Date of manufacture and decryption of the Varta battery

Varta batteries are renowned for their reliability, they are chosen by most motorists around the world, but still you can occasionally hear that the battery died literally in 2-3 years. There may be several reasons:

1. Manufacturing defects. No one is safe from this and in the event of a marriage, you will need to replace the battery.
2. Incorrect operation. We read the instructions and take care of the device.
3. Stale battery. You can buy a brand new battery in the store, but in fact it will be several years old. In order not to fall into such a situation, you need to know the release date.

Why you need to know the Varta battery label

All Varta batteries are marked on the case. From it you can determine the batch number, by whom it was made, at which plant, on which conveyor, in which country and what number. In the event of a defect, the manufacturer can easily determine which batch failed and can quickly recall all the batteries.

For the average consumer, this code is also very useful, as it allows you to find out the exact release date. After all, it takes some time from the assembly line to the installation of the battery on the car. From several weeks to several years. All this time, he can lie on the shelves undergoing seasonal changes in temperature. He could be transported throughout the country, as a result of which he received mechanical micro damage from vibration. Even if all this time he remained in the equipped warehouse, all the same, his chemical processes took place in it. All this reduces battery life.

In order not to get into a similar situation, you need to be able to decipher the markings on the battery. An unpleasant feature of Varta batteries may be that after 2014 their markings have changed, so you first need to determine which generation the battery belongs to, and only then proceed to decryption.

Where is the Varta battery marking located?

Above, on the case cover, the VIN code of the product is melted. This is the marking. It can be of 2 types:

1. 13 characters in the form of numbers and letters, following one after another;
2. Numbers and letters broken into two groups. The breakdown is as follows: 9 characters - space - 4 more characters.

For us, only the first 9 characters matter.

What do the symbols mean and how to decipher them

In order not to buy expired goods, you need to see what is written on the cover of the product. The decoding of the characters is as follows:

1. Letter (No. 1) - decryption of the country of the battery manufacturing plant:
   • A - Austria, Vienna;
   • C - Czech Republic, Ceska Lipa;
   • E - Spain, Burgos;
   • G - Spain, Guardamar;
   • F (R) - France, Rouen;
   • H - Germany, Hanover;
   • S - France, city of Sargemin;
   • Z - Germany, Zwickau
2. Digit (No. 1) - number of the conveyor on which the device was manufactured;
3. Letter (No. 2) - the symbol indicates for which direction the battery is intended:
   • E - for installation on a vehicle during its assembly;
   • V - for sale in a retail network.
4. Figure (No. 2) indicates the year when the battery was produced;
5. Digit (No. 3 and No. 4) shows the month of manufacture:
   • 81 (01) - January;
   • 82 (02) - February;
   • 83 (03) - March;
   • 84 (04) - April;
   • 85 (05) - May;
   • 86 (06) - June;
   • 87 (07) - July;
   • 88 (08) - August;
   • 89 (09) - September;
   • 90 (10) - October;
   • 91 (11) - November;
   • 92 (12) - December
6. Regarding the numbers under (No. 5 and No. 6), then they indicate the production date (2 digits corresponding to the day of the month);
7. Number 7 allows you to find out the shift number at the manufacturer.

How to find out the battery release date

After 2014, the manufacturer Varta slightly changed the encoding of the VIN code on its batteries. Decryption of the production date has changed - these are the characters in the code from 4 to 6.

Now the following decryption is used:

1. Symbol No. 4 - year of manufacture.
2. Symbol No. 5, No. 6 - figures of the month of production:
   • 17 - January;
   • 18 - February;
   • 19 - March;
   • 20 - April;
   • 53 - corresponds to May;
   • 54 - June;
   • 55 - July;
   • 56 - August;
   • 57 - indicates September;
   • 58 - October;
   • 59 - November;
   • 60 - December, respectively.

It is not recommended to take a stale battery, as it may not have the declared characteristics.

Sample for batteries released before 2014.

On the car battery it says: C4V9060710234. The decoding is as follows: Czech Republic production / 4 conveyor / for sale in the retail network / manufactured in 2009 / in June / 07 numbers / 1 shift.

Sample for batteries released after 2014.

On the car battery it says: C4V7591331573. The decoding is as follows: Czech Republic production / 4 conveyor / for sale in the retail network / manufactured in 2017 / in November / 13 numbers / 3 shift.

On batteries issued for car dealers and car factories, the manufacturer Varta indicates the date of manufacture on the negative terminal in the form: 2 digits above, 2 digits below. These numbers determine the release date:

• upper 2 digits - week in a year in order;
• bottom 2 digits - last digits of the year of manufacture

Four-digit encoding since 2015

Since 2015, they began to add a four-digit marking to the battery case, it is decrypted as follows:

First character. The year and month from the table below (the main problem, if you have a battery for several years, it will be very difficult to determine the real month of the year).

Second character. The factory where the battery is made. E - Burgos (Spain), G - Guardamar (Spain), C - Cesca Lipa (Czech Republic), H - Hanover (Germany), Z - Zwickau (Germany), F - Sargemin (France).

The third character. Production day.

Fourth character. Shift number.

It turns out if there is a marking Yhcc, then it can be decrypted: Made in Hanover (Germany), March 12, 2017 by changing the number 1/3. On the other hand, this marking can be translated as: Made in Hanover (Germany), January 12, 2015 by changing the number 1/3.

How long does a Varta battery last?

Varta battery life is 5-6 years. But in order that this device does not bring hassle for the entire period of operation - it must be monitored and periodically serviced.

Battery life depends on the following factors:

• region of operation (severe frosts and extreme heat reduce the service life);
• battery model;
• Operating conditions;
• attitude of the vehicle owner to the device.

How to extend battery life

To extend the life of the energy source, you must follow these recommendations:

1. Keep the battery clean, clean it from dirt and dust. The terminals must be cleaned from oxidation and lubricated with anti-corrosion grease.
2. Keep an eye on the electrical equipment of the vehicle. There should not be exposed wires anywhere. Constant self-discharge quickly disables the battery.
3. The battery must be firmly fixed to the vehicle. In the case of constant chattering and vibration, its lead plates may crumble, which will render the device unusable.
4. A significant battery discharge should not be allowed especially in the winter.
5. For prolonged shutdowns of a car, the battery must be disconnected or stored in a room with a temperature above zero.
6. The battery needs to be recharged once every 4 months - in the warm season and once every 2 months - in the winter season.

Charging is carried out with a current equal to 10% of the battery capacity. That is, if the battery capacity is 55 Ampere / hour, then the charge is produced with a current of 5.5 A / h.Charging time depends on the degree of discharge and battery capacity. On average, this process is about 8 hours.