Additional Battery Maintenance Tips

Gale Kimbrough, technical services manager for Interstate Batteries, was helpful in providing SSGM with the following winterizing tips on battery maintenance as we head from fall into winter.

• Quite often the naked eye cannot visually detect the presence of corrosion because it is hidden between the connection and the post.

• Check and clean/repair as needed.

• Check battery state of charge level.

• Charge the battery to a fully charged condition if needed.

• Check and verify the charging voltage and current output of the alternator is adequate.

• Load test the battery at 1/2 CCA for 15 seconds and verify the battery is functioning properly. This can also be achieved by testing with a conductance tester.

• Do not allow the battery to become discharged during the winter months.

Note: A fully charged battery will not freeze until -76F (-60C); however, a fully discharged battery could start to freeze at 32F (0C). A battery loses efficiency during the winter months. A fully charged battery can lose 35 per cent at 32F (0C) and up to 60 per cent efficiency at 0F (-18C).

• A vehicle’s starting circuit requires approximately 2.5 times the starting power compared to 80F (26.7C). Example: 180 amps at 27C = 450 amps at -20C.

• Make sure the vehicle’s battery matches the original equipment manufacturers CCA (Cold Cranking Amp) vehicle requirement.

• Check the voltage drop between the alternator and battery. The voltage loss between the alternator B+ and battery positive post should not exceed .300 volts (300 milli-volts) at 1,500 engine rpms with normal electrical loads on.

• Check the voltage drop between the battery negative post and engine ground during cranking. The maximum voltage loss should not exceed .200 volts (200 milli-volts).