New liesure battery purchased

[bongobaz]

Right then got new LB. New tray both fitted and willinton kit ready to go.
However i have no idea how old my starter battery is [over 3years at least].
I have a tester but no idea how to use it would you advise new Starter bat before connecting Willinton kit. Dont want to ruin new LB efore i get going.
My tester is the orange jobby with the 2 leads and adjustable centre dial.
Any advice team?

[g8dhe]

You won't do any harm to the setup if either battery is at the end of its life, provided they do have some life left in them!

As to the tester, is there a Make or Model number you can see on it ?

If its a fairly old one with a moving coil meter in the middle of a bar with the probes at the end then its just a case of jamming the probes down hard onto the battery terminals, and reading the voltage the needle points to, mind your hands, the meter has a load at the back which will got warm / hot, you only need it on the battery for a few seconds. If its a more modern one then Make and or Model would be needed.

[bongobaz]

Hiya Geoff knew you couldn't resist here we go

[g8dhe]

Right I'm glad I asked as I was thinking along the lines of a dedicated battery tester , which is a different beast from the standard Multi-meter you have

So to check the Starter Battery, turn the knob to DC 20 Volt range as you have it shown, and the leads also as shown, push the probes onto the actual battery terminals, and if your on your own then try to wedge them securely (without snapping the probe off - as someone did!) better still have someone else available to sit in the drivers seat, whilst you hold the probes on! The meter should read about 12.6 volts (engine off), now turn on the headlamps full beam, the voltage will fall but it shouldn't go below 11 volts if the battery is OK. If it falls below 11 volts then either the battery is flat and needs a good charge (48 hours on a mains charger), or the battery needs replacing. As a good check, star the engine and let it warm up for a minute or so, the voltage should rise to about 13.8 volts up to 14.4 volts, if so then your alternator is working fine as well, turn off the Headlamps and you might see the voltage rise a little, hopefully it won't exceed 14.4 volts.

[bongobaz]

Thanks for that will drive bongo into house tonight and follow instructions on screen in the morning.
Or perhaps print em off and do it outside.

[nigelgibson]

it's raining - take the bongo inside to do it.

[bongobaz]

Oops!!

[nigelgibson]

[longhaul8]

Ok so you took the bongo indoors but still no results ?

Hope the new Battery is not damaged

[bongobaz]

Test done from cold this mornig a la geoffs instructions
Engine off 12.52 v
Lights on 11.4 v
engine running 14.48 v
lights off 14.36 v

Never had SB off vehicle so never had a charge.
Does this seem ok looks good to me?

[g8dhe]

Yup that looks fine to me go ahead and get the LB and Willinton kit fitted ASAP, however looking at the pictures in the other thread looks like you have found a better place to have a sleep, than a Bongo - mind you that might be because the of the house demolition job I guess!