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Capacity Vs CCA

CCA and capacity are two measurements of a battery's performance, but they do not necessarily correlate and one cannot predict the other. While CCA measures a battery's ability to start a car, capacity is a better indicator of overall health, but it is more difficult to measure. Testing of 175 batteries showed varying relationships between CCA and capacity, with some batteries having high CCA but low capacity, or vice versa. A full assessment of a battery's condition requires evaluating both CCA and capacity.

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Roy Ferdy Massolo
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54 views3 pages

Capacity Vs CCA

CCA and capacity are two measurements of a battery's performance, but they do not necessarily correlate and one cannot predict the other. While CCA measures a battery's ability to start a car, capacity is a better indicator of overall health, but it is more difficult to measure. Testing of 175 batteries showed varying relationships between CCA and capacity, with some batteries having high CCA but low capacity, or vice versa. A full assessment of a battery's condition requires evaluating both CCA and capacity.

Uploaded by

Roy Ferdy Massolo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Capacity vs.

CCA
Starter batteries have two distinct values, CCA and capacity.These two
readings are close to each other like lips and teeth, but the
characteristics are uniquely different; one cannot predict the other. [BU-
806, Changes in Capacity and Resistance]
Measuring the internal battery resistance, which relates to CCA on a
starter battery, is relatively simple but the reading provides only a
snapshot of the battery at time of measurement. Resistance alone
cannot predict the end of life of a battery. For example, at a CCA of
560A and a capacity of 25 percent, a starter battery will still crank well
but it can surprise the motorist with a sudden failure of not turning the
engine (as I have experienced).
The leading health indicator of a battery is capacity,but this estimation is
difficult to read. A capacity test by discharge is not practical with starter
batteries; this would cause undue stress and take a day to complete.
Most battery testers do not measure capacity but look at the internal
resistance, which is an approximation of CCA. The term approximationis
correct — laboratory tests at Cadex and at a German luxury car
manufacturer reveal that the readings are only about 70 percent
accurate. A full CCA test is seldom done; one battery can take a week to
measure.
The SAE J537 CCA test mandates to cool a fully charged battery to -
18°C (0°F) for 24 hours, and while at subfreezing temperature apply a
high-current discharge that simulates the cranking of an engine. A 500
CCA battery would need to supply 500A for 30 seconds and stay above
7.2V (1.2V/cell) to pass. If it fails the test, the battery has a CCA rating of
less than 500A. To find the CCA rating, the test must be repeated
several times with different current settings to find the triggering point
when the battery passes through 7.2V line. Between each test, the
battery must be brought to ambient temperature for recharging and
cooled again for testing. (For CCA DIN and IEC norms, please refer to
“Test Method” on this essay.)
To examine the relationship between CCA and capacity, Cadex
measured CCA and capacity of 175 starter batteries at various
performance levels. Figure 2 shows the CCA on the vertical y-axis and
reserve capacity* readings on the horizontal x-axis. The batteries are
arranged from low to high, and the values are given as a percentage of
the original ratings.
Figure 2: CCA
and reserve
capacity (RC) of
175 aging starter
batteries
The CCA of aging
starter batteries
gravitates above
the diagonal
reference line.
(Few batteries
have low CCA
and
high capacity.)
Courtesy of
Cadex
Test method: The CCA and RC readings were obtained according to
SAE J537 standards (BCI). CCA (BCI) loads a fully charged battery at –
18°C (0°F) for 30s at the CCA-rated current of the battery. The voltage
must stay above 7.2V to pass. CCA DIN and IEC are similar with these
differences: DIN discharges for 30s to 9V, and 150s to 6V; IEC
discharges for 60s to 8.4V. RC applies a 25A discharge to 1.75V/cell
and measures the elapsed time in minutes.
The table shows noticeable discrepancies between CCA and capacity,
and there is little correlation between these readings. Rather than
converging along the diagonal reference line, CCA and RC wander off in
both directions and resemble the stars in a clear sky. A closer look
reveals that CCA gravitates above the reference line, leaving the lower
right vacant. High CCA with low capacity is common, however, low CCA
with high capacity is rare. In our table, one battery has 90 percent CCA
and produces a low 38 percent capacity; another delivers 71 percent
CCA and delivers a whopping 112 percent capacity (these are indicated
by the dotted lines).
As discussed earlier, a battery check must include several test points.
An analogy can be made with a medical doctor who examines a patient
with several instruments to find the diagnosis. A serious illness could
escape the doctor’s watchful eyes if only blood pressure or temperature
was taken. While medical staff are well trained to evaluate multiple data
points, most battery personnel do not have the knowledge to read a
Nyquist plot and other data on a battery scan. Nor are test devices
available that give reliable diagnosis of all battery ills.
* North America marks the reserve capacity (RC) of starter batteries
in minutes; RC applies a 25A discharge to 1.75V/cell and measures
the elapsed time in minutes. Europe and other parts of the world use
ampere/hours (Ah). The RC to Ah conversion formula is as follows: RC
divided by 2 plus 16.

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