Battery under load By Bashan (Read 693 times)

[Bashan]

I thought I'd relate what happened to me yesterday because I think it applies to some of the issues we deal with. I have a standby generator at the house that runs an exercise cycle for 15 minutes once a week. I noticed it wasn't exercising (me too!) and took a look at the idiot light panel. It said it wasn't running it's exercise cycle.....duh! I hit the manual start button and got a solenoid ratchet noise just like we can get on our scooters. The first thing I thought was the battery was toast so I checked it with the multimeter and it was a little over 14v. Dang! I was hoping it was just the battery. I started to get concerned because the solenoid was buzzing way deep in the bowels of this thing, I really didn't want to go in there. I bought one of those portable jump start units for our trip to the Dragon't Tail and thought I'd give it a try. I hooked the cables up to the battery and it the start...bang, it fired right up. A quick trip to Wally World for a $40.00 replacement battery and it was up and running. This saved me a $300.00 service call from the generator hooligans. So my point is, a battery can test OK voltage wise but fizzle out once a load is applied. They sell load testers at any auto parts store but I think you could test it easily without one with a jump. I know some guys were commenting on this a few weeks ago, if anybody would like to chime in here feel free. Rich

[Bong]

I totally agree!!!! Always test a battery under load. I have told people not to trust a multimeter or the green light on a charger. Only to find out it was the battery after other trouble shooting.

I learned the hard way. My Cougar didn't start so I tested the battery. Thought it was fine. Now after towing fees, Diagnostics and labor I have a $385.00 battery in my cage. Autozone tested it but not under load. Always test a battery under load 50 bucks is better than 400 to find out whats wrong ;D

I didn't think to jump it, Great tip!!!!!!!

[sprocket]

Most battery supply places will load test a battery for FREE...just have to take it to them.

[Bashan]

It's very cool, I wouldn't be without one. We got it because of my wife's computer business but it powers the whole house. A guy crashed a semi into a substation about a year ago and the power was down for two days. We had lights and AC the whole time, and yes, TV! My neighbor who's not wrapped real tight kept coming over and asking me why they restored my power and not his. I believe he thought I had an in with the big muck-a-mucks at the electric company. I kept pointing to that big box down by the gas meter humming along, I don't think he could grasp the concept. But yeah, back to load testing, I was glad it turned out to be the battery under load. I'm going to take any suspicious battery problems in for a load test or jump them from now on. I'm sure as hell glad I didn't have to go into that generator control panel. I looked at that wiring diagram and almost passed out! I thought I'd learned a little farting around with scooters and then I saw that...a humbling experience. My wife said "Rich! You fixed the generator!". Yep, sure did dear.....