Battery question

[Jrry]

I have a battery (Autozone)about one year old that I'm having a problem with. It registers about 12 volts on my test meter but does not put out any power. i took it to Autozone and had them test it it registered 12 volts and showed the battery to be good. i've tried it on several things but it is not putting out any power. the last one i tried it on was a small winch on my trailer. i hooked it up with the clamps from the winch and it would not turn the winch. I connected another old battery to the winch and it worked great. My connections are clean and good because other batters work on the smae machines. Any ideas?

 

[Bob]

A fully-charged 12-Volt battery will measure more than a flat 12-Volts.

Your's is shot.

 

[rustyfarmall]

Correct. A fully charged 12 volt battery should read somewhere around 13 1/2 volts. Maybe even up to 14.

 

[bradk]

Is it a dual terminal battery? I've seen the side terminals break internally while the top posts are intact and have juice and visa-versa.

Take the trailer to AZ and show them first-hand if nothing else.

 

[wfw]

put a meter on it if you have one with it loaded, it should still show 12 volts if good, if it not it is bad, use the battery post, not the connections as bad connections will cause it to look bad when it is not(I know you said they are clean and tight but just in case)



frank

 

[jose bagge]

Jerry- it's a bad battery...you should be pulling at least 13.5 volts. Git into the 'Zone and tell 'em you want a new one.

 

[Anonymous-0]

checking the voltage dosnt prove much. its the amperage you need to check. need a load tester to do this.load test for 10 sec. and amps should not fall below rated amperage for that batt.all batt. have cca ratings on top or side.checking voltage is not a batt. test.just because it shows 12v does not mean the batt. is good.

 

[Anonymous-0]

As bradk said take the trailer to them. [and prove they are idiots.]

 

[ken in texas]

How about a long slow charge,like 24 hours or more,and then load test it.

 

[Anonymous-0]

A fully charged 12V battery with the surface chard removed should read right at 12.6 volts.

 

[Walt Davies]

WOW??? my alternator only puts out 13.8
Walt

 

[Walt Davies]

Take it back and demand a new battery yours is shot.
Walt (40 years mechanic)
Battery Care

 

[El Toro]

Should be around 14.0 to 14.5 volts. Hal

 

[guido]

Hello Jrry.
Like Walt Davis said DEMAND a new battery!
The one you have does not work and you proved it.
Take it back at one year old warranty should be 100% guaranteed. Tell them what you did to prove it is bad.
Guido.

 

[guido]

Hello Walt Davis.
Mine puts out the about same voltage. We need to twick them up a little? how about 15V.?
That will charge the battery real good, what do you think?
Guido.

 

[guido]

Hello Jon Hagen.
Glade to see that someone got it wright!
By the way that 12.6V. is at 80 Dgrees F. Wright?
Guido.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I can understand the confusion. A 12 volt battery with 12.6v open circuit voltage is considered to be fully charged, but it is in what is a nominal 14 volt system. Each cell on auto and commercial lead and free acid battery produces 2.1 volts. Any 12v. battery that has a OCV of less than 10 volts or more than 11v. is potentially only discharged. Between 10 & 11v. the battery probably has a dead cell.

Count the cells and you will know the voltage of the battery. A battery with 12 cells is said to be a 24v battery but needs to have 25.2v OCV to be fully charged. 3 cells and it is a 6v fully charged at 6.3v. OCV.

Todays computerized testers check the internal impedance of the battery and are generally very accurate.

Yes, there are batteries out there with voltage but no amps. Put 8 AAA dry cells in series and it will read 12v+ but won't start your tractor. Auto Zone normally has the very best test equipment BUT many of their employees have no clue how to use it.

Finally, there is no such thing as a "maintenance free" battery. They are maintenance impossible and only produced because there are way too many lawyers in this country.

email me if you have a question... 20 years in the battery business and I still don't know very much but will share what I do know.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thats the charge voltage,a battery will read 12.5 volts when full charged.Lead acid cells run 2.1 volts.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Read the voltage with the battery hooked to the winch.Batteries have be tested under load.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I bought an old Eico volt ohm meter.It had an Eveready d cell in it that said best if used by july 1953.I put a meter on it and it read 1.5 volts.When I shorted the ohms leads the voltage dropped to zerdd that a battery would show voltage after all those years.Battery showed no leakage.

 

[guido]

Hello ibfestus.
I have been at it for a while as well and still learning new ways to test batteries. I would bet that i a month or so we'll have to go through the battery thing againg!.
One thing is always missing when someone posts
battery voltage is the temperature at which the voltage was taken. A very relevant part of the test.
Guido.

 

[dave guest]

Last time I had that problem, I went in with my trusty channellocks pliers in pocket. Stuck them across the batt posts while sales people ducked under the counter. No spark, no more questions. I liked it. Batt could blow but I knew it was dead. Go ahead, say thats like a match in the gas tank! They sorta ticked me off.

 

[dave guest]

Last time I had that problem, I went in with my trusty channellocks pliers in pocket. Stuck them across the batt posts while sales people ducked under the counter. No spark, no more questions. I liked it. Batt could blow but I knew it was dead. Go ahead, say thats like a match in the gas tank! They sorta ticked me off.

 

[chvet73]

I had the same issue with Kragen/Checker. I took the battery and hooked a light to it for a few days. After that it won't be putting out 12 volts anymore. Then take it in.