Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) A6 Electrical/Electronic SystemsBattery Diagnosis and ServiceMedium
A technician is performing a battery load test on a 12-volt battery with a Cold Cranking Amperage (CCA) rating of 600 amps. The ambient temperature is 70°F (21°C). What is the MINIMUM acceptable voltage the battery should maintain for 15 seconds during the load test?
- A9.6 volts
- B11.0 volts
- C12.0 volts
- D10.5 volts
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 9.6 volts
The standard rule for a 12-volt battery load test is that the voltage should not drop below 9.6 volts for 15 seconds at 70°F (21°C) when subjected to a load equal to half of its CCA rating.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 11.0 volts is significantly higher than the acceptable minimum.
- C. 12.0 volts is the nominal voltage of a fully charged battery at rest, not under a load test.
- D. 10.5 volts is too high for the minimum acceptable voltage during a load test.
Battery Load Test Minimum Voltage
During a battery load test, a 12-volt battery should maintain at least 9.6 volts for 15 seconds at 70°F (21°C) when loaded to half its Cold Cranking Amperage (CCA) rating.
- Load = 1/2 CCA rating.
- Duration = 15 seconds.
- Minimum voltage = 9.6V (at 70°F).
- Voltage should recover after load removed.
Memory trick: Nine Point Six: The Load Test Fix!