The battery is a very important component of a car. Regular battery testing can ensure it’s ready to start your vehicle under all conditions. Your vehicle’s entire system depends on it and proper maintenance. To keep your best car battery in perfect condition, it’s essential to know how to test a car battery. If you haven’t tried it before, don’t worry. Here, we will present 6 amazing ways to do it.
How to Test a Car Battery in 6 Interesting Ways
Regularly testing the car’s batteries and electrical systems helps your car function correctly and reduces the risk of breakdowns. Here are the 6 most common ways to check your car battery.
#1. Voltmeter
To understand how to test a car battery, knowing how to use a voltmeter is very important. There are 2 types of voltmeters you can select to test your battery. One is analog and the other is a digital voltmeter. The best solution is to choose a digital voltmeter, as it is easier to read and gives you a precise measurement. However, there are certain things drivers should know:
First, carefully check your car’s ignition before the procedure. Ensure the car’s ignition key and all lights are turned off. Second, car owners must remove the cover from the battery’s positive terminals, check these terminals, and clean them properly. Third, always remember that the voltmeter’s positive wire must be connected to the battery’s positive terminal, which is red. Meanwhile, the voltmeter’s negative wire is connected to your battery’s negative terminal, which is mostly black. Fourth, after completing these parts, you can see that the voltmeter will display results based on the battery’s condition. Volts from 12.4 to 12.7 indicated that the vehicle’s battery was in good condition.
In the voltmeter result, when you see a value lower than 12.4 volts, it means your battery is weak and needs to be recharged to improve. If the value is below 12.2, slowly charge your battery and check again following the same steps. On the other hand, if the value is above 12.9, it indicates your battery has an overvoltage. So try turning on the high beams to remove the excessive voltage charge.
To learn more, watch this video on how to check a car battery with a voltmeter or multimeter.
#2. Ammeter
The ammeter is normally used to measure any flow. In many vehicles, the ammeter is pre-installed, which is very helpful and useful.
It tells you the battery’s charge status. This meter also informs whether the charge is entering or leaving the battery. This lets you know if the alternator is charging the battery or not, due to the heavy load. It will give an accurate indication of the battery’s good condition. If the charge is ridiculously low, you will then be sure the battery is weakening. When learning how to test a car battery, drivers need this tool because it gives much faster results than a voltmeter.
Watch the video explaining how to use an ammeter to test your car battery.
#3. Battery Health Indicator
The battery health indicator is usually pre-installed in many vehicles. If you want to know how to test a car battery, this is one of the most important devices. Old cars don’t have it installed, but it can be installed if you wish.
The round glass cover indicates the battery’s condition, and based on this, you can maintain your battery.
By turning on the ignition, the arrow will point near the division between the red and green bands. When the circle is green in color, your battery is in good health. The red circle indicates your battery is operating with a lower charge and needs to be given a proper charge to function normally.
When you see dark black or clear color, it means the battery is depleted or discharged and you need to replace it quickly.
Watch this video for a clearer understanding
#4. Power Probe
A power probe test device is a faster way to know how to test a car battery. It’s a simpler way to test a car battery than a voltmeter:
To start, drivers must remove the cover from the battery’s positive terminals. After that, the device’s positive wire connects to your battery’s positive terminal. Then, connect the Power Probe’s negative wire to the negative terminal. The probe’s tip is then attached to the battery’s positive terminal. Finally and most importantly, if the battery is below 12.2 or above 12.9, we recommend following the steps mentioned above in the voltmeter method. Areas where the weather is mostly cold will be particularly beneficial for the power probe.
You can have a clearer view of how to test the car battery with Power Probe by watching the video below.
#5. A Hydrometer Check
A fluid device for measuring the battery is known as a hydrometer. This is used to measure the battery’s specific gravity to determine its state of charge. It also determines the strength or weakness of the battery acid or fluid. However, this method is useless for knowing your battery’s capacity.
Generally, a fully charged battery, when tested by a hydrometer, should have a specific gravity between 1.265 and 1.299 at 80°F (26.7°C). Use the manufacturer’s specifications for your specific battery to determine the acceptable range of specific gravity readings. If the readings are below the acceptable range, it may indicate a weak or discharged battery.
Capacity depends on the number of plates present in each cell. If any of these plates are damaged, the cell’s capacity is affected. For a sealed battery, this method might not work.
However, please note that testing a car battery with a hydrometer provides a general indication of the battery’s health status. For a more accurate assessment, you might consider using a battery load tester or consulting a professional mechanic.
#6. How to Test a Car Battery with a Battery Load Tester
You must check that the terminal is disconnected from the battery. The positive fine gauge of a battery load tester must be connected to the battery’s positive output.
Later, the negative wire will need to be connected to the negative output. Keep in mind that some battery cable testers don’t have a negative output, but there is a pin connector on the other side of the tool. You must touch the car battery’s negative output if you have a pin connector. The tool will not work for more than 5 seconds and later, it will connect to a car battery. There will be sparks when the car battery touches the pin connector. This means everything is going as it should.
The voltage rate will drop to 10-10.5 V if the battery is in good condition. The voltage drops to 9 V, meaning you will soon need to replace the battery with a new one.
Conclusion
Here are the 6 most useful ways to test a car battery for you. Perform regular checks on your car battery to avoid any problems and also to extend your car battery’s lifespan. Let us know if these techniques work for you.