Question from the forum “Behind the wheel” – we answer them from time to time:
– Is it possible to assess the charge of the battery without using a charging plug?
– Indirectly you can – by measuring the voltage on the battery terminals with the engine off with a multimeter. When fully charged, the battery should be 12.6-12.7V.
The measurement must be performed a few hours after the engine has stopped – otherwise the readings may be too high. A voltage of 12.3 V indicates an insufficiently charged battery.
It makes sense to make sure the charging circuit is working by measuring the voltage while the motor is running – it should be about 14.0-14.4 V. If it is lower, the cause may be in the generator or bad contacts.
Almost any device with a scale or a digital indicator will allow you to measure the voltage. Probes with light bulbs don’t count: they can only work in “Yes/No” mode (they will tell you if there is some kind of voltage or nothing at all).
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- Learn how to quickly bring an empty battery back to life.
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