When comparing cranking amps vs cold cranking amps, the key difference lies in how well your battery performs in different temperatures.
While Cranking Amps (CA) is rated for moderate to warm conditions, Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) indicate how reliably your battery can start in freezing weather.
Read on to understand how these ratings (and others such as MCA, HCA, peak amps) affect starting power and battery performance.
This Article Contains:
- Cranking Amps vs. Cold Cranking Amps: What’s the Difference?
- Why Cold Cranking Amps Are Important
- What Are MCA and HCA Ratings (+How Do They Compare to CCA)?
- Do Lithium Batteries Use Cold Cranking Amps?
- What Are Peak Amps and How Are They Important?
- 3 FAQs About Cranking Power
Cranking Amps vs. Cold Cranking Amps: What’s the Difference?
Car batteries aren’t rated on power alone — they’re rated on how they deliver power in different temperatures. That’s where CA and CCA come in:
- Cranking Amps (CA) indicate the amount of current a lead-acid battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 32°F. This rating reflects the battery’s starting performance under moderate temperature conditions and shows whether it can supply the power a vehicle needs to start.
- Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) measure the amount of current a battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 0°F. A higher CCA ensures reliable starting even in freezing temperatures.
Between these two ratings, CCA stands out as the one that most directly affects whether your car will start on a cold morning.
Let’s explore this further.
Why Cold Cranking Amps Are Important
Cold Cranking Amps are essential because they indicate the amount of starting power a battery can deliver in cold weather. A battery can be fully charged yet still fail to start the car if its CCA is too low.
As temperatures fall, engines become more difficult to start because the cold thickens the engine oil, increasing internal resistance. At the same time, batteries grow weaker since low temperatures slow the chemical reactions that produce electrical power.
CCA indicates whether a battery can still provide sufficient power to start your vehicle under these harsh conditions.
Want to dive deeper into CCA? Explore our detailed guide — What Are Cold Cranking Amps & Why Is It Important?
Now that you know why CCA matters, it’s worth looking at other ratings you may see on a battery.
What Are MCA and HCA Ratings (+How Do They Compare to CCA)?
Marine Cranking Amps (MCA) measure the amount of current a battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 32°F (0°C). These batteries use securely mounted internal plates to withstand shocks and vibrations, especially in rough water. MCA is most relevant for marine equipment operating in moderate climates where temperatures rarely fall below freezing.
MCA is approximately 20-25% higher than CCA ratings for the same battery, as warmer temperatures enable a battery to deliver more power.
Hot Cranking Amps (HCA), on the other hand, measure how much current a battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 80°F (27°C). HCA is rarely used as a primary buying factor because most batteries perform well in warm temperatures.
While traditional lead-acid batteries rely on CCA, MCA, and HCA ratings, lithium batteries are evaluated differently.
Do Lithium Batteries Use Cold Cranking Amps?
No, lithium deep-cycle batteries don’t carry CCA ratings. They are designed to deliver steady power over extended periods, rather than to crank engines.
However, lithium starting batteries can be rated for CCA. These batteries can match or exceed the CCA of lead-acid batteries while being much lighter, more compact, and longer-lasting.
Next, we will discuss another key specification for batteries — peak amps.
What Are Peak Amps and How Are They Important?
Peak amps are the maximum amount of current a battery or jump starter can release for a very brief moment. This extra power can help with older car batteries or when starting an engine in cold weather.
While they indicate the absolute upper power limit, they don’t reflect how effectively the unit can actually turn an engine over.
Still have questions? Let’s cover some FAQs.
3 FAQs About Cranking Power
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about car batteries:
1. How Many Cold Cranking Amps Does Your Car Need?
Most vehicles can typically be jump-started with about 400 to 500 CCA. Smaller cars may need as little as 150 CCA, while larger SUVs and trucks generally require 400 to 500 CCA for reliable starting.
2. How Many Amps Do You Need to Jump-Start a Car?
A rating of 400 to 600 amps is sufficient to jump-start general consumer vehicles.
Larger commercial vehicles may need as much as 1,500 to 2,000 amps, while smaller cars can often start with as little as 150 amps.
You should choose a jump starter with a CA or CCA rating that matches or slightly exceeds your vehicle’s requirement. This ensures reliable starts and reduces strain on the jump starter.
3. Is a Higher CCA Rating Better?
In most cases, high CCA is beneficial, as it offers improved cold-weather performance.
However, the CCA rating should match your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.
A battery with more CCA than required can be heavier and may not fit properly in the battery tray.
Moreover, high-CCA batteries are built for short, powerful starting bursts and can suffer damage if deeply discharged.
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