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Pre-Charge New Optima 12v ?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by eful, Jan 8, 2018.

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  1. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    When I said voltage alone is not a good test and then you added some other things into the mix and that changes my original statement.
    If you are doing tests in a car and you don't have a way of testing it like they do at the parts store there are some things like you said that will work with someone who has experience. We don't know what people asking questions know about electrical things. I have an electrical background but I don't claim to know everything about a Prius especially the Lithium Ion battery system, but I do know 12V car batteries.

    Taking the battery to be checked at the parts store with proper equipment to say the battery is in good health is a way to confirm a batteries health. By doing this you totally eliminate one piece of the puzzle, then you move on.

    Most of the people here haven't a clue about a basic 12 V battery and need to be spoon fed information. It's just a new subject to them and they can learn if they want to put forth the effort. Most of them are learning under fire and I feel sorry for them because they mostly only have one car and it is broke down.
     
    #21 padroo, Jan 10, 2018
  2. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I have the Solar BA5 tester, very nice piece of equipment to have as I have many batteries, at least 11.
     
    #22 padroo, Jan 10, 2018
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  3. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    No it isn't.

    CCA "rating" is pretty meaningless but the test is: Note the resting voltage. Be sure it is within a fairly narrow acceptable range. Apply a LARGE LOAD and see how much the voltage drops. That is a perfectly valid test for any battery.

    NOW......doing that just once and having it "pass" does not guarantee that it really is a "good" battery, regardless of what application it will be used in.
     
    #23 Sam Spade, Jan 11, 2018
  4. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    No it doesn't. Those tests are good but not thorough enough.
    A really LOT of people have found out that a battery that passes their one shot test and is pronounced "good" really isn't.
     
    #24 Sam Spade, Jan 11, 2018
  5. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Voltage alone IS a good test........IF you really know what you are doing. (y)
     
    #25 Sam Spade, Jan 11, 2018
  6. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Because CCA does not literally apply, perhaps it should be a CBUA (cold boot-up amperes) test.on a Prius.
    Some brands of batteries sold for Prii are really repurposed starting batteries, which is why they have CCA specs.
     
    #26 CR94, Jan 12, 2018
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