What does the Ah number on a car battery really change when I drive a small hatchback in Sharjah?
My 2017 Hyundai i10 is the cheapest car I have ever owned, and it has taught me that even a small car can cause a big headache. Last week the battery went weak, and I went to a shop in Sharjah to buy a new one. The man behind the counter pointed at two batteries and said one is 45 and the other is 55, then asked which I wanted. I had no idea what the numbers meant, so I said I would think about it and walked out. Later at home I read an expert explanation of Amaron car battery Ah ratings in Sharjah, and it gave me a rough idea, but it did not say what a normal driver would feel in daily life, so I would like to hear from real owners. First, does a higher Ah number mean the car starts better, or does it only mean the battery can keep running things for longer when the engine is off? My cousin says the bigger number is always better. My neighbour says too big a number is a waste of money in a small car. Second, will a 55 even fit in the tray of a small hatchback, and what happens if the shop forces it in and it moves around? Third, I use the car for short trips, and I leave a phone charger and a dash camera plugged in all day. Does that mean I should choose the higher number, or would the extra capacity just sit there unused? Another thing I wonder about is the alternator. If the battery is bigger, does it take longer to charge on short drives, and could that make it die earlier? Also, is the Ah number the same thing as the cold cranking number, or are they two different things? Every shop explains it differently. And what should I ask the shop to show me on the label so I know I am not getting old stock? If you have a small car here, which number did you pick, how long did it last, and would you pick the same one again?