more durable due to their design, which increases their resistance to vibration and discharge.

In comparison to the 30,000 engine cranks of traditional flooded batteries, the EFB battery can offer roughly 85,000. It was developed as a less expensive alternative to the Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery for vehicles with basic start-stop technology.

3. Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Batteries

AGM batteries are Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) batteries engineered to handle the increased electrical energy requirements of modern vehicles. It features a fiberglass separator (glass mat), which separates the electrolyte solution and keeps it in place, making it similar to a wet cell battery. This battery type offers higher performance than gel cells and flooded batteries.

This battery charges up to 5 times faster and lasts 3 times as long. It can also cycle to 80% of its discharge depth. The battery is ideal for off-road use due to its spill-proof nature. AGM batteries are also ideal for vehicles with braking energy recovery and automatic start-stop applications. However, it can cost 40-100% more than standard batteries. Because AGM batteries are ideal for high power requirements, they can be found in luxury and sports cars. 

Other types of battery are Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries that are mostly used in electric vehicles as they can store more energy and charge faster. They are also recyclable, but they are more expensive than lead-acid batteries. Another type of battery used in hybrid and electric vehicles is the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery. They last longer than Li-Ion or lead-acid batteries, but they generate a lot of heat. As a result, they are suitable for use in automobiles as well as electric vehicles.

Understanding how old your car battery is might help you prepare for emergencies like sudden failures. Dimmer headlights, strange clicking noises when turning the ignition key, engine starting problems, and so on are all signs of a failing car battery.

You can tell the age of a car battery by looking at the date stickers and codes. These codes and stickers are placed on the top, and sides, or are stamped on the battery casing. It is an alphanumeric code that is either burned into the battery’s casing or written on a sticker. Typically, the average life of a car battery is between 3 to 5 years. While purchasing a new battery or maintaining the battery in your car, you can see the date codes and stickers to determine how old the battery is. Extending the life of a battery beyond 5 years is not recommended, as it can fail without warning.

It is important to get your battery tested if it’s 3 years or older. Follow routine battery checks and maintenance to avoid engine starting problems or a dead battery.