- First Name
- Elliot
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2022
- Threads
- 29
- Messages
- 657
- Reaction score
- 673
- Location
- Athens, GA
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 Sahara
- Banned
- #76
I agree that checking battery voltage every now and then is useful.Something that I have been meaning to post about.. It really is a good idea to routinely, monitor/check on your JL's batteries.
Sure, you can buy a pricey metering tool... You can learn to use it ....you can lug it around out on the trails and around town...
Rather then that pricey, larger footprint, metering tool, consider this outfit that is a no brainer to use, takes up little space, handles wear and tear and the elements.. Just toss this outfit in the glove box, etc..
If you want. you can also easily hard wire it right at the battery and Velcro the little meter to the battery blanket and leave it there 24/7/365, so at anytime you can easily spot check battery(s) voltage.
Click pic to enlarge..
The little quality, easy to use, LED readout meter is a Deltran Battery Tender Voltage Indicator Battery Tester, LCD Display with LED Charge Indicator. The meter is sold on eBAY at a decent price here..
Click pics to enlarge..
I agree that the linked tool is as good as any to do so.
Where I take issue is the technique owners may use to apply this tool in a diagnostically useful way.
To point: stick this device on the main battery's leads and what it will read is--provided you haven't deleted your ESS/Aux battery and otherwise have one in your model JL, is a composite voltage of both batteries....which you can get from your EVIC screen.
It may be more useful to temporarily disconnect the factory black cable that connects to the negative lead of the main battery, that is NOT the one connected on the other end to the body ground, and then put a device like the one linked prior up to the main battery's terminals, it will read the main battery's voltage only, not a composite of both battery's voltages.
Be careful not to touch this dangling cable to ground/metal, but shift the voltage meter's negative side to this dangling cable (even as you keep its positive side on the main battery) and you'll get a voltage read of only the ESS battery (where equipped.)
Don't forget to put that battery cable back.
Finally, voltage is a great first method to test a battery, but load testing (with a load tester) is the gold standard--also involving the same cable disconnects discussed above for isolating the two battery's independent voltages.
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