What should be the voltage on the car battery?

Owners of cars will not hurt to find out what should be the voltage on the battery. Normal indicators allow us to talk about a sufficient battery charge and its high operational capabilities. With reduced parameters of the power source, problems may arise with starting the engine and the functioning of auxiliary devices necessary for comfortable operation.

Basic measuring instruments

Before talking about what should be the voltage on the battery, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic devices designed to take indicators. With their help, you can make the most accurate measurements in normal condition and under load.

1. A multimeter is a universal device for working with various electrical circuits. Devices can be analog or digital. However, as a rule, the last ones apply. Indications in this case are displayed on a special display, which is small in size.
2. Load fork. In a simple version, it contains a voltmeter with the ability to measure resistance. The case is usually made of metal. It is located on a special handle. More complex devices may contain additional elements.

Using the load plug too often is not recommended, as regular battery conditions may deteriorate. In the case of a multimeter, there are no restrictions.

Normal indicators

First you need to understand what should be the voltage on the car battery without the load created by additional devices and the engine at startup. Ideally, the power source should produce 12.6-12.8 volts. At lower rates, it is advisable not to use the battery, since lead sulfate will form on the plates, which can lead to a decrease in capacity.

Performance under load

You must also find out what should be the voltage on the battery when the engine is idle, but under load. In this case, you can determine the operability of the power source. When using a load plug, the voltage should in any case be higher than 9 volts.

If the drawdown is too large, then first of all it is necessary to charge the battery and perform a second test. The indicators will not increase with the exhausted battery life.

Charge table

Immediately after measurements taken without load, the condition of the battery can be determined. Knowing what voltage the battery should produce when fully charged, it is easy enough to establish its capabilities in a particular situation. To do this, you can use the table below.

Engine Start Measurements

When the car engine is running, the indicators increase slightly. Typically, battery voltage ranges from 13.5-14.0 volts. If the charge level is too low, then the indicators will increase, since the generator will function in gain mode.

Although it was described above what the battery voltage should be with the engine running, it can be slightly higher for 10-15 minutes after starting. If during this time it does not recover, then there is a problem with the generator or electrical equipment.

After taking measurements, it may turn out that the voltage did not increase, but somewhat fell. In this case, the battery simply does not have time to charge normally. For verification, it is recommended to gradually start electrical consumers, making measurements between switching on devices. Indicators will significantly decrease (by 0.2-0.5 volts or more) if the generator is faulty.

Battery Operating Rules

Even if you clearly know what the voltage on the battery should be, in case of improper operation it will not be possible to maintain it for a long time. Therefore, you should adhere to special battery operating rules.

1. Before starting the engine, you must turn off the power consumption devices. For one attempt, it is not recommended to give a load lasting more than 5-10 seconds.
2. When driving around the city in winter, it is advisable to carry out additional battery charging through special devices, since the engine in this case operates at low speeds.
3. Checking the integrity of the conductive elements should be done regularly. Possible leakage currents can lead to untimely discharge of the battery. Thus, the operating voltage will be reduced.
   

About recharging

The power source at the right time should be recharged, then during operation the voltage will be optimal. However, when carrying out such an event, certain requirements must be observed.

1. Charging must be carried out at a positive air temperature.
2. The filler plugs should be unscrewed and left directly in the holes before connecting to the network.
3. The device used must have a voltage of 16 volts.
4. Do not tighten plugs for 20 minutes after disconnecting the charger . The accumulated gases must completely leave the inner space.
5. The device is charged in a room with ventilation.

In conclusion

Information about what should be the voltage on the battery will help without any difficulties to identify problems with starting the engine and the functioning of various devices. If the indicators are normal, then the reasons should not be sought in the food system.

It is desirable to take measurements using the aforementioned instruments. You cannot use the on-board PC for these purposes, since the error will be too high. This is primarily due to the features of connecting the device directly to the network.

Check the battery regularly. If the car has not been used for several days, and the measuring device shows a significant decrease in voltage, then the power source has almost exhausted its life.