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Carbon Pile Test - Group 31
Battery Tester Overview
Wherever your next adventure or job takes you, our warranty is better, longer and accepted in more places than our competitors - Period. So, whether you're driving to the 18th hole or digging an 80-foot hole you can count on Canadian Energy's Canada Proof products to get you going. No ifs, ands, or buts - no hassles.
How to test a battery to Industry Standards
Visually check the battery for any signs of bulging or swelling. Check the case for damage. Check electrolyte level and, if necessary, fill to one-half inch above plates with distilled water.
Check the state of charge in the battery. If the battery is below 12.60 volts, the battery must be recharged before it can be tested with a load tester or digital tester. 12.60 volts is considered a fully charged battery. Charging times vary depending on the capacity of the charger and the Amp hour of the battery. For example, fully charging a completely discharged automotive battery with a 5-amp charger may take 12-20 hours, while using a 10-amp charger may take 6-10 hours.
After charging, remove the surface charge by applying the battery CCA rating for 10 - 15 seconds (wait 15 minutes before applying this load, hydrogen gas may be present and is highly combustible.) Wait 15 minutes before applying the two additional loads required to determine if the battery is good or not.
Test with a carbon pile load tester; test the battery at half the CCA rating for 15 seconds two times. If the voltage drops below 9.6 volts while load testing, then the battery has failed the load test. If the battery is not rated in CCA, load test at two times the Amp hour.
Specific Gravity Test
This test is performed with a hydrometer, which is the most accurate handheld tool for determining the state of charge of a lead acid battery.
Hold the hydrometer vertically so that the float is free and does not touch the inner walls of the battery.
Draw the electrolyte into the hydrometer, making sure that the hydrometer is full.
Check each individual battery cell. If the specific gravity is not reading 1.260 in each cell, you must recharge the battery. If each cell reads 1.260 or higher, the battery is good for testing.
Powersport Batteries
One Year free-replacement, with original receipt.
**If battery testing cannot be done on-site, batteries may be returned to Canadian Energy through your RSR. After testing, the battery or its replacement will be returned to you on the next scheduled visit.
What to look for while testing
The battery is discharged:
A battery is deemed discharged and not suitable for testing if the battery is below 12.60 volts (maintenance-free) or if you are getting a specific gravity reading below 1.260 per cell.
Solution Charge the battery to achieve 12.60 Volts and a specific gravity reading of 1.260. You can load-test the battery when the battery is 100% charged.
The battery has one dry cell:
This indicates two things; either the battery has a shorted cell, or there is a puncture somewhere on the casing, usually caused by a pebble getting into the battery tray during use or the installers not cleaning out the battery tray before installation. The pebble will sit there while the application vibrates, creating a small hole.
Solution Poor water into the dry cell, wait a couple of seconds, if the battery starts leaking, then there is a user error, and no warranty should be issued. Put a load on the battery using a carbon pile load tester if the cell does not leak. You should see bubbling in the cell, which indicates a short cell; a free replacement warranty should be issued in this case.
All cells are dry in the battery:
This is an indication of overcharging or neglect to water the battery. No warranty should be issued.
The battery is overcharged:
There are a few distinctive traits of overcharging. In flooded batteries, all the cells will be dry, or the electrolyte will be extremely muddy or black looking. In AGM batteries, the distinctive trait is case bulging, labels melting off the battery, or the plastic around the posts melting.
Frozen Batteries:
The batteries cells or one cell will be frozen, or the case will be cracked due to thermal expansion. No warranty should be issued.
Solution (If the battery has not cracked) Bring the battery inside, and let it thaw at room temperature. Once the battery has thawed, and hopefully hasn't cracked, place on charge. (Never attempt to charge a frozen battery)
Battery Cells have varying Specific Gravity readings:
Check each individual battery cell. Specific gravity should not vary more than .050 or "50" points between cells. If a cell varies more than .050 points, charge again, if this difference remains it could be an indication the cell with lower specific gravity reading has failed or could fail soon.
Terminal Damage: If the battery returned for a warranty check has damage to the terminals, melted post or broken, no warranty should be issued.
Shorted Cell:
If the battery is maintainable, look into the cells while load testing. If one of the cells bubbles, and the voltage catastrophically drops off, there is a short. Replace battery.
Battery Care
Warranty Policy
For more details on our warranty policy, please read below:
PLAIN ENGLISH:
Here at Canadian Energy, we believe that education and prevention are two of the best tools we have to limit most warranty issues. Warranties may seem like a straightforward topic, but in many cases, they are not.
When someone returns a product, our process is very straightforward. Our first priority is to diagnose the issue and find out why the product failed so we can avoid the issue from happening again. If the issue isn't with the product but due to a lack of proper testing equipment, improper care, using the wrong product for the application or anything else, we want to work with you to ensure it won't happen again. No blame game - just solutions.
In the case where we find the product has failed, we will simply replace the product. No hassles. No problem.
LEGAL JARGON:
CANADIAN ENERGY WARRANTS TO THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER (EVIDENCED BY THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE RECEIPT) THAT:
(1) the battery is new and has been maintained in a condition which meets or exceeds industry standards and
(2) that the battery will be free of defects in materials and workmanship for the number of months indicated in the price schedule (COMMERCIAL AND/OR DIESEL USAGE HAS REDUCED WARRANTY COVERAGE AS NOTED).
CANADIAN ENERGY WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BATTERIES THAT FAIL DUE TO IMPROPER CHARGING OR INSTALLATION, CONTAINER, COVER OR TERMINAL DAMAGE, SULPHATION OR DEHYDRATION FROM PROLONGED STORAGE AND NON-USE, FIRE DAMAGE, EXCESSIVE HEAT, WRECKAGE EXPLOSION OR FREEZING, THE ADDITION OF ANY SUBSTANCE, OTHER THAN DISTILLED WATER IN MAINTAINABLE BATTERIES, OR THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE BATTERY PROPERLY.
If the original purchaser returns the battery to the dealer where the battery was purchased within the free replacement period from the date of purchase (evidenced by the original purchase receipt) and our testing indicates that the returned battery failed due to manufacturer defects in material or workmanship, NOT MERELY DISCHARGED, then the battery will be replaced free of charge (except for taxes where applicable). If, after the free replacement period has expired and before the end of the warranty period, our testing indicates that the returned battery failed due to manufacturer defects in material or workmanship, NOT MERELY DISCHARGED, the original purchaser may receive a replacement battery of similar size subject to the following conditions: (1) the battery is returned to the dealer where the battery was purchased by the original purchaser (evidenced by original purchase receipt); and (2) payment is made of the prorated value of the expired portion of the warranty period, plus applicable taxes. The payment will be calculated by taking the number of months from the original purchase date to the return date multiplied by the cost per month as shown in the then current price schedule.
THIS WARRANTY SHALL BE IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND EXCLUDES INSTALLATION COSTS, INCIDENTAL AND/OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
For warranty information or questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with your branch.