Associated Equipment 6042 - Manual (Page 4)

USE THIS SECTION FOR BATTERY
TESTING IF YOU’RE 12/24 VOLT
SYSTEM LOOK SIMILAR TO THIS:
„ One six volt battery by itself cannot be tested with
this unit. It will not provide enough power under load
to allow the digital circuitry to work.
„ Please note: When two six volt batteries are
connected in series, the voltage of the array is 12.
The CCA rating of the series does not double. It is
the same CCA as either of the individual batteries.
(If you have two, 500 CCA, 6 volt batteries in series,
it is equivalent to a 500 CCA, 12 volt battery and
should be tested with a 250 amp load.)
„ Both the heavy duty and light gauge leads will be
used in this test.
1)
Attach the positive heavy duty lead to the
positive terminal of Battery 1 and the negative
heavy duty lead to the negative terminal of Battery 2.
2) The light gauge leads will be used to read voltages across
Battery 1, the cable connection, and Battery 2, so the
VOLTS switch should be in the EXT position.
3) Apply the proper load to the batteries for 15 seconds. At
that time and with the load on, read the voltage of Battery
1 (red lead to positive, black lead to negative), the cable
jumper (red lead to Battery 1, negative and black lead to
Battery 2 positive), and Battery 2 (red lead to positive,
black lead to negative).
4) Turn load off and evaluate the results. Voltage drop
across the cable jumper should be 0.2 volts or less. If
there is any question, check the service manual of the
vehicle. Minimum acceptable voltage for a 6 volt battery
at different temperatures is:
BATTERY TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION 15 SECOND
LOAD TEST
BLACK
LEAD RED
LEAD
FIGURE 5
BATTERY 4
+ -
BATTERY 2 BATTERY 1
6V
BATTERY 3
6V
+ -
6V
+ -
6V
+ -
4
°C
21
↑ 10 2 -4 -9 -15
°F
70
↑ 50 35 25 15 5
MIN.
VOLT
4.8 4.7 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.3
„
Please note that the test described above is not the easiest
way to run a test on two batteries in series, but it is the most
accurate. If you were to test the batteries and take only one
voltage reading from the positive terminal of Battery 1 to the
negative terminal of Battery 2, there are problems that could
remain hidden or cause excessive replacement costs.
„ The voltage read under load from the positive terminal of
Battery 1 to the negative terminal of Battery 2 is the sum of the
voltage drops across Batteries 1, 2, and the cable jumper.
„ Total voltage = B1 voltage + B2 voltage + jumper voltage drop.
„ If you had two good batteries and a bad jumper connection, the
total voltage may be less than acceptable. If the batteries were
replaced, the new ones may test bad due to the bad
connection. Replacing or cleaning a bad jumper cable is
cheaper and easier than replacing batteries if that is all that is
needed.
In another situation, you may have one good battery, a good
jumper connection, and one bad battery. If the good battery
voltage is high enough to offset the bad battery voltage, you
will have no indication of the potential problem. If the good
battery voltage is not high enough to offset the bad battery
voltage, the group may test bad and both batteries replaced
when only one of the needs to be.
TESTING 24 VOLT SYSTEMS:
„ 24 volt batteries may be tested by the same
procedure as described for 12 volt batteries. The
minimum acceptable voltages will be twice what is
listed for 12 volt batteries.
„ LOAD TESTS ON 24 VOLT BATTERIES SHOULD
BE LIMITED TO 300 AMPS FOR 15 SECONDS.
„ Higher currents or longer times may shorten carbon
pile life.
JUMPER
FIGURE 6
B1 VOLTAGE
6V 6V
BATTERY 2
+ -
BATTERY 1
+ -
B2 VOLTAGE
24 VOLT
FIGURE 7
+ -