Advanced Marine Electrics and Electronics Troubleshooting A Manual for Boatowners and Marine Technicians

5-minute discharged battery test, either

before or after recharging the battery.

At the end of the testing, the inTELLECT

EXP-1000 displays one of five test result mes-

sages: good battery; good but recharge; charge

and retest; replace battery; bad cell—replace.

Depending upon the results, numerical values

are displayed, as are two screens showing bat-

tery state of charge (SOC) and state of health.

These last two screens are user selectable.

Starter Circuit Test

If you initially chose “system test” from the

main menu, the inTELLECT EXP-1000 will

26 electrical systems troubleshooting

move automatically to the next test—the

starter circuit test.

To get the most comprehensive results,

you will need the optional amp clamp. Place

the clamp around the main starter battery feed

cable to measure the amperage the starter is

drawing while it is cranking. This is an impor-

tant part of overall starting system analysis.

Assuming that the engine isn’t seized, an exces-

sively high amperage draw indicates a possible

fault inside the starter motor. An excessively

low amperage draw indicates a faulty connec-

tion to the starter, which could be caused by

either a loose or corroded connection or

cabling that is too small for the job.

While the inTELLECT EXP-1000’s

optional clamp is recommended, be aware

Decision Recommended Action

GOOD BATTERY Return the battery to service.

GOOD—RECHARGE Fully charge the battery and return

it to service.

CHARGE & RETEST* Fully charge the battery and retest.

Failure to fully charge the

battery before retesting may

cause false readings.If

CHARGE & RETEST appears

again after you fully charge the

battery, replace the battery.

REPLACE BATTERY Replace the battery and retest. A

REPLACE BATTERY result may also

mean a poor connection between

the battery cables and the battery.

After disconnecting the battery

cables, retest the battery using the

out-of-vehicle test before replacing it.

BAD CELL—REPLACE** Replace the battery and retest.

*If the result is CHARGE & RETEST, the EXP will calculate and dis-

play the time needed to charge the battery at 10, 20, and 40 A.

** When testing at the remote posts, the EXP may need to verify the

result. It will give you the option of retesting at the battery posts.

Source:Midtronics

Battery Decisions

and Recommendations

TABLE

2-1

Finally, the meter displays a state of health (SOH) screen, a

summary based on the measured CCA versus the pro-

grammed or rated CCA. In this case, the meter “dial” shows

the pointer between 50% and 100%, indicating approxi-

mately 70% to 75% state of health. This battery will need to

be replaced fairly soon. The magic number to remember is

80% of the rated CCA. Virtually every battery I’ve ever

tested using a conductance tester will measure more than its

rating when fairly new. Once a battery measures less than

80% of its rating, it should be replaced. It’s important not to

confuse state of charge with state of health: SOC is merely a

reading of the open-circuit voltage across the battery’s termi-

nals, but really doesn’t provide any information about the

battery’s ability to deliver current as SOH does.

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