Night before last, I measured my battery voltage to be 12.59 volts. This morning I measured it 12.46 volts. The positive terminal is disconnected. Did it drain 0.13 volts worth of energy in 36 hours? or is it measuring differently because it's cooler this morning than when I measured it the first time?
2006-10-22 04:37:39 · 13 answers · asked by McNeef 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
i own a repair shop,and yes temperature does effect the battery voltage some on any battery ,you can expect a 1-2 volt loss on a real cold battery,or like on a below 0 day they will loose a lot,sometime enough that they wont start,but it does hurt them a little,,and then when they warm up the re-gain there voltage back,but it does play a small role in how a battery works,good luck,i hope this help,s.
2006-10-22 04:45:03 · answer #1 · answered by dodge man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Batteries, by their design and primarily by the chemicals used in them, have a voltage that it is capable of producing. Voltage is nothing but a force. That voltage stays constant from no load up to some load. Going over that load, the voltage begins to drop, down to 0 volts across a short circuit. Batteries do NOT produce fixed power. If they did, then batteries would go dead just sitting on the shelf. When a battery is in a circuit giving power to something. It can really be viewed as a power source AND a resister. If the circuit draws too much power, then the battery's internal resistor heats up from the I^2R rule (Power = I squared * R). Also the voltage that can be seen from the voltage drop across its internal resister. The current/voltage ratio is based upon the resistance of the load until the battery's resistance becomes a significant part of the total resistance.
2016-05-21 22:24:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That small amount of voltage change is probably within the accuracy of the voltmeter. On the info that came with your voltmeter, look for info on the precision or accuracy.
But yes, battery voltage will depend upon temperature. What you measure will also depend on how good a connection you make using your volt meter, so try moving the leads around, and cleaning them off (safely!) to see if you get the same reading. I think it'll also change if you've used it recently, and if the battery's older.
2006-10-22 04:59:45 · answer #3 · answered by zandyandi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the battery was charged recently, the voltage will always drop gradually when the charge stops. Just play scientist and warm the battery back up and see if the voltage rises again. Then you'll be the expert.
12.59 is a little low, by the way. They usually hold 12.8 to 13.0 with a full charge.
2006-10-22 07:01:45 · answer #4 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My super smart cousin says that the cooler the battery is, the less volts it puts out. However it also does this when it's really hot. But a lot of the time in cooler states, your battery will last longer, unless you live in like the Antarctic, where there is a possiblity that your battery can just shatter. Down here in Texas, our batteries don't last as long as say...North Dakota or Colorado.
2006-10-22 04:41:07 · answer #5 · answered by concretebrunette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not voltage, but Amps. There is a difference in 'cold cranking Amps' and 'warm cranking Amps'. The battery may not be holding charge, but depending on the moisture in the air (humidity), it could lose that much voltage and not be hooked up to anything. All batteries will discharge this way. That's why flashlight batteries are hermetically sealed during storage.
2006-10-22 05:12:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
voltage does not drain from batteries, only current delivery. When the cell or cells weaken, then the voltage drop occurs. Now temperature has an effect on everything it comes in contact with, resistence in the electrical circuit is increased when temperature increases, except in some rare designed applications. everything it seems is ying-yang!
2006-10-22 04:51:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, temperature can have a marginal effect on battery voltage a fully charged cell should be about 2.2 volt. So a fully charged 12v battery will be about 14v
2006-10-22 04:42:45 · answer #8 · answered by Daddybear 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
electric potential has many factors and one is temperature. it is more likely that your battery is equalizing than losing potential. some batteries, just get old and slowly drain out. think about it you have a batter for 10 years and at the beginning it works, one day you turn on the flashlight and nothing. you didnt use anything. what explains the difference....
2006-10-22 04:47:03 · answer #9 · answered by Daniel M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may have lost a little setting overnight. Your meter may be off a little this morning too. There is a plus or minus factor involved with those too. If you have a good meter like a Fluke, then I would say your battery lost a little overnight.
2006-10-22 04:46:12 · answer #10 · answered by Thomas S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋