Battery - Test Procedure Using Rotunda Battery Tester
83ford18Article No. 83-8-2
BATTERY - TEST PROCEDURE USING ROTUNDA BATTERY TESTER
FORD ALL YEARS - ALL VEHICLES
LINCOLN-MERCURY ALL YEARS - ALL VEHICLES
LIGHT TRUCKS ALL YEARS - ALL VEHICLES
MEDIUM/HEAVY TRUCKS ALL YEARS - ALL VEHICLES
The shop manual allows the testing of batteries by the use of either a Christie Tester, Rotunda part number 41-0002, or a variable load tester equivalent to the Rotunda Battery Starter Tester 02-0204.
The model T-3 Christie tester, which was available through 1981, is designed for quick tests and has a fixed load which results in batteries of all sizes being discharged at approximately the same rate. Therefore, small batteries are subjected to a more severe test than larger batteries. The new model T-8 Christie tester, which was introduced in 1982 under the same part number, also has a fixed load, but the reading is adjusted to compensate for battery size and temperature.
With a variable load tester, such as Rotunda tester 02-0204, the discharge rate is based on the battery size and is equivalent to 50% of the cold cranking rating at 0~ F a variable load tester offers more accurate testing on marginal batteries.
While the test results obtained with the two tests on the same battery will agree in most cases, there may be instances with marginal batteries when the results will not agree. If this should occur, the results obtained with the variable load tester, such as Rotunda tester 02-0204, should be relied on as the most accurate and should be used in determining the condition of the battery.
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: None
WARRANTY STATUS: "INFORMATION ONLY"