Title: Module 3: Load Test - Activity
Course: ASE A6 Battery Service > Section: Module 3: Battery Testing

Q: A battery is rated at 650 CCA. What is the correct load test amperage?
- 650 amps
- 195 amps
- 325 amps
- 450 amps
A: 325 amps

Q: During a load test, the load should be applied for:
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
- 15 seconds
- 30 seconds
A: 15 seconds

Q: At 70°F, a battery must maintain at least ______ volts during a 15-second load test to pass.
- 10.5V
- 9.0V
- 9.6V
- 8.5V
A: 9.6V

Q: A technician performs a load test on a January morning when the shop temperature is 30°F. The voltage reads 9.0V at the end of the test. This result is:
- A fail — 9.0V is below the minimum at any temperature
- A pass — the minimum at 30°F is approximately 9.1V, and 9.0V is close enough
- A fail — the minimum at 30°F is 9.1V, and 9.0V is below that threshold
- Cannot be determined without knowing the battery's age
A: A fail — the minimum at 30°F is 9.1V, and 9.0V is below that threshold

Q: A battery fails the first load test. What should the technician do?
- Replace the battery immediately
- Charge the battery fully and retest once — if it fails again, replace it
- Perform a conductance test to get a second opinion
- Wait 5 minutes and test again without charging
A: Charge the battery fully and retest once — if it fails again, replace it

Q: Using a real battery at your workstation that has already passed the OCV test and conductance test, perform a load test using the carbon pile load tester. Before you begin, confirm the battery's OCV reading is at least 12.4V (with surface charge removed) and identify the battery's CCA rating from the label. For the following questions (7–12), describe what you did during the test.
Feedback: The student should confirm the OCV is at least 12.4V with surface charge removed, and identify the CCA rating from the battery label (e.g., 600 CCA).

Q: Show how you calculated the correct test load from the CCA rating you identified above.
Feedback: The student should show the calculation: CCA × 0.50 = test load. For example, 600 CCA × 0.50 = 300 amps.

Q: How did you connect the load tester to the battery?
Feedback: Connected the positive (red) clamp to the positive (+) battery post and the negative (black) clamp to the negative (−) battery post.

Q: What did you observe during the 15-second load test? Did the voltage drop steadily or behave differently?
Feedback: The voltage dropped steadily during the 15-second test as the battery sustained the load. A steady drop is normal. If the voltage dropped then recovered, surface charge may have been present. If the voltage dropped rapidly, the battery may be weak.

Q: What voltage did you read at the end of the 15-second load test?
Feedback: The student should report their actual voltage reading at the end of the 15-second load (e.g., 10.1V, 9.8V, 9.2V, etc.).

Q: Did the battery pass or fail? Explain why, including the minimum voltage for your shop temperature.
Feedback: The student should compare their voltage reading to the minimum for the shop temperature (9.6V at 70°F, with lower minimums at colder temperatures per the temperature correction table). If the voltage stayed above the minimum, the battery passed. If it dropped below, the battery failed.

Q: Based on your test result, what would you recommend to the customer?
Feedback: If the battery passed, it has adequate capacity and does not need replacement at this time. If the battery failed, charge it fully, remove surface charge, and retest once. If it fails a second time, the battery should be replaced. The student should give a clear recommendation based on their actual result.