Checking Car Battery Voltage With Multimeter

A car battery s voltage is dependent on the outside temperature so assuming it s 27 degrees celsius here s what you should make of the readings you see on the multimeter display.

Checking car battery voltage with multimeter.

Load test a car battery using a multimeter. At about 80 degrees a fully charged battery will be around 12 5 12 6 volts. Set the dial to 20 which will allow you to accurately measure between 0 20 volts. To be more specific.

For your battery to pass a load test the multimeter must read between 9 5 to 10 5 volts straight for 30 seconds when the battery is tested. How to check a car battery with a multimeter. How to check car battery with multimeter. With the headlights on at 80 f there should be a voltage drop of at least 11 8 volts 25 charged and ideally 12 5 volts between the positive and negative terminals.

The temperature outside affects the voltage of the battery. Checking the voltage can be misleading because the battery may test good based on voltage but can not hold a load. We selected 20v before proceeding to measure the level. Then proceed to check the reading on the multimeter display.

Using your multimeter you want to measure dc voltage this is indicated with a solid line and a dashed line above a letter v. For readings that are over 12 5 volts it means that your battery is fully charged and it is in good condition. Set the dial to 20. Allow us to give you a piece of advice here you should keep the headlights on for a few minutes before checking the battery.

Connect the multimeter probes to the car battery. The first test with your multimeter will measure dc voltage indicated with a solid line and a dashed line above a letter v. Touch the red probe to the positive terminal and the black probe to the negative terminal. The battery ratings vary a lot from car to car but choosing 15 20 volt is good enough.

How to test a car battery. In modern vehicles a load test is a better way to tell if your battery is good or needs to be replaced. This will allow you to accurately measure 0 20 volts.