Battery Basics Tutorial
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- August 21, 2012
The batteries used in boats today are high-tech and expensive. The operator should be able to measure the charge and translate the reading into the condition of the battery. Here are a few methods for measuring the charge of a marine battery.
There are measuring tools available for purchase that can be used to measure the state of charge of a battery if you do not have a voltage metering system installed. For batteries that use electrolyte there is something called a Hydrometer, which can detect the amount of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte and displays this reading as a charge. The amount of sulfuric acid will change with temperature so in order to ensure consistent readings, be sure the battery is around 80F. Additionally, electrolyte batteries will have multiple cells so the hydrometer readings should be taken from each individual cell. Use the owner’s manual of your hydrometer to determine if the reading is good or bad. A bad battery will typically have deviations between cells. A
