http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=644wU-2mYzA

Interstate Batteries® is proud to sponsor Mike and his ministry. (By the way, the music in the video is “Heaven in the Real World” by Steven Curtis Chapman.)

Image by holdit via Flickr

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• Interstate Racing — Mike Edwards (interstateracing.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Sp0jgNlFM

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• Coach Joe Gibbs Gives His Pick for the Big Game (blogbattery.com)
• “One Question for Kyle” Winners (blogbattery.com)

Anyway, we asked Coach who he picks to win the game, and this is what he told us:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H13HxgrvqQ

Who’s your pick?

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• What’s Your One Question for Kyle? (blogbattery.com)
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Wow! We asked you what your one question for Kyle Busch would be if given the chance, and we received loads of suggestions. Here are the questions with the most retweets and likes.

Most retweeted

@interstatebatts how much work are u gonna make Kurt do & how much will u boss him around now that he’s your employee? #KyleQ

— Annie Airwolf (@Nascar_Airwolf) January 27, 2012

Congratulations, Annie! Although we didn’t get to ask him that question Monday night, you do win an autographed T-shirt. Way to go!

Most “liked” on Facebook

Matt, that’s a great question, too. You win an autographed hat.

Annie and Matt, check your email/Facebook mail for a message from us explaining how to claim your prizes.

Everyone else, stay tuned to our blog, Twitter and Facebook channels to see the interviews with Kyle, Samantha Busch and Coach Joe Gibbs.

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• What’s Your One Question for Kyle? (blogbattery.com)

Team Interstate’s James “Bubba” Stewart captured his first victory of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship season Saturday night in Oakland and dedicated the win to his personal mechanic, who died this week in a roadside accident.

Stewart and fellow JGRMX rider Davi Millsaps both transferred easily into the main event with Stewart winning his fourth consecutive heat race. In the main event Stewart began the race in fourth, moving into third by the end of the first lap, with Millsaps going from ninth to sixth in the same span. By the third lap Stewart was in second stalking the leader, with Millsaps sixth.

Just before the halfway mark on lap nine Stewart took the lead. He would lead the remaining 11 laps to claim his first victory of the 2012 season, with Millsaps seventh.

After the race Stewart said, “I got two good starts tonight, and just took my time, it was a long race and I felt good tonight, I don’t know what to say, it was good. I appreciate all of the fans for sticking with me, it was a rough three weeks for us but it was definitely good to come back at Oakland and get a victory. This victory is for the race team and everyone sticking with us, but I want to give a shout out and dedicate this for Tex, my practice mechanic who passed away this week, so this is for him. Tex we love you and you will never be forgotten.”

Round five of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will be Feb. 4 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif. CBS will air the original broadcast from Anaheim at noon (EST) on Feb 5.

Imagine getting the chance to ask Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch any question you want. Lucky for us here at BlogBattery, we get that opportunity. Only problem, we are cracking under the pressure. (OK, not really. Do we seem like the type of people who struggle to find the words?) But we do want to hear from our faithful BlogBattery, Facebook and Twitter fans. Tweet your questions with hashtag #KyleQ, leave them in the comments section on this BlogBattery post or ask it on our Facebook page. Not only will we take our most creative, retweeted and liked questions straight to Kyle this weekend, but we’ll give autographed prizes to the Facebooker and, um, tweeter whose questions are the most liked and retweeted. You have until Sunday night to submit your questions. Now, go!

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• A Quotable 20 Years With Joe Gibbs Racing (blogbattery.com)
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• Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing (joegibbsracing.com)

Every once in a while, newscasters are tempted to cover their sports coat with a lab coat and attempt to identify the best battery. Often times, these scientific experiments involve running different brands of batteries in toys that light up and make noise.

We have all seen these segments. First, the newscaster talks about saving money or asks the confounding question: which battery lasts longest? Then we see a close-up of the toy, preferably a clapping monkey or dog that flips. Next, statistics such as which battery types were used, how long they ran and how much they cost flash on the screen. Finally, the segment ends with the newscaster or a cameo from a scientist from a local university identifying the best battery for your buck.

Want an example? Watch the video below. We’ll wait.

And here is a study courtesy of CBS News.

Not to be outdone, Lifehacker posts this study by Wired magazine.

If these studies really were accurate, shouldn’t one battery always win?

In defense of the news stations, batteries are complicated. There are so many marketing terms and differentiations that choosing a battery often leaves even the savviest Blog Battery readers with their heads spinning.

(Check out a recent post in which we outlined the best tips to keep your devices running longer.)

A primate percussionist isn't the best judge of battery power.

However, seeing which battery can keep a clapping monkey toy running longer is not a scientific study on which to trust. Calculating which battery is best and assuming it applies to every device is unrealistic. Some batteries work better in high drain situations, others in low drain. Some are alkaline, others lithium or nickel-cadmium (NiCad).

So, what questions should you ask in these “scientific studies?”

First, which chemistries are being tested? Lithium-ion batteries often last longer than alkalines because they are built to last longer.  Assuming a test used only alkaline batteries, the battery’s capacity is still not determined by how long it can make a dog toy flip.

Next, are they high-drain specific or better for low drains? What about the toy? Does it need a lot of power, like a camera flash, or does it only use a little power at a more consistent rate, like a clock? All these questions and more determine which battery will work best in that particular device.

Technically speaking, batteries’ capacities are determined by the total number of hours a battery can provide 25 milli-amps continuously at 80 degrees before the voltage reaches 0.8 volts per cell. Then multiply the total hours by 25.

What? That confused you? Yeah, me too – I guess that is why news teams use clapping monkeys. Simply speaking, don’t trust so-called scientific studies. Instead, identify what works best for your device. Use the recommendations outlined by the product manufacturer, and if all else fails, ask the experts by posting a comment below.

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Some basic battery maintenance can keep you battery from freezing and failing this winter. Gale Kimbrough, Interstate Batteries technical services manager, has several tips in the video above. Feel like reading? Here are 10 steps every driver should have on the winter battery checklist:

1. Have the vehicle battery tested at every oil change.
2. Always choose the appropriate battery for your vehicle, paying specific attention to batteries recommended for harsh winter regions.
3. Consider replacing the battery if it is approaching 3 to 5 years old; this is the average life of a battery depending on climate.
4. Use a battery charger to maintain charge levels and keep the battery in good condition. A fully charged battery will not freeze until -76° F; however, a fully discharged battery could start to freeze at 32° F.
5. Secure all connections on the battery and check for signs of corrosion. If possible, have the connections checked by a professional.
6. Inspect the battery case for signs of extreme bulging, cracking or leaking. If signs are present, it’s time to replace it.
7. Avoid damage to the battery by keeping connections tight with a snug-fitting battery in the battery tray.
8. If the battery is not a sealed model, check the fluid levels using distilled water to fill any cells that appear low.
9. Always wear protective eyewear, remove all jewelry and wear long sleeves to protect the skin.
10. Whenever possible, keep the vehicle in a garage overnight, especially in areas with extremely harsh winter conditions.

The Interstate Batteries ED-18® Battery Analyzer tells your battery's state of health within seconds.

In just 30 seconds, Interstate All Battery Centers and Firestone can provide you with a free printout analysis of the your battery’s condition. Many of our independent dealers can do this, too. To find more information and an All Battery Center or Interstate Batteries dealer, visit interstatebatteries.com or interstatebatteries.mobi.

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• Winter Battery Car Care Tips (allbatteryfranchise.com)
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Via www.valleynewslive.com

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Lifehacker tells us how often you should charge your gadget's battery.

We stumbled upon this article from Lifehacker the other day and thought it was too good not to share: How Often Should I Charge My Gadget’s Battery to Prolong Its Lifespan?

We recommend you read the article, as it takes much of its information from Battery University, a great resource for battery-related information. (Note: Battery University is maintained by Cadex, which supplies battery analyzers and chargers to many of our Distributors and Interstate All Battery Centers.)

We recommend you pay attention to two points in particular:

1. Don’t overcharge your battery. Take your device off the charger when it’s full.
2. Don’t leave your battery discharged. The battery will essentially kill itself if you leave it sitting discharged and unused for a long time.

Read the article and let us know what you think in the comments below. Do you have any battery questions you need answered? Ask us, and we’ll answer in a future post.

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