Battery Load Test With a Multimeter

I never thought of doing this always wondered what those would be used for lol

Straight to the point thanks

Can you tell us what is your source for the 9.6V lower limit or is this an arbitrary number you have picked?

So by charged you mean by the alternator, or by a battery charger that can take up to 20 hrs by properly slow charging the battery?

how is this a load test?

Simply the best. Thanks J.

You got claws on your meter, mine has needles. Just a tip if you have a needle meter you probably have to loosen the nuts and put the needle in and then tighten the nuts.

Anyway I did not even notice the max min switch on my meter.

But all is good I got 9.64 and then 9.66 so my car passed the test. Will test again in 6 months.

I think there is another test called the Safari Park test, driving 5 mph for 2 hours. Though I like your test better.

Will have to check more of your videos.

Is this a sufficient test as compared to a carbon pile load tester?

I read the voltage of 9.6 but the multimeter was upside down. Now What?
Great video BTW

This is a decent approximation of a proper battery load test (and it's the way I've been testing my motorcycles and cars for years), but it is not as accurate as tests run with a carbon pile to provide the prescribed load (1/2 the rated CCA) for 15 seconds while observing voltage. Marginal batteries can pass the quicky test, but fail the full load test. When I check my vehicles I disable the ignition or injection and run the starter for 15 seconds while reading voltage. I've found that to be a closer approximation to a test run with a real battery load tester.

Hi i have dual battery for my truck? Can i still do this? Tnx

12.4 volts can be very misleading, due to if the car was recently driven, and-or battery recently charged, this would be 12.4 " Surface-charge" . True test with pudding, time battery sits, engine off, battery not charged. 12.4 holding post wait time, is 12.4 accurate battery test.

A good video would show what setting symbol you set it on.

Man... Who don't see how perfect this video is???

I like the video it told me what I needed to know. But I think it's funny that you test the battery's. Ability to start the car by using it to start the car. Just kind of a one of those face palm moments that I know isn't really dump. Still got a chuckle out of me

Awesome

Great video. Straight to the point and explained very well!

Great ASE Test Answer and... Example. More!!!

Good information!

so, does the battery have to be fully charged for an accurate load test?
i just went to get my tires rotated and ford service claimed to do a load test without my request. they said the battery is bad but i've never had any indication of a bad battery. also, wouldn't they have to CHARGE my battery before the test? and why would they charge my battery for free just to do a load test a never requested?
i'm suspicious of a scam. should i be?
also, where's the date of installation on batteries? if i knew the date of installation it might give a clearer idea of whether the battery might be in need of replacement.

Fantastic video / precise and straight forward / thank you

I picked up a 6000-count multimeter with the MIN/MAX function, the meter has both auto mode setting (up to 750V) and manual mode settings (600mV, 6V, 60V, 600V, 1000V). Which meter setting would provide the most accurate 12V car battery voltage drop capture result, auto mode or manual mode (60V)?

perfect video

Condemn the battery? Why not just desulfate it. I've done many, some that had sat for years. Like brand new. People jump too quick to buying new batteries when they can often last 10 to 15 years.

Good Afternoon Justin Miller take care and have a great day 👍 Justin Miller Thanks 👍
From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧

Mine doesn’t have that function grrrr

Dramatically fantastic. Min/Max multimeter is essential for the test, because of this I’ve purchased aneng an m118A cheap multimeter.
Greetings from Saudi Arabia.

Nice concise video and the voice is Clint Eastwood-esqe which is pretty cool!

Would a carefully watched analog volt meter be okay for this test?

my battery is min. reading 9.67 volts should I change it right now? or it has still some life in it?

thanks for the video, helped me a lot. Question: when buying a used (consumption not starter) AGM, what is the best method to test it? Should i set up a chart, measure VOC, put on a load and measure VOC again after some time has passed? (what is the best method to get an accurate indication on the health of an AGM battery?)

where does the 9.6v come from? in other words why specifically 9.6?

You didn't check the "Open circuit voltage". OCV is the Battery voltage with no "Circuit" connected.

Is the magic 9.6V true for any engine? Or specifically automobile engines? Would the same guidelines hold true for a natural gas engine used to power a generator? Thanks!

Hmm ...
My battery shows 12.01V and drops to 9.05V and it cranks the engine just fine but yet you say at those readings its a bad battery.

It makes a huge difference depending on how fast your meter will capture the voltage. Change it to 1 mS and you will find your voltage much lower.

Nice vid!!!!

Don't get it.... you start the car to see if the battery has enough voltage...to start the car???

Problem comes when its a diesel because of the draw from the glow plugs !

Very well explained.

I setup my phone on a tripod since i don’t have min max

Straightforward to the point, easy to follow, good video and audio. Perfectly executed thank you.

Huh? If the car starts, the battery is good. No need for multimeter!

If the engine starts, it passes... What is the point in wasting time to "test" if the battery will start the engine if one has to literally start the engine to test if the engine will start?

Nice tips, new friend here!

75% charge or 80% charge minimum is required?

thanks for video

Nope, you're measuring voltage. A load test measures current or amperage.

So you don’t need to buy a battery load tester and have it lay around