Load Testing A Battery
User comments:
[2012-04-27 04:54:09] mrkyle427 - A fully charged ...
A fully charged battery reads between 12.6 & 12.8 volts. Any higher than 12.8 volts means the electrolytes are excited in the battery and is known as a service charge at which a small load should be applied to the battery for 15 seconds, not 10. A proper battery load test should meet a minimum of half of the CCA rating and volts should not drop below 9.6 volts while doing this, not just 9. If your gonna do something do it once, do it right.
[2012-04-06 20:24:14] ICUC007 - others have said I ...others have said I can do a load test with a volt meter, by cranking the engine and watch to see if the voltage drops below 9, in which case the battery would be bad. I did that test, and the voltmeter rose from 12.46v. , up to around 14 when I cranked the engine. Do you know what that means?
[2012-03-15 10:55:32] 31320luis - @EricTheCarGuy i ...@EricTheCarGuy i did a load test on my car and it failed, but my car still runs good and start on the first crank, what should i do?
[2012-03-06 07:04:56] TexansToast - go USAgo USA
[2012-02-11 04:40:03] nootherdon21 - hey eric im ...hey eric im looking to put a battery in my 07 tahoe,one with high amps,ive been hearing about the yellow top optima battery,do you think this is good or do you have any suggestions thx.
[2012-01-19 04:56:05] aseglkj - eric, what do you ...eric, what do you think about desulfators? have you tried them?
[2012-01-04 03:02:28] jjrock5 - Harbor Freight ...Harbor Freight tester! Haha I bought one about an hour ago. I hopei serves me well. I paid $20 plus tax for mine.
[2012-01-04 01:51:56] EricTheCarGuy - Hard to say but ...Hard to say but it's easy enough to test the battery and find out.
[2011-12-25 01:33:08] latana151 - Eric, My car starts ...Eric, My car starts first time everytime in the morning, but if i've recently drove it within the last 2hours , the car cranks over a few times before starting, Do you think this is battery related or fuel related? Any ideas? . Had a new Rotar arm / Distributor car / Spark plugs recentently, and no improvement ,Thanks very much :)
[2011-12-22 20:50:23] EricTheCarGuy - If it's not ...If it's not passing the CCA then yes the battery is bad and should be replaced.
[2011-12-08 10:58:14] nobo631 - I have a question ...I have a question when I go to start my car in the morning, I have power but as soon as I start to crank it over it will start, then die. I'll turn it back over but this time it will just die off. I took my battery to Advance Auto Parts and they ran a check on it. It's rated for 550 CCA but it is only operating at 145 CCA and they said the battery was shot. Is this true? The voltage was right on even when I checked it.
[2011-11-07 19:34:18] EricTheCarGuy - Me too, thanks for ...Me too, thanks for your comment.
[2011-11-01 06:43:03] eddieboy50 - Eric, good info. ...Eric, good info. Thanks, I like to actually see someone using a product before I attempt using it. It keeps me from over thinking the instructions.
[2011-10-31 04:49:39] 2010Reilly - cool thanks ps ...cool thanks ps great video
[2011-10-17 22:30:02] EricTheCarGuy - Panasonic, best ...Panasonic, best batteries I've ever used.
[2011-10-15 11:41:46] 2010Reilly - quick question Eric ...quick question Eric. Its getting cold here and my battery seems to be lacking the oomph that it had its been in the car for about 6 years now and i think this will be its last winter in your opinion what is the best battery you can get with 640 cca for around $100
[2011-09-29 13:27:55] pandurate - Impish? Trying to ...Impish? Trying to make lighthearted humor is different than trying to be like a naughty child. Life is short, but it's long enough to use a dictionary before making silly comments like that.
[2011-09-27 01:04:46] EricTheCarGuy - That is interesting ...That is interesting, I'll have to look into it. Thanks for your comments.
[2011-09-24 19:45:10] pandurate - I forgot to mention ...I forgot to mention--OTC recommends connecting the negative clamp first, then the positive. That goes against all my experience, but that's what they say. Maybe it doesn't matter either way?
[2011-09-24 19:41:11] pandurate - Thanks for the ...Thanks for the info and the laughs. I had an OTC 3182 load tester (130 amp). Pretty nice unit. I hope you never have to play lead in The Phantom of the Opera!
[2011-09-17 03:33:56] EricTheCarGuy - Perhaps you should ...Perhaps you should watch the other videos in the series then. It's my show, I'll be as 'impish' as I like thank you very much. :)
[2011-09-15 14:53:57] posthastey - Dude, life is short ...Dude, life is short...so please just give us the technical info and skip the lame attemps at being impish.
[2011-09-02 21:51:40] EricTheCarGuy - I don't see any ...I don't see any readings for a load test of the battery. You might want to watch the other video I did "Alternator Diagnosis 101" for more tests and info but it is paramount that you load test the battery before doing any other testing. BTW 12.4V is less than the 12.6V the battery should be.
[2011-09-01 16:42:52] ericgohsw - alternator changed- ...alternator changed-battery 1year 2 mths old cranking is weak as the engine feels like its going to die battery voltage measured ( engine off ) 12.4v < after i shut off the engine from driving battery voltage (engine on) 14.4v battery voltage with full load ( 1 HID kit , A/C , Stereo w/ 1 amp no subwoofer ) 12.2-12.6v battery voltage with load while driving ( same as above ) it's about 14.0v - 14.2v What seems to be the problem? A wireman told me that my battery has passed its lifespan..
[2011-08-23 23:57:59] EricTheCarGuy - Depends on which ...Depends on which ones you read but it it's preceded with a CCA then yes.
[2011-08-23 19:10:05] stoneman1975 - What do the load ...What do the load tester numbers 1000, 800, 600, 400, and 200 mean? Cold Cranking Amps?
[2011-01-25 02:34:31] EricTheCarGuy - That may be the ...That may be the case but in order to do an accurate test you really should use a proper load tester, the one I used in this video is actually very affordable. Good luck and thanks for the update.
[2011-01-23 14:46:32] EricTheCarGuy - If you load test it ...If you load test it like in this video you will know for sure but your describing a failed cell. The symptom could also be the result of a poor connection so make sure your batter connections are clean and tight especially if you have those aftermarket terminals where you pinch the wire into the connector, they have a tendency to corrode hear and cause a connection failure.
[2011-01-22 16:42:16] EricTheCarGuy - You really can't " ...You really can't "load test" a battery with a multimeter as it does not have the capability of putting the proper load on the battery. In order to load test you need to use a load tester designed to do just that.
[2011-01-21 03:52:49] bloodieduckies - could I load test ...could I load test my battery using my multimeter?every video it seems they use the dvom thingy and I checked mine with my multimeter because it wouldnt crank,I tried it and it read 11.3 volts when I tried to crank it,Will this hurt my multimeter or is this another correct way if doing it if I dont have that load test thing you have?Thank you and awesome vids you put out.
[2011-01-07 22:51:47] EricTheCarGuy - Those modules can ...Those modules can drain the battery as you say especially if the battery is marginal, when testing for a parasitic draw you need to take this into account and make sure all the systems have gone into sleep mode before you begin your testing this can take up to 30 min or more.
[2011-01-07 00:20:44] joewarcupinhull - I have some info, ...I have some info, wether its relevant or not im not sure xD I was reading a technical bulletin at work, and it said that modules on the vehicle emit certain frequencies that can drain a battery. Bare in mind, i work for Land Rover and the bulletin was about a new Range Rover with dozens of modules on. It was something i just found interesting :)
[2011-01-05 19:45:00] susiemail81 - This car has the ...This car has the battery on the drivers side, in front of the wheel splash shield. Cheers!!
[2010-12-18 16:43:04] EricTheCarGuy - That would be a big ...That would be a big fat no. Your load testing the battery not the electrical system, for load testing the electrical system see Checking a Charging System.
[2010-12-17 07:43:29] hp11208 - dont have the car ...dont have the car running while load testing it?
[2010-12-03 18:54:22] EricTheCarGuy - Chrysler hides ...Chrysler hides their batteries these days, sometimes under the back seat and other times below the headlights behind the fender liner, I'm not exactly sure where it is on yours but I would look in those places.
[2010-12-03 05:10:32] passion1080 - hi mister Eric the ...hi mister Eric the car guy i have a 98 Chrysler cirrus lxi and i cant find the battery do u know where it can be in that particular kind of car cause i dont see it under the hood ...thanks
[2010-10-22 04:47:13] EricTheCarGuy - Either your ...Either your equipment was not connected correctly or your battery isn't good. Check the connections first.