Automotive Dictionary: Battery Condition Meter

Send This Page To A Friend
Fade To White
Automotive Dictionary: Battery Condition Meter


Throughout this site we use many technical terms, and given the breadth of readership our site enjoys, sometimes we are remiss and incorrectly assume everyone knows what we are referring to. For those that do not, here are some explanations of the technical terms use.
Fade To White

Battery Condition Meter


Essentially a voltmeter which records the voltage output of the battery, from which can be gauged the battery's overall condition and any problems in the electrical system. The theoretical voltage of a cell is 2v but this can rise to as high as 2.7v during charging. When taken off charge, the cell will register 2.1 volts for a while and this will gradually fall to 1.8v when the battery is fully discharged. Voltage scales on a battery condition meter show the extremes of voltage readings and a centre band indicates when the battery is functioning properly. If the register needle falls consistently outside this permitted band, it indicates a fault in the battery itself or possibly in the charging system.

Also see: How it Works - The Battery
Latest Classic Car Classifieds


Sell Your Car or Parts Browse the Classifieds It's Absolutely Free! - Find Out More