User manual ELK PRODUCTS ELK-BLT V.1

[. . . ] In some cases a battery will recover and pass a test after being recharged. However, a second test should be performed a few days after recovery to accurately assess the overall life of the battery. The average life cycle of a sealed lead-acid battery in standby use on a float charge is 3 to 5 years. A battery with a Mhos reading of less than 70% of its Charged, Full Capacity value is no longer considered serviceable and should be replaced. Additional Information Adding to the Battery Reference Chart If the battery you are trying to test is not included in the Battery Reference Chart it may be necessary to research and generate the data on your own. [. . . ] Conductance measurements for estimating the Cold Cranking Amps for starter type batteries are at a much higher frequency. Although the measurement techniques are similar, there is little correlation between the Cold Cranking Amps measurement of a battery and the Mhos reading of the LifeTester, or vice-versa. Using Mhos to Estimate Battery Life The Mhos reading of a new battery out of the box, will generally not be the same as that of a fully charged battery. This is due to the plates not being totally formed during manufacturing. Once the battery has been on charge for some time the plates will finish forming and the peak Mhos reading will normalize. For standby batteries, peak capacity is normally reached after about three months on a float charging system. For cyclic use batteries, full capacity may not be reached until after ten to thirty cycles, depending upon the depth of discharge and the charging method. Accumulating Trend Analysis over a Period of Years Trending of periodic conductance measurement data can yield valuable insights for estimating the remaining life of the battery. For instance, suppose that a battery has been in service for three years and that the LifeTester measurements after the 1st year was 99% of the Charged, Full Capacity reference, 96% after the 2nd year, and 93% after the 3rd year. Since the battery is still at 93% of the reference value, and is only dropping about 3% per year, it is highly likely that this battery will not need replacing before the end of the 4th year. On the other hand, suppose that the readings were 98% after the 1st year, 91% after the 2nd year, and 81% after the 3rd year. This indicates that although the battery is still serviceable, it is degrading more and more rapidly. It is unlikely that this battery will still be serviceable for another year. Under these circumstances, either the battery should be replaced early or the service interval should be shortened to catch this battery before a system failure. · For the most accurate results a battery should be allowed to charge for 24 hours prior to testing. In addition, the LifeTester should be allowed to adjust to room temperature prior to use. (828)397-4200 Voice (828)397-4415 Fax http://www. elkproducts. com email: info@elkproducts. com PO Box 100 · Hwy. 70W · Hildebran, NC 28637 · USA L504 1801 6 7 8 9 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS ADJUSTING THE REFERENCE SETTING AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN If the LifeTester is left connected to a battery for more than 30 seconds after the test is complete, it will automatically shutdown to conserve battery power. Disconnecting and reconnecting a test lead will restart the test procedure. 1. Connect the BLACK test lead to the Negative (-) terminal, and the RED to the Positive (+). The Red "Reversed Battery Leads" indicator will light if the leads are accidentally reversed. Record the Ambient Temperature, which is displayed in Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C). CELSIUS. Consult the Battery Reference Chart on page 5 for the proper reference setting for your battery. After initial connection (power-up) and while the Mhos reference value is still being displayed press the Red ADJUST button once. If necessary, fine adjust the value by momentarily pressing either button. Disconnect and reconnect a test lead or wait 10 seconds before resuming at step 4. MHOS REFERENCE CHART FOR FULLY CHARGED 12V BATTERIES Battery Ah Mhos Battery Ah Mhos Capacity rEFerence Capacity rEFerence 0. 8 Ah 28 1. 2 Ah 1. 3 Ah 2. 2 Ah 2. 3 Ah 2. 6 Ah 3. 0 Ah 3. 3 Ah 4. 0 Ah 4. 5 Ah 5. 0 Ah 7. 0 Ah 7. 5 Ah 8. 0 Ah 10. 0 Ah 12. 0 Ah 17. 0 Ah 18. 0 Ah 24. 0 Ah 25. 0 Ah 26. 0 Ah 38 40 58 60 66 75 80 95 110 125 200 220 245 275 300 400 425 470 475 480 8. [. . . ] If the results are below 70% the display will flash Lo indicating the battery is too low for reliable operation and should be replaced immediately. 5. If the Mhos Reference Setting is correct, press the Green TEST button to begin the test. If no other buttons are pressed for 5 seconds the test will begin automatically. 9b. Record the Battery Voltage, which is displayed for the next 1. 5 seconds. [. . . ]