DFB
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2000
- Messages
- 2,928
- Location
- Southern VT, Southern ME
- Tractor
- John Deere 4100 HST /410 FEL, R4s
Yes the battery connection is all important a poor connection can give a misleading or weak reading. The Cen Tech has that impedance measurement feature.
I tried out the one I have on 4 different batteries...one was an unknown age (but at least a 2 year old minimum) Walmart purchased motorcycle battery that will start and run the bike but wont hold the charge after a day or two, another Walmart battery bought and I put in new in 2014 for my JD diesel tractor. the third battery was for my 8 cyl Durango. A battery I just had installed by a local garage back in June after the old one just completely failed and left me stranded out front of local lumber yard, and the 4th is a brand new lawn tractor battery I also purchased in the spring of 2015 from local auto parts store.
Both the JD battery and the lawn tractor battery showed readings better than the listed CA/CCA, the motorcycle battery gave a reading of less than half the assumed CA/CCA (it wasn't marked but it took a ejumacated guess from several similar ones found online). But the kicker was the "new" SUV battery it was showing readings about 10% lower than the listed rating.
I'm trusting the garage didn't screw me on the battery and its all with the terminal connections in the reading. I haven't had any problems but I'm watching it and tomorrow will be a good test because its going down 14 degrees with a wind chill of -5 I seem to have constant terminal corrosion buildup problems with vehicle even using sprays it always comes back even with new battery.
I have made a habit now of marking the purchase date right on the battery with a paint pen too!.
Kent Bergsma has a decent series testing a battery's performance and also using these and other different types of testers
I tried out the one I have on 4 different batteries...one was an unknown age (but at least a 2 year old minimum) Walmart purchased motorcycle battery that will start and run the bike but wont hold the charge after a day or two, another Walmart battery bought and I put in new in 2014 for my JD diesel tractor. the third battery was for my 8 cyl Durango. A battery I just had installed by a local garage back in June after the old one just completely failed and left me stranded out front of local lumber yard, and the 4th is a brand new lawn tractor battery I also purchased in the spring of 2015 from local auto parts store.
Both the JD battery and the lawn tractor battery showed readings better than the listed CA/CCA, the motorcycle battery gave a reading of less than half the assumed CA/CCA (it wasn't marked but it took a ejumacated guess from several similar ones found online). But the kicker was the "new" SUV battery it was showing readings about 10% lower than the listed rating.
I'm trusting the garage didn't screw me on the battery and its all with the terminal connections in the reading. I haven't had any problems but I'm watching it and tomorrow will be a good test because its going down 14 degrees with a wind chill of -5 I seem to have constant terminal corrosion buildup problems with vehicle even using sprays it always comes back even with new battery. I have made a habit now of marking the purchase date right on the battery with a paint pen too!.
Kent Bergsma has a decent series testing a battery's performance and also using these and other different types of testers
