What battery service equipment do I need?
Batteries no matter which type will continue to need to supply a greater demand for power to an ever-growing range of on-board systems in and around the vehicle, there is also a demand for new technology battery service equipment designed to service these systems. The days of being used to only start a vehicle and supply HT spark until the alternator takes over are now set for the automotive museum.
Automotive batteries are now required to handle increased load and duty cycle more deeply than ever before due to the amount of power required for multiple on-board systems. This additional power load on batteries continues to increase as many more modules and gateways are added. The adoption of start-stop technology, to assist meeting fuel efficiency standards, requires battery power to be maintained while these systems gain emissions efficiency.
There is a large carpark of vehicles now using AGM technology batteries which require charging and test equipment different from traditional flooded lead-acid batteries. Vehicle manufacturers across the range now come factory installed with AGM batteries. AGM, called absorbed glass mat, refers to the construction of the battery. flooded lead-acid batteries have plates that are submerged in an electrolyte solution, however each plate in an AGM battery is wrapped in a fiberglass mat and it is this design that allows for deeper battery cycling.
Types of battery service equipment
Jump starters - in the last few years portable jump starters have become a popular choice. These smaller devices can assist with jump starting a car’s battery. These can also include add- on features such as a light and a USB charging port for small devices. While a jump starter assists with starting a vehicle via the primary battery, it cannot recharge the vehicle’s battery. Because jump starters have an internal battery the power source is limited and must generally be recharged after each use.
Battery chargers – Many automotive workshops still only have the traditional battery charger and the need for smart chargers has continually increased. Digital smart chargers are micro-processor controlled and provide multiple-stage charging to optimally charge a variety of different battery types – including flooded lead-acid, enhanced flooded
and AGM battery types. How fast a battery charger works is dependent on amps x volts output. Most professional workshops are heading toward portable chargers, and now when the vehicle comes in for servicing and repairs the charger goes on the vehicle. The reasons for this shift are as follows: the need for maintenance charging for each vehicle’s battery to ensure the battery is optimally power stabilised to the vehicle’s systems and to provide stable battery voltage for diagnosing electronic components and for having a programming source of power on the battery for repairing / coding electronic systems on a vehicle. Because start-stop AGM batteries, are extremely sensitive to voltage regulation, simply put voltage equals pressure, and they do not want to be over-pressured. If voltage is not correctly monitored, it can start to degrade the internal structure of the battery.
Memory savers – Memory savers are used during battery replacement to avoid resetting vehicle modules. They are connected to the vehicle through the OBD II connector, or through the 12V power port and basically backup batteries to provide lower amperage during battery replacement to retain programmed vehicle memory modules before the battery is removed.
Battery maintainer – Known as the power supply mode on a trade quality smart battery charger, the function of a battery maintainer is to keep a fully charged battery continually charged. We can also call this the float voltage, which is the voltage a battery is maintained at after being fully charged. The correct float voltage varies based on the type and construction of the battery, and ambient surrounding temperature. Like memory savers, battery maintainers are used when a battery is disconnected, or removed from a vehicle completely. They are often used for batteries on vehicles when in long-term storage, to prevent battery discharge. Flashing power supply – Taking power supply a step further, there has been a continually increasing trend in vehicle re-flashing and reprogramming, which requires a stable power supply to the vehicle and flashing needs higher voltage output. Battery service equipment such as Launch provides specially designed for maintaining proper vehicle voltage during programming. The voltage needed can range anywhere from 55 amps to 100 amps @ above 14 volts DC.
Battery testers – Generally used for vehicle system diagnosis, battery testers test the battery’s capacity, the starting system and the charging system test with loads on, and without loads on.
Diagnostic Equipment – A range of battery tests and SOH and registering a new battery using a quality genuine region diagnostic is now part of servicing and maintaining a healthy power system on the vehicle. The electrical shift will continue as the vehicle battery has a greater role in providing comfort and safety as well as operating necessary systems for the vehicle. And this also means that the tools and equipment required to service batteries will continue to change. We can assist with all your battery service equipment requirements.
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