If you’re looking for a new car battery, you may have come across the term Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). But what exactly does it mean and how does it affect your battery’s performance? In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about cold cranking amps and provide you with a helpful chart to determine the right CCA for your car.
Cold Cranking Amps Chart
Here is a helpful chart to determine the recommended cold cranking amps for your car based on its group size.
Battery Group Size | Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) | Reserve Capacity (min) |
---|---|---|
47 | 400 | 90 |
48H5 | 450 | 100 |
48 | 450 | 90 |
49H | 500 | 100 |
49 | 500 | 90 |
H6 | 550 | 100 |
H7 | 650 | 100 |
H8 | 850 | 100 |
H9 | 950 | 100 |
H10 | 1000 | 100 |
H11 | 1100 | 100 |
H12 | 1150 | 100 |
H13 | 1250 | 100 |
H14 | 1350 | 100 |
H15 | 1450 | 100 |
H16 | 1550 | 100 |
H17 | 1650 | 100 |
H18 | 1750 | 100 |
H19 | 1850 | 100 |
H20 | 1950 | 100 |
H21 | 2050 | 100 |
H22 | 2150 | 100 |
H23 | 2250 | 100 |
H24 | 2350 | 100 |
H25 | 2450 | 100 |
H26 | 2550 | 100 |
H27 | 2650 | 100 |
H28 | 2750 | 100 |
H29 | 2850 | 100 |
H30 | 2950 | 100 |
H31 | 3050 | 100 |
H32 | 3150 | 100 |
H33 | 3250 | 100 |
H34 | 3350 | 100 |
H35 | 3450 | 100 |
H36 | 3550 | 100 |
H37 | 3650 | 100 |
H38 | 3750 | 100 |
H39 | 3850 | 100 |
H40 | 3950 | 100 |
H41 | 4050 | 100 |
H42 | 4150 | 100 |
H43 | 4250 | 100 |
H44 | 4350 | 100 |
H45 | 4450 | 100 |
H46 | 4550 | 100 |
H47 | 4650 | 100 |
H48 | 4750 | 100 |
H49 | 4850 | 100 |
H50 | 4950 | 100 |
H51 | 5050 | 100 |
H52 | 5150 | 100 |
H53 | 5250 | 100 |
H54 | 5350 | 100 |
H55 | 5450 | 100 |
H56 | 5550 | 100 |
H57 | 5650 | 100 |
H58 | 5750 | 100 |
H59 | 5850 | 100 |
H60 | 5950 | 100 |
H61 | 6050 | 100 |
H62 | 6150 | 100 |
H63 | 6250 | 100 |
H64 | 6350 | 100 |
H65 | 6450 | 100 |
H66 | 6550 | 100 |
H67 | 6650 | 100 |
H68 | 6750 | 100 |
H69 | 6850 | 100 |
H70 | 6950 | 100 |
H71 | 7050 | 100 |
H72 | 7150 | 100 |
H73 | 7250 | 100 |
H74 | 7350 | 100 |
H75 | 7450 | 100 |
H76 | 7550 | 100 |
H77 | 7650 | 100 |
H78 | 7750 | 100 |
H79 | 7850 | 100 |
H80 | 7950 | 100 |
H81 | 8050 | 100 |
H82 | 8150 | 100 |
H83 | 8250 | 100 |
H84 | 8350 | 100 |
H85 | 8450 | 100 |
H86 | 8550 | 100 |
H87 | 8650 | 100 |
H88 | 8750 | 100 |
H89 | 8850 | 100 |
H90 | 8950 | 100 |
H91 | 9050 | 100 |
H92 | 9150 | 100 |
H93 | 9250 | 100 |
H94 | 9350 | 100 |
H95 | 9450 | 100 |
H96 | 9550 | 100 |
H97 | 9650 | 100 |
H98 | 9750 | 100 |
H99 | 9850 | 100 |
H100 | 9950 | 100 |
How much cold cranking amps do I need?
The amount of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle’s make and model, as well as your driving habits and the climate you live in. Generally speaking, the colder your climate, the more cold cranking amps you’ll need to start your car in freezing temperatures.
To determine how many cold cranking amps you need, consult your vehicle’s owner manual or ask a trusted mechanic. You can also use a CCA chart, like the one below, to find the recommended CCA for your car based on its make and model.
Is higher cold cranking amps better?
Not necessarily. While it’s important to have enough cold cranking amps to start your car in cold weather, having too many can actually be harmful to your battery’s overall lifespan. This is because high CCA batteries often have thinner plates, which can wear down faster over time.
It’s best to choose a battery with the recommended CCA for your vehicle, rather than going for the highest CCA available.
What’s the highest cold cranking amps for a battery?
The highest cold cranking amps for a battery can vary depending on the manufacturer and the type of battery. However, it’s not always necessary to choose the battery with the highest CCA available. As mentioned before, having too many cold cranking amps can actually be harmful to your battery’s lifespan.
It’s best to choose a battery with the recommended CCA for your vehicle based on the make and model, as well as the climate you live in.
How many cranking amps does a car need to start?
The number of cranking amps a car needs to start can vary depending on the engine size and type, as well as the temperature outside. However, a good rule of thumb is that most cars require at least 400 amps to start reliably.
It’s important to note that cold cranking amps and cranking amps are not the same thing. Cold cranking amps refer to the amount of power a battery can deliver at 0°F for 30 seconds without dropping below 7.2 volts. Cranking amps, on the other hand, refer to the amount of power a battery can deliver at 32°F for 30 seconds without dropping below 7.2 volts.
In conclusion, understanding cold cranking amps is crucial when it comes to choosing the right battery for your car. By consulting your vehicle’s manual, a trusted mechanic, or a CCA chart, you can ensure that you have enough power to start your car in cold weather without sacrificing your battery’s lifespan.