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  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

how many amps should a battery have?

  • Thread starter Thread starter gankSP
  • Start date Start date Dec 16, 2005
G

gankSP

New Member
Oct 11, 2005
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philadelphia,pa
Dec 16, 2005
#1
  • Dec 16, 2005
  • #1
i get 12.13 volts but only 1.43amps ...do you think the cold weather killed my battery?
 

txstang84

15 Year Member
May 21, 2005
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Tuscola, tx
Dec 16, 2005
#2
  • Dec 16, 2005
  • #2
how are you testing it? and yes, cold weather can definitely kill a battery, especially if it sits without use for a long time...usually doesn't just happen overnight.
 
D

Daggar

New Member
Jul 19, 2004
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Dec 16, 2005
#3
  • Dec 16, 2005
  • #3
I'd like to know how you determined the amp output as well. Even a batter with a dead cell is capable of roughly 400 CCA.
 

txstang84

15 Year Member
May 21, 2005
1,639
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69
Tuscola, tx
Dec 16, 2005
#4
  • Dec 16, 2005
  • #4
yeah, kinda what i was thinkin, if you're only getting 1.4amps, that just means that whatever you're testing it with is only "pulling" that amount...but if he had a dead cell, then he'd be short about 2 volts
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
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Massachusetts
Dec 16, 2005
#5
  • Dec 16, 2005
  • #5
gankSP said:
i get 12.13 volts but only 1.43amps ...do you think the cold weather killed my battery?
Click to expand...


With the car shut off, you should be drawing less than 1AMP.

12.13 volts is normal for engine off, but 1.43 amps tells me you have a current draw. If you start the car daily, you will never notice it, but the cold weather in addition to the current draw will kill the batt.

You need to test the battery while pulling fuses to determine where the draw is. Most often, it's the underhood light staying on.


Dagger, to determine DC amps, you need a meter that can read it. Most require you to measure in series with the battery. That means taking off 1 lead and then touching 1 lead of the meter to the battery and the other to the lead you removed. Most meters only have a max capacity of maybe 5-10AMPs however.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
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Dec 16, 2005
#6
  • Dec 16, 2005
  • #6
Mike, Daggs knows that. He, like I, was unsure of what the original poster meant or how he determined that. I did not make the (logical) leap of faith to the current draw that y'all did.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
17,939
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Massachusetts
Dec 16, 2005
#7
  • Dec 16, 2005
  • #7
My bad, i'm reading posts way too quickly tonight
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Dec 16, 2005
#8
  • Dec 16, 2005
  • #8
Mustang5L5 said:
My bad, i'm reading posts way too quickly tonight
Click to expand...
Well actually, I think you figured out what Gank meant, when I actually had no clue.
 
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