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 Amps (CCA) rating of 600. The battery temperature is 70°F (21°C). What is the minimum acceptable voltage reading after 15 seconds of load?
- A9.0 volts
- B10.0 volts
- C9.6 volts
- D10.5 volts
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. 9.6 volts
For a standard battery load test, the battery should be loaded to half its CCA rating for 15 seconds. The minimum acceptable voltage at the end of this test is 9.6 volts at 70°F (21°C).
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 9.0 volts is typically considered the minimum for a healthy battery at colder temperatures (e.g., 0°F).
- B. 10.0 volts is a good voltage, but not the absolute minimum for passing a load test.
- D. 10.5 volts is higher than the typical threshold and might indicate a very healthy battery, but not the minimum passing voltage.
Battery Load Test Minimum Voltage
The lowest acceptable voltage a 112-volt battery should maintain for 15 seconds while under a load equal to half its Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) rating at 70°F (21°C).
- Load at 1/2 CCA rating
- Duration is 15 seconds
- Minimum voltage is 9.6V at 70°F
Memory trick: Load the battery, check the voltage, then rate its health.