Should I replace the car battery with a larger capacity than the original?

Similar to some details and spare parts such as engine oil, gearbox oil or spark plugs, the battery in a car will be damaged after a period of use and need to be replaced. According to auto technicians, depending on the habits and environment of the car, on average, a battery installed in a new car usually has a lifespan of 1.5 - 2 years, some cars even have a longer battery life. However, there are also many cases where the battery in a new car has been damaged after less than 1 year of use.

With the development of the automotive-related support industry, car users in Vietnam now have many choices when they want to replace their car batteries. With dozens of battery brands entering the Vietnamese market in recent years, with a budget of 1.2 - 3 million VND, car users have dozens of different choices depending on each brand and different battery segments.

However, besides price or brand, one thing that many car users are concerned about is whether or not they should replace the battery with a new one with a larger capacity than the original battery on the car when it is damaged (!?)

Capacity is measured in Ampere (Ah), this parameter helps car users know how much electricity the battery can store. Most popular car models in Vietnam today are usually equipped with batteries with a capacity of 40Ah - 60Ah.

In fact, during the process of using the car, many car owners have chosen a new battery with a larger capacity than the original battery that came with the car to replace it. For example, in the case of Mr. Nguyen Huy Cuong, residing in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, he is using a 2021 Hyundai Accent. According to Mr. Cuong, this car was bought new and was equipped by the manufacturer with an original 45Ah battery. After more than 2 years of using the car, when the battery was damaged and needed to be replaced, after consulting with a number of auto repair technicians, Mr. Cuong chose a new battery with a capacity of up to 60Ah to replace his Accent. Up to now, the car is still operating stably.

In fact, after a period of use, the car battery is damaged, you can still choose a new battery with a larger capacity than the original battery to replace it. However, according to the recommendations of technicians specializing in car repair and maintenance, you should choose a new battery with a capacity larger than the original battery by about 10% - 15%.

In addition, if you choose a new battery with a larger capacity than the old battery, you should pay attention to whether the battery size and the position of the terminals are suitable for the battery installation space on the vehicle or not? Because there have been cases where the car owner chose a new battery with a larger capacity than the original battery but could not install it because the battery size was larger and there were no pins to fix the battery. In addition, some types of batteries also have the battery terminal positions (negative terminal, positive terminal) opposite to the original battery on the vehicle, so it is also difficult to install.

In addition, before choosing a new battery with a larger capacity to install in the car, you should consult with technicians specializing in car repair and maintenance. Because depending on each car model, installing a new battery with a larger capacity than the battery capacity equipped by the manufacturer will more or less affect the generator as well as the car's charger.