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Battery Load Tester Instructions

Batteries in vehicles often fail to start an engine in cold weather. Each 10 degrees Fahrenheit robs the cranking ability of one- to two-tenths of a volt due to cold temperatures. A battery load tester conducts a test of the Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) that the battery requires for starting an engine. Auto parts stores have battery load testers that will charge and test the battery for the minimal voltage on a battery to rule out battery replacement on a vehicle-starting problem.

Instructions

1

Place a flat screwdriver on the negative battery terminal. Turn the screwdriver counterclockwise to loosen the terminal and pull it straight up to remove. Repeat this process to remove the positive battery terminal.

2

Pull the battery up and out of the vehicle by the center handle. Place the battery near the load tester on a flat surface at a distance the same length as the load tester cables.

3

Pinch the negative black tester cable and open it. Clamp it onto the negative battery terminal. Attach the positive red tester cable to the positive battery terminal in the same manner.

4

Put on safety glasses or goggles.

5

Turn the load control knob clockwise to 100 amps. Hold the knob in this position for 3 seconds and then slowly turn the knob counterclockwise until the needle reads zero for amperage.

6

Observe the voltmeter reading. If it is in the green area, proceed to load test the battery. If the voltmeter is in the red area, it needs charging before proceeding. Charge a battery in the red area until it reaches the green voltmeter area.

7

Turn the load control knob to one-half the CCA of the battery. The battery CCA is printed on the battery. For this example, we will us 700 CCA and turn the knob to 350. The load test will complete in 15 seconds.

8

Observe the voltage reading on the load tester. Compare the reading with the chart on the side of the tool. The battery temperature compensation chart shows the minimum voltage readings for a working battery at a specific temperature. Any reading under the minimum voltage reading indicates a battery that needs replacement.