RE: [DML] Re: question about battery life

["John Hervey" <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dave, Using the starter as a load is smart way of checking the battery. Here
is some additional information from a local GM expert that writes the books
on battery and charging systems and teaches around the country.
I took his 1/2 day course and it was wonderful.

The ( OCV ) Test. ( Open Circuit voltage). Evaluates the battery State of
charge.
#1.Charge the battery over night.
#2.Next morning, with battery hooked up just put a DMM across the battery
terminals and
   get a voltage check.
#3.If it's above 12.66 volts, then turn on the lights for about a minuet to
bleed off surface voltage and read again. Here is what the battery condition
is by doing this test.

12.66=100% State of charge
12.58=90%
12.51=80%
12.45=70%
12.35=60%
12.28=50%
12.20=40%
12.12=30%

If your battery isn't holding a 12.66 or a little higher voltage, then it's
on it way out. That doesn't mean it's going out tomorrow but it's going
down. This is also what causes an alternator to go out. It's trying to
charge the battery that can't be charged, so it working all the time to do
so. Overheats and burns up the regulator.

John Hervey
www.specialtauto.com

http://www.veejer.com/







-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Stragand [mailto:dave.stragand@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 3:58 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Re: question about battery life


The "poor man's" test of battery condition is fairly quick and simple:

1)  Charge the battery
2)  Disconnect the primary coil wire
3)  Hook a voltmeter up across the battery
4)  Crank the car for 10 seconds.

If the battery drops below 10.125 volts, it's usually toast.

-Dave

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




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