Batteries & chargers 40 Why battery testing should be routine Routine battery testing can help workshops identify charging issues and deteriorating batteries before they result in failure. Banner explains why a simple battery check should form part of the workshop routine. As with most things in life, it’s very often a case of sticking to the simple things, and when it comes to one important aspect of life in the garage, this should certainly be the case. As most technicians will agree, battery testing is simply battery best practice. That said, it still seems to be a procedure that continues to be overlooked, and to the detriment of both the garage owner and customer. And for those who might need some persuading, here are some interesting facts to take on board as to why implementing a battery testing procedure makes sense. To start with, it is believed that nearly a third of cars that enter a vehicle workshop have a battery that is in need of recharging, with a further 10% that should be replaced. That means over 40% of vehicles that a garage services enter with an issue. So for whatever reason a vehicle is in a workshop, whether it’s routine servicing, MOT testing, diagnostics or repair, it makes perfect sense to undertake a voltage test and to check its battery’s condition. Not only does this show a duty of care to the customer, but it also helps reduce the incidence of battery failure on the road, which is obviously the scourge of any driver. View it as a win-win. So it is here that the likes of Banner’s latest heavy-duty tester, the BBT HD1+, falls into the workshop critical piece of equipment category. Simple step-by-step procedure Using the heavy-duty tester is a simple process following the correct procedure: O Locate the battery in the vehicle. O Connect the positive and negative terminals to the respective ones on the tester. O The current battery voltage is displayed immediately. O Select the battery type: Standard, AGM, GEL. O Select the standard (EN Europe). O Select the cold start current (Cold Cranking Amps CCA). O The ‘Charge & Check’ test result will be displayed. O The result can be printed out directly. O If required, charge the battery. O Repeat the battery test. O Reprint the test results. The BBT HD1+ can be used to test the voltage (including internal resistance in mΩ) and charging/starting status of 6V and 12V batteries – with temperature compensation – without overburdening the battery. Both new and used standard, AGM or GEL batteries can be tested, with full report information being displayed on the BBT HD1+’s internal, illuminated LCD display. The measured values can then be used by the technician to discuss the battery’s condition with the customer. All of the test information, such as the battery’s state of health and state of charge, can also be printed out using the integrated graphics printer. The tester can be programmed in eight different languages, and it incorporates a robust and heavy-duty clamp set, together with an overextended cable, a feature that makes it particularly useful when batteries are in inaccessible locations. Last but not least, software
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