The specifications of a battery are one of the first things to consider when choosing a battery for a heavy-duty vehicle. Since every fleet deals with different cycling scenarios, it is important to understand how a battery is rated and what that means.

Purkeys’ Sales and Service Engineers Rylar Masco and Charley Gipe explain how a battery’s Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and Reserve Capacity (RC) values can be used to determine what kind of battery is needed for a particular application.

The main purpose of a battery is to start a truck and the CCA is a good indicator of a battery’s ability to perform that function. This is because the higher the CCA, the more current the battery can deliver. According to Rylar, “One of the biggest myths associated with CCA is bigger is always better. The truth is there are different battery types that are better for certain applications and you have to look at the whole system to determine which battery is the proper fit.”

Another important function of a battery is providing power for electrical accessories when the alternator can’t supply enough power or the truck is turned off. According to Charley, “Reserve Capacity can be a valuable tool because the higher the RC, the longer the battery will last before needing to be recharged.”

Understanding how a battery’s CCA and RC values relate to its ability to provide power will help fleets find the perfect battery for its particular application.

Are you dealing with battery issues? Are you looking for advice? We welcome your comments and questions below.

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