HOW TO TEST A BATTERY - SHOP CLASS 101
 

Ok guys and gals. Here is the first lesson in shop class that many missed in high school. How to test a Battery 101. This will provide all the step by step info you need to determine what is going on, how to isolate if it is a battery, cables, system drain, and if your going to need to stop playing and throw away the battery.

Tools, testers, chargers, and common sense are all explained in detail.

Next up: Charging Systems

Nope this is not mine. All that was required was a simple search on Google to find someone who understands test procedures.

Cliff Notes: DC Digital Volt Meter Testing
Temperature Compensation Table
Open Circuit Voltage Approximate State-of-Charge at 80°F (26.7°C) Hydrometer Average Cell Specific Gravity Electrolyte Freeze Point
12.65 100% 1.265 -77°F(-67°C)
12.45 75% 1.225 -35°F(-37°C)
12.24 50% 1.19 -10°F(-23°C)
12.06 25% 1.155 15°F(-9°C)
11.89 or less DISCHARGED 1.120 or less 20°F(-7°C)

DURING*the load test, the voltage on a good battery will NOT drop below the following table's indicated voltage for the electrolyte at the temperatures shown:
LOAD TEST
Electrolyte Temperature °F Electrolyte Temperature °C Minimum Voltage Under LOAD
100°F 37.8°C 9.9Volts
90° 32.2° 9.8
80° 26.7° 9.7
70° 21.1° 9.6
60° 15.6° 9.5
50° 10.0° 9.4
40° 4.4° 9.3
30° -1.1° 9.1
20° -6.7° 8.9
10° -12.2° 8.7
0° -17.8° 8.5

Secondary source
Battery Testing, Maintenance And Myths

Body shop (panel beater) 101: "When working on a customer's car and the doors are left opened for extended periods of time, ensure you have a trickle charger connected to the vehicle's battery".

Perhaps you should return to your body shop and ask the question, claiming your battery is now stuffed as a result?

Most batteries can handle one or two hard discharges in their life (Drained to 9.5 volts) and have a 50/50% chance of coming back to full charge and hold. Other crap out and NEVER come back again.

Most shops pull the battery posts loose, but I would bet as this one is the trunk under 2 ft of stuff, they never opened the trunk. One or jump starts and off it went over the curb never to darken their doors again.....:rolleyes:

Note to self or fellow others...buying a battery non locally can be a bear of a chore...I have a Odyssey AGM battery and there was not a dealer nearby for support.

Long story short, I ended up paying for a advance exchange from my original dealer, and will get refunded the NET once I send the core back.Out on shipping but it is what it is

AHHHH....u know that feeling u get when you've had issues and have been putting it off. Finally got all the ballast, projectors, etc all back in working order. Might need to check out the leveling arms, but all is good.