G
Gerry OGrady
Guest
28 March 2004 7:36 AM
Battery Condition Testing
I have a 2 year old 140 Amp Hour Energizer battery with 1000 cold cranking
amps. It starts the Massey Tractor easily at 50 deg F but it has begun
charging at 30-35 amps continuously for as long as the engine is running.
The water level is slowly dropping in the battery but does look like it is
spewing it out like a constant 30 amp rate would seem to indicate. A
digital Voltmeter reads 14.9 volts at the 35 amp charge rate at the battery
terminals (50 deg F) with all leads connected and the engine running.
This didn't sound right so I replaced this battery with an older one and
the battery voltage reading was approximately the same 14.7 volts but the
current shows it settling down to a charge rate approximately 5 amps after
30 seconds running. I took the battery to the retailer (3years free
replacement) they completed a back room test and said the battery was low
and needs charging (after I had just removed it from the tractor that had
an indicated charging rate of 30 + amps at 14.9 volts). The battery was very
warm to the touch after they charged it for 2 hours. On arriving home I
tested the battery voltage and it was 12.29 volts at 50 F. I was a little
leery of their methods, so I let the battery set overnight on my workbench
and tested the battery in the morning. The temp was 40 deg F and the battery
voltage reads 11.84 volts with no leads connected. This does not look right.
Note: the older I battery I installed to test the system, remained in the
tractor overnight and still read 12.42 volts in the morning.
What should I be telling the store the next time I return it? Thanks for
any info provided.
Cheers ...Gerry
Battery Condition Testing
I have a 2 year old 140 Amp Hour Energizer battery with 1000 cold cranking
amps. It starts the Massey Tractor easily at 50 deg F but it has begun
charging at 30-35 amps continuously for as long as the engine is running.
The water level is slowly dropping in the battery but does look like it is
spewing it out like a constant 30 amp rate would seem to indicate. A
digital Voltmeter reads 14.9 volts at the 35 amp charge rate at the battery
terminals (50 deg F) with all leads connected and the engine running.
This didn't sound right so I replaced this battery with an older one and
the battery voltage reading was approximately the same 14.7 volts but the
current shows it settling down to a charge rate approximately 5 amps after
30 seconds running. I took the battery to the retailer (3years free
replacement) they completed a back room test and said the battery was low
and needs charging (after I had just removed it from the tractor that had
an indicated charging rate of 30 + amps at 14.9 volts). The battery was very
warm to the touch after they charged it for 2 hours. On arriving home I
tested the battery voltage and it was 12.29 volts at 50 F. I was a little
leery of their methods, so I let the battery set overnight on my workbench
and tested the battery in the morning. The temp was 40 deg F and the battery
voltage reads 11.84 volts with no leads connected. This does not look right.
Note: the older I battery I installed to test the system, remained in the
tractor overnight and still read 12.42 volts in the morning.
What should I be telling the store the next time I return it? Thanks for
any info provided.
Cheers ...Gerry