CAPACITY OF A BATTERY

The quantity of electricity which a battery can

deliver during single discharge until its
terminal voltage falls to 1.8 V per cell is called
the capacity of a battery.

The capacity of battery or cell is expressed in
ampere-hours and denoted by AH.
CHARGE INDICATION
A fully charged battery has a specific gravity of
1.28. However when it falls to 1.15, the battery is
fully discharged. To get good life of battery keep
the specific gravity more than 1.18.
Specific gravity Condition
1.280 to 1.290 100 % charged
1.230 to 1.250 75 % charged
1.190 to 1.200 50 % charged
1.150 to 1.160 25 % charged
Below 1.130 Fully discharged
Battery Ratings
Batteries are rated 4 ways:
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps)
CA (Cranking Amps)
RC (Reserve Capacity)
AH (Ampere Hour)
CCA
Cold Cranking Amps
Indicates the ability of a battery to deliver a
specified current at a low temperature.
It is determined by the amount of current a
fully charged battery can supply for 30
seconds at 0F without the voltage falling
below 7.2 Volts
CA
Cranking Amps
This is the same test as the CCA rating, except
it is at a higher temperature (32F instead of
0F)
RC
Reserve Capacity
It determines the time in minutes a vehicle
can be driven after the charging system fails
The length of time a fully charged battery (at
80F) can supply 25 Amps before the voltage
falls below 10.5 Volts
AH
Ampere Hour
The amount of current a fully charged battery
(at 80F) can supply for 20 hours without
having the voltage fall below 10.5 Volts
Hydrometer
with float
with balls
HYDROMETER

To check the specific gravity of sulphuric acid , an
instrument called hydrometer is used. Which works on
Archmedeies principle.
However the state of battery can be checked by
checking :
1. Voltage : When the terminal voltage is 2.1 to 2.5 V
per cell, the battery is fully charged. But when it
become 1.8 V per cell, the battery is fully discharged.
2. Colors of plates : When battery is fully charged , the
anode is of chocolate color and cathode is of grey
color. When battery is fully discharged the color of
both plates is whitish.
Voltage Tests Open Circuit
Turn on the headlights for 2 minutes
Turn off the headlights and connect a voltmeter
to the battery, red lead to positive, black to
negative
If the battery is good, it will read above 12.2
volts
If below that, charge the
battery
Load Test Connections
Make sure the battery is fully charged
Connect the red lead or the VAT-40 to the
positive terminal
Connect the black lead to the negative
terminal
Clamp the green clamp over the black lead
VAT-40 Connections
Load Testing
Turn the Load Increase control until the
ammeter reads 3 times the amp-hour
(AH) rating or one-half the cold-cranking
ampere (CCA) rating
Hold that reading for 15 seconds
Read voltmeter
A good battery will read at or above 9.6
volts
Battery should be at 70F
Case Drain Tests
Uses a voltmeter with the black lead hooked
to the negative
Use the red lead to touch the case in the
middle of the battery
It should read less than 0.5 volts
A larger reading indicates you should clean the
top of the battery with hot water and
detergent
Parasitic Drain Test
Remove the negative cable
Hook a test light between the negative post
and the cable
If the light glows, there is a problem in the
electrical system
Look for lights on inside the truck or trailer or
the regulator is bad
Cable Corrosion Test
Using a voltmeter, hook the black lead to the
negative post, and the red lead to the cable
connector while turning on the headlights
Reading should be 0 volts
Do the same
with the
positive post
and cable