Powerful car stereos can put a strain on the battery
If you run a high-powered stereo in your car, you may want a stronger battery under the hood. While a standard battery is designed to get your car started, it may not be up to the demands of a 1,000-watt stereo for long periods.
Description
Regular and stereo car batteries are both based on the same lead-acid technology, packing lead plates and sulfuric acid in a rugged plastic box. The chemistry between the lead and the acid produces strong electric current. Car stereo batteries have more sophisticated components and construction than standard car batteries.
AGM
Car stereo batteries pack the sulfuric acid into an absorbent glass mat (AGM). No liquid acid can leak or spill from the mat. It also handles high temperatures better than standard battery construction.
Cold Cranking Amps
Car batteries are rated by their cold-start capacity, called cold cranking amps (CCA). This is how much current the battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 0 degrees F. Standard and car stereo batteries have a similar CCA range, between 500 and 1,000.
Reserve Capacity
The number of minutes a battery can deliver 25 amps before losing significant voltage is called reserve capacity. The reserve capacity for standard and car stereo batteries is comparable, about 100 minutes or more, depending on the battery.
Deep Cycle
A standard car battery is not meant to be used at more than a small percentage of its capacity. Deep cycling is the ability to recover from deep power drains without damage. Car stereo batteries can handle deep cycling much better than a regular battery.
Cost
While a regular car battery purchased in 2010 will set you back about $100, high-performance car stereo batteries can go for over $400.
Tags: stereo batteries, standard battery, stereo batteries, batteries have, battery deliver, better than, regular battery