How to test if a lead battery or a charger needs to be replaced

Purpose: With knowledge article for all cases, we will have 99% of issues already documented. This will then be a searchable database, not only for Technical Support when taking cases/call, but RMA Technicians for troubleshooting, RSMs, or even customers in the future. Once the KDB is large and polished enough, we could make them customer visible and would serve as a self-help page on the website. Expectation: Link every created case to a knowledge database (KDB) article. If an article existed for the issue already, the expectation is to build, improve, and evolve, the document with newly learned info from the new case. If an article does not already exist for the issue, then the expectation is to create a new article. Just several articles will cover most of the common technical support issues but there will be many others like "How many rolls of labels fit on the label roll holder" or what is the clearance between the middle and top shelf of a PC-Series workstation.

Typically, batteries used in our application will last 1-2 years (usually 250 FULL cycles). Some customers, with light-duty applications and good charging practice, have batteries last up to 4 years. On the other hand, battery neglect (e.g. fully depleting and leaving uncharged for an extended time) can greatly diminish the life of a battery. Battery capacity naturally decreases over time with usage. For example, when a battery was first purchased it might last 8 hours but after 18 months of cyclic usage, it might last only 3 hours while powering the same devices. To determine the age of a battery, there is a date code on the top, toward the center, of the battery. It is a five digit code followed by 1 or 2 letters. The first two digits are the month, and the last digit is the year. ( ie 11243 would indicate batteries are from November 2013). Batteries not holding charge indicate �end of life� or �damaged� batteries. The true test of the battery is to put it under a load. If it drops quickly it is either at the end of life or has damaged cells. A voltmeter is required for the following diagnostic procedure. Confirm that the inverter/load is off and charger is unplugged from any wall outlet. Measure the resting voltage of the battery. If it is below 7.0V, the battery should be replaced. NOTE: the battery may be damaged as a result of the charger not functioning. After replacing battery, proceed with this test as the charger may also require replacement. Plug the charger into a wall outlet and measure the voltage of battery. If the voltage is not slowly climbing, replace the charger. Charge battery overnight. Unplug charger from wall outlet and measure battery voltage. Voltage should measure over 13.0V after couple of hours of unplugging the charger. If it does, apply power a 60W lightbulb (or equivalent) for 5 minutes and measure voltage while under load. If voltage is less than 12.7V the battery should be replaced. If not, check cables and/or inverter.