It’s too weak to start most engines and will need to be replaced. A reading of 12V or lower means the battery only holds 25% of its capacity or less. 12.4V means the battery has only 75% capacity, while a reading of 12.2V means there is only about 50% power left.Ī car battery with only half of its capacity left may just get your car started, but it’s a clear sign that either the alternator isn’t charging the battery correctly or the battery is on its way out and needs to be replaced.īelow 12.2V (50%), your battery will increasingly struggle to get your engine turned over, especially in cold circumstances. When you measure a 12 Volts car battery, voltage readings can vary between 10 volts and nearly 15 volts depending on circumstances:Ī fully charged car battery, with the engine and all electrics switched off, should read 12.6V minimum or higher. Car Battery Voltage Readings: What Do They Tell You? Finally, we’ll also explain how to test car battery voltage and we’ll give practical tips on how to keep your car battery optimally charged. We’ll also help you interpret the possible voltage variations under different conditions. That’s why nowadays you’ll hardly find cars with a 6V battery.īecause a car battery’s voltage says a lot about its health and overall performance, in this article we’ll explain what a good voltage reading is for a car battery. While most cars from the first half of the 20th century originally had a 6V battery, the majority of those 6V systems were upgraded to superior 12V electrics with a 12V battery over the years though. A healthy, fully charged so-called “12V” battery should measure 12.6V or higher. However, a 12V battery’s voltage reading can vary a lot depending on its state of charge. If you would like your battery tested, use our Where to buy and Recycle finder for a location near you.Modern car batteries are 12 Volts. Be sure to read and follow all safety and handling instructions on the battery, this website, and your battery tester. The test must be run with the battery in a high state of charge. This test must be done with a true load (carbon pile) and not one of the hand-held testers that work off a conductance algorithm. How do you perform a load test? To pass a load test, the battery must maintain 9.6 volts at 15 seconds when tested at one-half the CCA rating and 70☏ (or above). If you’ve been experiencing problems with your battery system and the headlight test checks out okay, you should check whether the battery is holding a charge, or if something on the vehicle is discharging it. If the lights have normal brightness and don’t change intensity as the engine is revved, your charging system is probably functioning normally. If the lights get brighter as you rev the engine, it means the alternator is producing some current, but may not be producing enough at idle to keep the battery properly charged. If they are dim, that indicates the lights are running off the battery and that little or no charge is being produced by the alternator. If you don’t have a multimeter to tell you the voltage of your battery, you can do a test of your electrical system by starting the car and turning on the headlights. When the engine is running, this measurement should be 13.7 to 14.7 volts. When fully charged, how many volts should a car battery have? charged automotive batteries should measure at 12.6 volts or above. Use our Find a Retailer for a location near you to get a free battery test. Most retailers offer a simple free five-minute battery test. Proactively testing it (or making sure your mechanic does) twice a year will help reduce your chances of failure. Car Battery Testing & Voltage: It’s important to test your battery and electrical system regularly, not just when it’s starting to show signs of weakness.
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