Battery Test

A battery can explode if you do not follow the proper procedure, causing serious injury to anyone nearby. Follow all procedures carefully and keep sparks and open flames away from the battery.

Test Equipment Required

• Battery Tester with:
  Voltmeter with 0-18 V scale, ammeter with 0-100 A and 0-500 A scales, and a carbon pile with 0-300 W
  
• 12 V Battery Charger:
  Fast charge capability of 50 A and slow charge capability of 5 A
  

Test Procedure

1.	Check for damage: If the case is cracked or the terminals are loose, replace the battery.

2.	Check indicator (for basic charge condition): Blue or Green is OK. If the indicator is red, peel the tape off, remove the caps, and add distilled water; then reinstall the caps and tape. If the indicator is clear, go to 3.

3.

Test battery load capacity by connecting a battery tester, and applying a load of three times the battery ampere hour rating. When the load has been applied for exactly 15 seconds, the battery voltage reading should stay above 9.6 V. If the reading stays above 9.6 V, the battery is OK; clean its terminals and case, and reinstall it. If the reading is between 6.5 and 9.6 V, connect a battery charger and charge the battery for 3 minutes at an initial rate of 40 amps. Amperage will drop as voltage increases; do not increase the amperage to compensate or you may damage the battery. Watch the battery voltage during the entire 3 minutes; the highest reading should stay below 15.5 V. If the reading stays below 15.5 V, the battery is OK; clean its terminals and case, and reinstall it. If the reading exceeds 15.5 V any time during the 3 minutes of fast charge, the battery is not good; replace it. If the reading drops below 6.5 V, slow-charge the battery by connecting a battery, and charge at 5 amps for no more than 24 hours (or until the indicator shows full charge, or the specific gravity of the electrolyte is at least 1.270). Then test load capacity again. If the voltage stays above 9.6 V, the battery is OK; clean its terminals and case, and reinstall it. If the voltage still drops below 6.5 V, the battery is not good; replace it.