The state and state of charge of your battery can be determined by measuring the voltage at the battery terminals. This may often be the only way if you have a sealed battery that cannot measure the density of the electrolyte.
It is necessary
- - voltmeter,
- - hydrometer.
Instructions
Step 1
In order to measure the voltage in the battery, use a digital voltmeter that can measure with an accuracy of tenths and hundredths of a volt.
Before taking measurements, disconnect the battery from all consumers and chargers and wait at least two hours.
After all the chemical processes in the banks have stopped, start measuring.
Step 2
Connect the lead (usually black) of the device marked "-" to the negative terminal of the battery, and the red one, marked with a "+" - to the positive one. The contact must be tight; for this, there must be clamps at the ends of the wire.
Take readings. Determine the state of charge of your battery using the table below.
You can measure the voltage on each battery bank, and thus detect the faulty one.
Step 3
For batteries with liquid electrolyte, the state of charge and residual voltage can be determined from the density of the electrolyte.
To do this, take a hydrometer. Open the caps of the battery cans and take the electrolyte into the device. Mark and record the density reading in each jar.
Step 4
The table below shows the electrolyte density values corresponding to the residual voltage for 12 and 24 volt batteries. Compare the obtained reading of the density of the electrolyte with the voltage available at the time of measurement. Output the average voltage.
Determine the percentage of charge on your battery.
