Battery maintenance and check...
- Thread starter Da Game
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To fully test a battery you charge it up using an automatic cutoff charger and then wait 24 hours then test with a batery hydrometer mainly looking for differences between cells. Get a good one, not one with the little balls. Also test using a 500 amp load tester (Harbor Freight) where you put a load of 1/2 the CCA for 15 seconds and check the voltage on a temp compensated scale.
As for chargers, I think the Vector ones are the most high tech and best. Walmart seems to have some by Black and Decker (I think) that look identical to Vector.
I would never buy a trickle charger. If you want something you can leave on forever (like all winter) look for a Battery Minder which is a maintainer or float charger.
As for chargers, I think the Vector ones are the most high tech and best. Walmart seems to have some by Black and Decker (I think) that look identical to Vector.
I would never buy a trickle charger. If you want something you can leave on forever (like all winter) look for a Battery Minder which is a maintainer or float charger.
1) I test my battery every day by starting my car.
2) The local autoparts stores test batteries and alternators for free.
3) A good trickle maintainer is the VW solar panel, or equivalent, found on ebay. Any of the 'automatic' or smart chargers work well. Harborfreight has a range of automatic chargers from $10-$60 depending on what you need it to do. If you're feeling wealthy, Pulsetech has some pretty good chargers in the $600 range.
2) The local autoparts stores test batteries and alternators for free.
3) A good trickle maintainer is the VW solar panel, or equivalent, found on ebay. Any of the 'automatic' or smart chargers work well. Harborfreight has a range of automatic chargers from $10-$60 depending on what you need it to do. If you're feeling wealthy, Pulsetech has some pretty good chargers in the $600 range.
Some of the local parts stores test your battery by putting a 50 or a 100 amp load on the battery. Not a very good test if you ask me. Sams Club seems to have a much better machine. So does Sears.
Why not just use a multi-meter and see if it reads close to 13 volts.
I guess the originator of this post needs to tell us what he is really looking to test. A basic test to see if battery is good or bad, or many a more detailed test to see if the battery will make it over the winter when its below zero. A simple voltmeter test will tell if the battery is ok, or maybe less than OK. But if its less than OK, it could just need a charge or could have a bad cell. Even if it says its OK, it might not hold a charge overnight or might not put out much when the temps got cold and the engine needed additional cranking power.
I have a 97 Infiniti Q45, currently the battery is almost 10yrs old. I used a Fluke multimeter and it reads 12.7v... The car starts with no hesitation at all and the lights and accessories all funtion normal. I'm pretty confident it will last through the winter season, but I need to know the better/best method to perform the full range of tests availiable.
I would try either or both of my suggestions for a hydrometer or load test. Or a place that has a high tech battery tester. A hydrometer is maybe $10 and a 500 amp (variable) load tester from Harbor Freight is $50.
The hydrometer only works if you can get the caps off. Some batteries are maint. free.
And I would also plan on a new battery soon. You are overdue.
The hydrometer only works if you can get the caps off. Some batteries are maint. free.
And I would also plan on a new battery soon. You are overdue.
Why bother? Service regularly (if possible), get a new one when it fails. $40 gets you another one anyway...
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40 bucks? Your car runs on a bunch of D cells?
If you accidentally left your headlights on for an hour or two and the battery was still able to start the car then that is proof positive that there is a life left in the battery. I personally use a Conductance Tester which is very easy to use and I monitor the battery health on all the vehicles that I take care of. The tester is not foolproof and is somehow not able to detect sulfation in the batteries of one truck that I maintain but nevertheless is a most useful tool.
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40 bucks? Your car runs on a bunch of D cells?
New Exide battery with 24 mo free replacement is about $40 from Sam's Club. Walmart sells batteries as well for about that price.
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