Current Draw Test

Current Draw Test

CAUTION!
Risk of injury. Observe warning notes and safety precautions. Refer to => [ Battery Safety Precautions ] Battery Safety Precautions and => [ Battery Safety Designation ] Battery Safety Designation!

CAUTION!
Batteries that have a colorless or light yellow visual indicator do not have to be tested or charged. Jump starting must not be used!

There is a risk of explosion during testing, charging or jump starting.

These batteries must be replaced.

CAUTION!
In order to prevent damage to the battery or vehicle, observe battery type descriptions and notes. Refer to => [ Battery with Charge Indicator ] Battery With Charge Indicator or => [ AGM Battery ] AGM Battery.

• Make sure the correct charging mode is set on the charger so the current draw test is not inaccurate.

• VAS 5903, refer to => [ Battery Charger VAS 5903 ] Battery Charger VAS 5903

In order to receive an indication as quickly as possible of the battery condition of discharged batteries, a conclusion can be made during the charging process using the current draw as to whether the battery should be replaced or charged completely.

Test Prerequisites

• The battery temperature must be minimum ≥ +10 °C when charging.

• The charger must be able to deliver at least 30 A charging current, e.g. as on the VAS 5903.

• The battery charger (VAS 5903) indicate the current draw on the device.

- Connect the battery to the battery charger and start the charging process.

- Measure the battery charge current after five minutes.

Test result:

When current draw A is greater than 10% of nominal capacity Ah (e.g. > 6.1 A at 61 Ah battery), fully charge the battery and retest.

• On the Eos with two 6V AGM batteries, the charge current must only be greater than 5 % of the battery nominal capacity in Ampere. As an example for Eos: the 50 Ah battery must have a charge current greater than 2.5 A after charging for five minutes.

- Charge the battery completely when the charge current is greater than 10 % of the nominal capacity (note exception for Eos in the note above).

- After resting the battery for two hours, perform a battery test, refer to => [ Midtronics Battery Tester, Testing Battery ] Midtronics Battery Tester, Testing Battery.

If the charge current is less than 10% of the nominal capacity (two 6 V batteries in the Eos 5%) five minutes after starting the test (that is, for a 50 Ah battery [lt ] 5A), then replace the battery. In warranty and Goodwill cases, fill out the battery test sheet and keep it with the battery.