Car battery ID
Posted: August 14th, 2019, 1:53 pm
I'll ask the questions first and add some explanation after.
How to tell whether a battery is Calcium - Silver Calcium - Lead acid ( other than it be written on the casing.
How to tell the date (whatever that date may mean as in made /initial charge/delivered from manufacturer).
Backstory;
I have owned a 57 1.6TDci Focus for five and a half years
Always a poor starter (it does not get used frequently. May stand for a week or more)
Had a 'full service' and fitted new glow plugs
Had a new battery Jan '17. Cheap but nominally of more than adequate capacity.
Multimeter displays 14.1v when running
12.2/12.3 when resting
I have three batteries available -- all will accept and hold charge on the bench for weeks on end of 12.3/12.5v.
But will drop to 12.1/12.3v when installed
I have installed solar charger to counter voltage drop
Checked for 'parasitic drain'
Three garages and a knowledgeable amateur have all found no cause. The KA suggested a faulty diode as being common on Fords with Smart Charge fitted.
Tempted to buy a used replacement but want to identify before I buy or else it will be just another battery on the bench.
I was told that Calcium batteries were non-maintenance and therefore had no removable cell plugs yet when I look at a FORD Silver Calcium battery it HAS got cell plugs
No one seems to know how to tell the age of a battery and yet that info is available – of necessity – on every battery, stamped into the case in a coded format. Logically every auto electrician (at least) should be able to identify a battery history so why the big secret
Can someone please give me guidance
How to tell whether a battery is Calcium - Silver Calcium - Lead acid ( other than it be written on the casing.
How to tell the date (whatever that date may mean as in made /initial charge/delivered from manufacturer).
Backstory;
I have owned a 57 1.6TDci Focus for five and a half years
Always a poor starter (it does not get used frequently. May stand for a week or more)
Had a 'full service' and fitted new glow plugs
Had a new battery Jan '17. Cheap but nominally of more than adequate capacity.
Multimeter displays 14.1v when running
12.2/12.3 when resting
I have three batteries available -- all will accept and hold charge on the bench for weeks on end of 12.3/12.5v.
But will drop to 12.1/12.3v when installed
I have installed solar charger to counter voltage drop
Checked for 'parasitic drain'
Three garages and a knowledgeable amateur have all found no cause. The KA suggested a faulty diode as being common on Fords with Smart Charge fitted.
Tempted to buy a used replacement but want to identify before I buy or else it will be just another battery on the bench.
I was told that Calcium batteries were non-maintenance and therefore had no removable cell plugs yet when I look at a FORD Silver Calcium battery it HAS got cell plugs
No one seems to know how to tell the age of a battery and yet that info is available – of necessity – on every battery, stamped into the case in a coded format. Logically every auto electrician (at least) should be able to identify a battery history so why the big secret
Can someone please give me guidance