Dick,
I use a Milton Battery Load tester that I bought at my local autoparts
store a number of years ago. Looking at the JC Whitney Web Site
(http://www.jcwhitney.com), I found this one that looks much like mine:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/productnoitem.jhtml?CATID=5343, selling for
$45.99. They have a couple of others for $79.99 and $99.99.
These testers put a heavy load (100 amps or so) on the battery and have
a voltmeter to show the voltage drop under that stress. Although they're
meant to show the Cold Cranking Amps on a battery, that's a good
indication of the battery's state of health. I test the batteries on my
UPS (a pair of Group 27 RV/Marine wet batteries) monthly, along with the
starting battery on my genset, then record the readings. Doing the
recording allows me to track the health of the batteries over a period
of time and have plenty of warning when they're going bad. The "log
file" can be as simple as a PostIt Note stuck inside the battery
compartment door, and will pretty much elminate surprises.
<<Jim>>
"Richard P. Kenan" wrote:
>
> At 04:00 PM 2/18/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>
> >One thing that doesn't get mentioned much is TESTING your batteries.
> >They're kind of a black box, and it's hard to tell just what kind of
> >shape they're in until the lights go dim half-way into your first night
> >out. A battery load tester is a very worthwhile investment, not only for
> >your trailer, but for your other batteries.
>
> Jim, I was thinking exactly the same thing,and went looking for a tester
> that would test the batteries under typical loads, but I couldn't find one
> (probably looking in all the wrong places). Do you have a recommendation
> that you'd be willing to share?
>
> - Dick
> (5368)
> "I'm not young enough to know everything." - Oscar Wilde
>
> Dick and Jane Kenan
> 2515 Riverglenn Circle
> Atlanta GA 30338-5944
> Tel. 770-451-0672
> FAX 770-451-9672
> Cell 770-331-0380
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dick)
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jane)
>
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>
>
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<<http://www.oldengine.org/members/jdunmyer>>
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<<lower SE Michigan, USA>>
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