robavery
Well-Known Member
Any ideas on battery load testers?? I see Draper do one rated at 100amp but somewhat confused as to what the max amp/hr battery this can handle. Will this cope with my 135amp/ah service batteries
Battery Load Testing
- Thread starter robavery
- Start date
Channel Ribs
Well-Known Member
Are you testing single items of equipment or overall load at the battery/bank?
robavery
Well-Known Member
I will test each battery separately
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
It puts a 100Amp load on the battery and you read the voltage. This gives some idea of battery condition and will work reasonably well on most automative an leisure type batteries. You can do the bame thing for no cost by monitoring the battery voltage while you crank the engine. These methods are resonably effective but not as good as a proper battery analyser
robavery
Well-Known Member
I think I possibly have a dead cell in one or more batteries. A basic load test would show if that were the case??
VicS
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I think I possibly have a dead cell in one or more batteries
[/ QUOTE ] A hydrometer should identify duff cells. Assuming the batteries are not sealed so preventing the use of one.
Measuring the voltage with a digital meter gives a very good indication of the overall state of the batteries. Charge them fully, isolate them from each other, and check the volts after 12 hours with no load or further charging. >12.7 is good 12.5 past their prime, <12.5 knackered. Also worth checking again after a week if possible. A good battery will still be reading well over 12.6.
I think I possibly have a dead cell in one or more batteries
[/ QUOTE ] A hydrometer should identify duff cells. Assuming the batteries are not sealed so preventing the use of one.
Measuring the voltage with a digital meter gives a very good indication of the overall state of the batteries. Charge them fully, isolate them from each other, and check the volts after 12 hours with no load or further charging. >12.7 is good 12.5 past their prime, <12.5 knackered. Also worth checking again after a week if possible. A good battery will still be reading well over 12.6.
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
Put a known good battery in place and do the cranking test I described and compare to what you've got. You need to measure at the battery terminals by the way. You should read 9 to 10Volts while cranking. I do suggest you try the no load voltage as described as well, you should read at around 12-13Volts depending on various factors.
VicS
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Put a known good battery in place.............
[/ QUOTE ] Its a sound idea but not everyone has a "known good battery" of the same size sitting around waiting. I know, borrow one but from whom?
Agreed, measure the volts at the terminal posts themselves but another check at the starter motor will show up any voltage drops due to poor connections.
Put a known good battery in place.............
[/ QUOTE ] Its a sound idea but not everyone has a "known good battery" of the same size sitting around waiting. I know, borrow one but from whom?
Agreed, measure the volts at the terminal posts themselves but another check at the starter motor will show up any voltage drops due to poor connections.
alldownwind
Well-Known Member
Why buy your own? Take the batts to the nearest auto battery shop, they will load-test them for you for nothing.