battery condition

[jk952]

Maybe a daft question on batteries; but with the present sealed batteries ( ie. can't check specific gravity - dating myself I guess ), is there a way of checking how good they are other than waiting to find they just don't hold a charge for long? Voltage alone doesn't indicate cranking current availability. I realise new ones not overly expensive but would be nice to have a means of checking.
Jack

[rcourtney]

Hi,

I bought a CTEK charger.

Plug it in and it tells you the battery condition. The more expensive models will also re condition your battery if needed.

Hope that helps
Ralph

[Chancer]

Battery voltage drop tester, a voltmeter with a switch which shunts a toaster element across the battery, the scale on the meter has red and green ranges for the various battery Ah capacities.

One can do the same with the headlights and a multimeter with a little bit of calculation, in fact just looking at the headlights whilst the engine is cranked and listening with an attuned ear is by far the best test if you are experienced.