What do you guys use to test SLA batteries for capacitance?

[kid_couteau]

Hi All

What can you use to see how far along your batteries are to needing replacing?

Thank you
Kid

[FreeLancer]

I use the West Mountain Radio CBA IV to test all my batteries.

[Carl]

  I also use the West Mountain CBA for testing though a low budget method does exist.... I us 50 watt,12 volt light bulbs made for RV use and they require 4 Amps (for 50 watts) per bulb and can serve as a load test ,over a time period ...to provide a near continuous load on the battery while a Voltmeter can be checked from time to time to get a good idea of battery capacity. For larger batteries I often use 3 or more bulbs OR I just use a medium size inverter to power a 120 volt lamp for 150,250,500 watts of test capacity and the test,though not an exact science ....is good enough for my use.

[fratermus]

I think autocorrect changed capacity to capacitance.

What can you use to see how far along your batteries are to needing replacing?

Same way marine professionals do: 

remove from loads
install coloumeter (Ah counter, as little as $15 for our purposes)
drain at C/20 rate
stop at 10.5V
note the Ah on the coloumeter
recharge battery fully immediately

It's not just low-budget, it's the way the battery manufacturers rate the batteries.


Rule of thumb is that lead-chemistry batteries are replaced when their actual capacityAs long as Ah provided >= 80% of intial rating the batt has some life in it.   



Slower than the $150