Aug 20, 2021 Pageview:1326
When a car does not start properly, then most probably the dead or low battery is the reason. And so, if you are a car owner, it is very important to know about the car battery resting voltage. Here in the following post, we are going to learn everything about car battery resting voltage.
Car Battery Resting Voltage High:
Voltage is one of the important operating parameters of a car battery. A completely discharged battery not only cannot start the internal combustion engine, but it also does not even turn on the hazard lights. In order not to be in a situation where you need to start the car with a pusher or ask for a "light", you need to know how many volts a completely charged battery should display.
When a car battery is fully charged, it will display typically a voltmeter reading of around 12.6 to 12.8 volts.
At what voltage do you need to charge?
Timely recharging a depleted battery will allow you to fully restore its capacity and avoid the damaging effects of sulfation and frozen water in the winter on lead plates.
With the following voltage indicators, the battery terminals should be charged: No load below 11.9 V. Under load below 6 V. As a general rule, in this state, the battery can no longer cope with the starting of the Internal combustion engine.
How does ambient temperature affect the charge level
With a negative air temperature, the speed of chemical reactions slows significantly. As a result of this, in the winter season, the battery level will be a little lower, and the electricity consumption will also increase significantly due to heavier crankshaft starting due to thick engine oil.
When operating in hot weather, a normally charged battery can emit a greater amount of electricity, but at the same time, the self-discharge of the battery will be noticeably increased. In general, if the battery operates under extreme conditions, its technical condition should be observed more closely than when used in the manufacturer's recommended temperature range.
Car Battery Resting Voltage Low:
If the measured reading is lower than 12.2 V then it is considered that the resting voltage of the car battery is low. Thus, it is always recommended to check the car battery resting voltage. Now you must be wondering - why is it important to monitor the battery level
It is important to maintain the required battery level not only during operation but also when the machine is parked. During long-term storage of the battery, showing insufficient voltage level, an oxide film will form on the lead plates, which has poor electrical conductivity.
Because of this, noticeably, the batteries will decrease their capacity and also overall its service life. In the winter season, leaving the car on the street with a discharged battery is fraught with faults.
The battery terminal’s voltage is indeed low below usual, the electrolyte density will be decreased significantly. And thus, its liquid will be frozen completely.
The expansion of ice will destroy the internal electrodes of the product and the battery will be completely inoperative. A low battery level during engine cranking will lead to increased long-term loads on electrical wiring, starter brushes, and retractor relay contacts.
How to check the charge level
The charge level of many modern battery models can be verified with the indicator built into the top cover. If the "eye" of said device is green, then the battery is fully charged.
You can more accurately determine the value of the potential difference across the device terminals using a multimeter. To measure the battery voltage with a multimeter, it is enough to put the measuring device in the DC measurement mode. Then connect the black probe to the negative battery terminal, and the red probe to positive. The digital display will show the voltage value, to the nearest tenth of a volt.
New Car Battery Resting Voltage:
A new fully charged car battery should measure at 12.6 volts or higher. Then, how many volts should a fully charged battery show?
The car batteries consist of 6 cans, every one of them produces over 2 volts. Said individual elements are connected in series, therefore, as a result, the voltage of a fully charged and in-service battery always exceeds 12 V. No-load Without a load at the terminals of a fully charged battery, the voltage will be 12.6 V. In certain models, and directly after charging the batteries, its values may be from 12.9 to 13.2 v.
Under Load:
The voltage at the terminals can be significantly lower than the nominal voltage. Measurement of this parameter is carried out using a load socket, which is a voltmeter with low resistance.
A fully charged battery should display a voltage value of at least 9 volts when connected to a meter. Therefore, in the presence of a charging socket and a multimeter, you can always accurately determine the state of the car battery, both under load and without it.
Up to how many volts the battery is still charged If the battery is not yet 100% charged, then each owner of the machine needs to know at what voltage settings the battery can still operate.
No-load If the current source is not powered by the electrical equipment of the machine, then it must deliver at least 11.9. Under load, the potential difference between the terminals should not be less than 9 V. If the voltage indicators are lower than the above values, then the battery should be connected to the charger as soon as possible.
Today, there are several measurement circuits are available in the market to measure battery resting voltage. Such as liquid test, Cold Crank Ampere, etc. However, it is important to know that some special tools must be required to use these devices which might not be available at home.
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