User manual ELK PRODUCTS ELK-BLT V.2

[. . . ] "Err" or blank indicates battery voltage is too low for testing or a test clip connection is loose. The Mhos (internal conductance) reading of the battery will display within 6 seconds. Follow across the row to find the closest match to it's Mhos reading. [. . . ] Cool temperatures (not below freezing) will tend to prolong a battery's life. Temperatures above 72F cause a battery's internal activity to accelerate, but with only a slight increase in the Mhos reading. Warm temperatures will tend to dry out and degrade a battery much faster than normal. 100 F degrees = 105 % of normal Mhos (conductivity) 72 F degrees = 0 % no adjustment 62 F degrees = 92 % of normal Mhos (conductivity) 52 F degrees = 87 % of normal Mhos (conductivity) 42 F degrees = 82 % of normal Mhos (conductivity) 32 F degrees = 76 % of normal Mhos (conductivity) ELK Products is not responsible for misprints or errors. These Mhos values are benchmark averages, created from fresh samples of major brand batteries. If you find consistent, minor variations in readings from multiple samples of a battery, it's likely due to manufacturing differences. However, if the readings are excessively low, the battery is not as good as the benchmark average. If this chart does not include the battery you are testing, it may be necessary to generate the values using the procedure below. Adding to the Battery Mhos Chart If the battery you are trying to test is not included in the Battery Mhos Chart it may be necessary to research and generate the data on your own. This will be the baseline number from which the Best, Good, Weak, and Bad columns are calculated. The first and second numbers in the "Good" column are 80% and 89% of the baseline. The first and second numbers in the "Weak" column are 70% and 79% of the baseline. The "Bad" column is 0% and 69% of the baseline. Instructions Accumulating Trend Analysis over a Period of Years ELK - BLT Trending of periodic Mhos measurements can yield valuable insights for estimating the remaining life of the battery. Suppose that a 4. 0 Ah battery has been in service for three years and that the LifeTester measurements after the first year was 90 Mhos, 85 Mhos after the second year, and 80 Mhos after the third year. Since the battery is still at 80 Mhos and is dropping an average of 5 Mhos per year, it is highly likely that this battery will not need replacing before the end of the fourth year. On the other hand, suppose that the readings were 90 Mhos after the first year, 82 Mhos after the second year, and 70 Mhos after the third year. This indicates that although the battery is still serviceable, it is degrading more and more rapidly. It is unlikely that this battery will 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. Why Mhos instead of Amp Hour The LifeTester measures the Mhos (conductance) of a battery using an AC impedance measurement algorithm. Every battery manufacturing process produces a slightly different conductance value for a given battery size. [. . . ] If a new battery has been in storage for an extended period, say over six months without being charged, plate oxidation from selfdischarge will occur, causing a decrease in the Mhos reading. Plate oxidation also occurs in standby batteries during a power failure, particularly if a battery remains in a highly discharged state for an extended time period. Plate oxidation is unhealthy and can destroy a battery's capacity. [. . . ]