How to quickly find out how long a car battery lasts without instruments
- October 24, 2023
- 0
The starter battery in a car can cope with its daily tasks for a very long time, and then suddenly (from the car owner’s point of view) “die”.
The starter battery in a car can cope with its daily tasks for a very long time, and then suddenly (from the car owner’s point of view) “die”. To avoid such surprises, you should periodically check its condition.
The Internet contains many instructions and videos of varying degrees of technical complexity, which tell in detail what parameters and how exactly to check a car battery in order to get an objective view of its current condition and the approximate period of an otherwise trouble-free (for the driver) life. But the catch is that the vast majority of such life hacks start with a phrase like “get an electrical tester,” “let’s use a multimeter,” or talk about using a “load fork.”
Despite the fact that the latter device, as a rule, is missing from the arsenal of even a handy garage owner. The “plug” is usually used in stores that sell batteries and repair shops. The average car owner is guaranteed not to have one. And if he even saw a household multimeter, it was only a few times in his life – occasionally. That is, it turns out that most motorists cannot monitor the performance of the battery themselves?
But no. There is a simple household test. But for it to be truly objective, simple preliminary preparations must be made with the battery to eliminate “side factors” that can distort the objective image. First of all, we visually inspect the battery to make sure everything is fine with the case. You never know. Next, pay attention to the terminals.
If they are covered with dirt (on a non-new “battery” they are almost certainly covered), we remove all these “deposits” with a cloth. At the same time, we wipe the surface of the “battery” to eliminate energy loss due to the flow of stray currents through the dirt. At the same time, we ensure that the terminals are (most likely!) covered with oxides. We remove them one by one and clean the contact points with fine sandpaper. We then reconnect the battery to the car’s electrical network and tighten the mounting clamps securely so that they fit together as best as possible.
This is necessary to improve the conditions for transporting electricity from the battery to the vehicle’s on-board network. Note that in principle it is useful to perform such a complex of actions at least once a year. But that’s not what it’s about now, it’s about checking the battery. It is better to perform it in the dark. To do this, without starting the engine (!), we simply take all possible electricity consumers in the car and turn on them “maximally”: headlights, “music”, etc. And let it all shine and sound for at least five minutes.
It is advisable to memorize the brightness of the headlights and spend five minutes without looking at the car. And after the break, look at them again and evaluate whether their light has gotten dimmer. If so, then this indicates the impending death of the battery. In the event that a drop in brightness is not visible to the eye, you can rest assured that your car’s starter battery is initially in good condition.
photo globallookpress.com
The Internet contains many instructions and videos of varying degrees of technical complexity, which tell in detail what parameters and how exactly to check a car battery in order to get an objective view of its current condition and the approximate period of an otherwise trouble-free (for the driver) life. But the catch is that the vast majority of such life hacks start with a phrase like “get an electrical tester,” “let’s use a multimeter,” or talk about using a “load fork.”
Despite the fact that the latter device, as a rule, is missing from the arsenal of even a handy garage owner. The “plug” is usually used in stores that sell batteries and repair shops. The average car owner is guaranteed not to have one. And if he even saw a household multimeter, it was only a few times in his life – occasionally. That is, it turns out that most motorists cannot monitor the performance of the battery themselves?
But no. There is a simple household test. But for it to be truly objective, simple preliminary preparations must be made with the battery to eliminate “side factors” that can distort the objective image. First of all, we visually inspect the battery to make sure everything is fine with the case. You never know. Next, pay attention to the terminals.
If they are covered with dirt (on a non-new “battery” they are almost certainly covered), we remove all these “deposits” with a cloth. At the same time, we wipe the surface of the “battery” to eliminate energy loss due to the flow of stray currents through the dirt. At the same time, we ensure that the terminals are (most likely!) covered with oxides. We remove them one by one and clean the contact points with fine sandpaper. We then reconnect the battery to the car’s electrical network and tighten the mounting clamps securely so that they fit together as best as possible.
This is necessary to improve the conditions for transporting electricity from the battery to the vehicle’s on-board network. Note that in principle it is useful to perform such a complex of actions at least once a year. But that’s not what it’s about now, it’s about checking the battery. It is better to perform it in the dark. To do this, without starting the engine (!), we simply take all possible electricity consumers in the car and turn on them “maximally”: headlights, “music”, etc. And let it all shine and sound for at least five minutes.
It is advisable to memorize the brightness of the headlights and spend five minutes without looking at the car. And after the break, look at them again and evaluate whether their light has gotten dimmer. If so, then this indicates the impending death of the battery. In the event that a drop in brightness is not visible to the eye, you can rest assured that your car’s starter battery is initially in good condition.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
