Load Testing

Load Testing

In order to better determine the overall condition of a battery, always perform a load test in conjunction with the specific gravity test.

Special tools, test equipment and auxiliary items







- VAS1979 or VAS5033 battery tester


NOTE: When using the VAS7979 or VAS5033 battery tester, it is not necessary to remove the battery or disconnect the battery cables.


- Follow warnings and safety precautions for lead-acid batteries. Wear protective clothing such as face shield and leather gloves.

Load test procedure
- Switch ignition off.
- Read battery tester operating instructions.







- Observe carefully:
Connect the clamps to the battery terminals as required by the tester instruction manual. The clamps must make good contact with the battery terminals.
- Load current varies depending on battery capacity, set load current on tester appropriately .
See Battery tester operating instructions
- Obtain load current from table below.
- The minimum voltage (the voltage which must be exceeded) varies and can be obtained from the table below.
- The load current and minimum voltage vary depending on the capacity of the battery.

Table







Load test results
- The severe load (ohmic resistance) during this test (high current draw) causes the battery voltage to drop. If the battery is in good condition, the voltage value will only drop to the minimum voltage. The minimum voltage varies and depends on battery capacity and cold cranking amps. Cold cranking amps is understood to be the capacity of the battery in cold weather. Batteries with high cold cranking amps are especially important in vehicles with high compression engines.
- If the battery is faulty or has only a weak charge, the battery voltage will drop off very quickly "voltage collapse" (voltage below 9.0 V). After the test is completed, this low voltage will last for a longer period of time and the voltage will increase only very slowly. Such a battery will no longer reach a usable voltage (no-load voltage). No-Load Voltage, Checking
- A battery with the faults described above does not have the power reserve of an undamaged battery and must be discarded.