OTC Tools 3182 - Battery Load Tester Overview; Test Preparation

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Battery Load Tester
The3182DigitalBatteryLoadTesterisahand-held,diagnostictoolusedtotest12V
(volt)and6Vlead-acidtypeautomotivebatteries.A10-secondtestdeterminesthe
conditionofthebattery:Good,WeakorBad.Furthertestingwillidentifypossible
problemsinthechargingandstartingsystems.Testscanbeperformedonfully
orpartiallychargedbatteriesbyinspectingtheelectrolyteoropen-circuitvoltage
andadjustingthevaluesfortemperaturesotherthan70°F(21.1°C).
• Iftheelectrolyteisaccessible,measureitsspecicgravitywithahydrometer.
Thespecicgravityreadingshouldbe1.225orhigherat70°F(21.1°C).For
every10°F(5.6°C)above/below70°F(21.1°C),add/subtract0.004to/fromthe
reading.
• Theopen-circuitvoltageshouldbeatleast12.45Vat70°F(21.1°C).
TheBatteryLoadTestercontainsafour-characterLCD(liquidcrystaldisplay)to
displaybatteryvoltage,aswitchtoapplythetestloadandaredLEDthatisused
toindicatetheconditionofthealternator.Thetesterispoweredbythebattery
undertest.
CAUTION!
• Test procedures and information provided in this manual are intended
as general guidelines for engine tune-up and adjustments only. Consult
the applicable vehicle service manuals for all specic tests.
• Before testing, read and follow all safety precautions.
• Do not activate and hold the load switch for more than 15 seconds.
This will overload the tester resulting in damage and void the warranty.
Test Preparation
Multi-Battery Systems
Inallmultiplebatterysystems,allbatteriesmustbetestedseparately.Batteries
may be connected in series, parallel or a combinationof both.Only batteries
connectedinseriesmayremainconnectedduringtest.See Figure 1.
Forseriesconnections,allbatteriesareconnectedfromthenegative(-)terminal
ofonebattery,tothepositive(+)terminaloftheother.Onlythenegativeterminal
oftherstbatteryandthepositiveterminalofthelastbatteryaretobeconnected
tothevehicle.Anynumberofbatteriesmaybeconnectedinaseries.However,
each battery must be tested separately.
Forallotherconnections(paralleloracombinationofparallelandseries),the
batteries mustbedisconnectedandelectricallyisolatedfromeachother.
TO VEHICLE POWER TO VEHICLE GROUND
POS NEG POS NEG POS NEG
Figure 1 Multi-Battery Test Conguration