As Batteries Age, Do Their Cold Cranking Amps Go Up?
A load test is the most-common way auto parts stores and battery professionals can determine if a battery is still good or if it needs to be replaced. If the battery can hold at least 9.6 volts for 15 seconds, while a load of half the battery's rating for cold cranking amps is applied, it will pass the load test.
Load tests are considered the industry standard for testing car batteries, because they are relatively-easy to administer and it is known that batteries will lose their cold cranking amps over time, as the battery is cycled and ages. So cold cranking amps go down, not up, as the battery ages. The question typically answered by a load test is how much have the cold cranking amps on the battery gone down, compared to the battery rating?
As summer looms closer, we know many folks are bringing their toys out of the garage, in preparation for the coming season of activity. Those who have been properly maintaining their batteries all winter long will likely be met by a fully charged battery, ready to start their vehicle and perform solidly all summer long.
Load tests are considered the industry standard for testing car batteries, because they are relatively-easy to administer and it is known that batteries will lose their cold cranking amps over time, as the battery is cycled and ages. So cold cranking amps go down, not up, as the battery ages. The question typically answered by a load test is how much have the cold cranking amps on the battery gone down, compared to the battery rating?
As summer looms closer, we know many folks are bringing their toys out of the garage, in preparation for the coming season of activity. Those who have been properly maintaining their batteries all winter long will likely be met by a fully charged battery, ready to start their vehicle and perform solidly all summer long.
Those who did not maintain their battery over the winter or left it partially discharged when they put their toys away may be in for a different experience. Some will attempt to recharge their batteries, while others will simply head to the auto parts store as soon as they hear "click click click" when they try to start their engine.
While it could be possible that their battery is dead and needs to be replaced, it is also possible the battery is only deeply discharged and would work fine, if properly recharged. Many of the "bad" batteries returned to retailers are simply discharged and do work fine, when properly recharged.
If you find your battery won't start your car, truck, boat or motorcycle, measure the voltage and attempt to recharge your battery. Fully charged, our REDTOPs (and 34M BLUETOP) will measure about 12.6-12.8 volts and our YELLOWTOPs and BLUETOPs (except the 34M) will measure about 13.0-13.2 volts.
OPTIMA chargers and maintainers can often recover deeply-discharged batteries that many other chargers and maintainers cannot. Once you get your battery fully-charged, bring it to your local battery professional and have them load test it-most will offer this service free of charge!
If your battery doesn't pass a load test after you've attempted to fully-charge it, then you know it's time to replace your battery. We want your business, but not sooner than you need to give it to us!
OPTIMA chargers and maintainers can often recover deeply-discharged batteries that many other chargers and maintainers cannot. Once you get your battery fully-charged, bring it to your local battery professional and have them load test it-most will offer this service free of charge!
If your battery doesn't pass a load test after you've attempted to fully-charge it, then you know it's time to replace your battery. We want your business, but not sooner than you need to give it to us!
