Midtronics SCP 6/12 User manual

6 V Low = 6.00 V
6 V High = 6.90 V

battery in degraded condition.
an indication of a good battery, and a low measurement indicates a
siemens (S). In general, a high relative conductance measurement is
capacity. The SecurePower 6/12 displays the conductance value in
tance is a relative measure of a battery’s ability to meet its rated
DC voltage is a measure of a battery’s electrical potential. Conduc­discharge capacity.
rated between 1.2 and approximately 50 ampere hours (Ah) of
current voltage (Vdc) and conductance for any 6 or 12 volt battery
The Midtronics SecurePower 6/12 measures and displays the direct

CONDUCTANCE AND VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS

12 V Low = 12.00 V

its specified operating range may permanently damage it.
CAUTION: Attempting to operate the SecurePower 6/12 beyond

Siemens Range: 20 to 1200 S

Limits: 12 V High = 13.80 V

Voltage Test
Operating Temperature: –18 to 50 °C (0 to 120 °F)
Voltage Accuracy: +/–50 mV across operating range
Voltmeter Operating Range: +6.0 to +19.99 Vdc

SECUREPOWER 6/12 SPECIFICATIONS

to use anywhere, and it is sized to take everywhere!
created during testing. This makes the SecurePower 6/12 safe
put a load on the battery, which means no heat or sparks are

the battery’s true state of health. A conductance tester does not
Using conductance, Midtronics testers are able to determine

other visible signs of defects/problems.
battery for a bulging case, leakage, cracks in the case, or

as rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, etc.

should be worn.
extreme caution when working with batteries. Safety glasses

ing maintenance.

!

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

For service, contact Midtronics for a Return Authorization number, and return
the unit to Midtronics freight prepaid, Attention: RA#. Midtronics will repair or
replace the tester and reship, the next scheduled business day following
receipt, using the same type carrier and service as received. If Midtronics
determines that the failure was caused by misuse, alteration, accident, or
abnormal condition of operation or handling, purchaser will have the option
of purchasing a replacement tester or the unit will be returned freight collect.
Battery testers beyond the warranty period are subject to the repair charges
in effect at that time.

This tester is made in the U.S.A. by MIDTRONICS, INC. and is protected by
one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 6,323,650; 6,316,914; 6,304,087;
6,249,124; 6,172,505 B1; 6,163,156; 6,091,245; 6,051,976; 5,914,605;
5,831,435; 5,821,756; 5,757,192; 5,598,098; 5,592,093; 5,585,728; 5,574,355;
5,572,136; 5,343,380; 5,140,269; 4,912,416; 4,881,038; 4,825,170; 4,816,768;
4,322,685; Canadian patents: 1,280,164; 1,295,680; United Kingdom patents:
0,417,173; 0,672,248; German patents: 689 23 281.0-08; 693 25 388.6;
93 21 638.6; and other U.S. and Foreign patents issued and pending. This
product may utilize technology exclusively licensed to Midtronics, Inc. by
Johnson Controls, Inc. and/or Motorola, Inc.

Service

Patents

• To determine if the battery can be safely tested, inspect the

• To avoid electrical shock, remove personal metal items such

• Because of the possibility of personal injury, always use

• Always comply with facility safety standards when perform-

of the battery to deliver current.
defects, shorts, and open circuits, which will reduce the ability
to perform. In addition, conductance can be used to detect cell
sulfate or shed active material which adversely affects its ability
the battery can supply. As a battery ages, the plate surface can
in the battery, which determines how much power (or current)
Conductance is a measurement of the plate surface available

Conductance Technology:

quickly, and accurately test a battery anywhere.
relative battery state of health. This means you can safely,
Midtronics patented conductance technology to determine
The Midtronics SecurePower 6/12 battery tester uses

SecurePower 6/12™ Testing Advantage:

This battery tester is warranted to be free of defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. Midtronics
will, at our option, repair the unit or replace the unit with a remanufactured
tester. This limited warranty applies only to Midtronics battery testers and does
not cover any other equipment, static damage, water damage, overvoltage,
dropping unit or damage resulting from extraneous causes including owner
misuse. Midtronics is not liable for any incidental or consequential damages
for breach of this warranty. The warranty is void if owner attempts
to disassemble the unit, or to modify the cable assembly.

Find Quality Products Online at: [e-mail]

Limited Warranty

INSTRINSTR

INSTR

INSTRINSTR

P/N 168-850B 12/04 ©2004 Midtronics, Inc.

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UCTION MUCTION M

UCTION M

UCTION MUCTION M

ANUANU

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ESTABLISHING A CONDUCTANCE REFERENCE VALUE

SECUREPOWER 6/12 KEYPAD AND LEDS

Battery performance is temperature dependent. Allow the batteries
to reach room temperature before testing—ideally around 25 °C
(77 °F). (Refer to the Battery Temperature Compensation Scales
below for the compensation factor.)

Because conductance is a relative measure, you must first establish
a reference value by testing a sample number of new batteries. To
establish a reference value, record the average of at least 10 fully­charged batteries of the same or similar models, preferably within 90
days of their installation. Midtronics recommends that the batteries
should all test within 20% of each other (+/–10% of the average).
(Consult your battery supplier for conductance standards.) If new
batteries are not available, record the average of installed batteries
of the same or similar models regardless of age. If the installed
batteries test within 10% of each other, the highest value can be used
as a temporary reference until new batteries are available for testing.

Example: Within 90 days of installation, measure a sample of 20
new batteries (12 V, 17 Ah) that average 300 S each when fully
charged. Conductance will decline as a battery ages. The amount of
acceptable loss will depend on the type of application for which the
battery is used. As a general rule:

<<

<30% loss = Strong Battery—no significant capacity loss

<<

(300 x 0.70 or more ≥ 210 S)

30 to 40% loss = Marginal Battery—nearing the end of its

serviceable life (180 to 210 S)

>>

>40% loss = Degraded Battery—may not meet the required

>>

load (300 x 0.60 or less ≤180 S)

Consult your battery supplier to ensure that the rated battery capacity
is sufficient for the applicable equipment runtime while allowing for
the appropriate aging factor of the batteries.

BATTERY TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION SCALES

Multiply SecurePower

Battery Temperature

35 °C (95 °F) or warmer 0.930
30 °C (86 °F) 0.965
25 °C (77 °F) 1.000
20 °C (68 °F) 1.035
15 °C (59 °F) 1.070
10 °C (50 °F) 1.105

5 °C (41 °F) 1.140
0 °C (32 °F) or colder 1.175

Examples:

Using a reference value of 300, the SecurePower 6/12 reports 63%,
190 S. If the battery temperature is 35 °C (0.63 x 0.93 = 0.59 or 59%),
the battery should be replaced.

Again using a reference value of 300, the SecurePower 6/12 reports
63%, 190 S. If the battery temperature is 0 °C (0.63 x 1.175 = 0.74 or
74%), the battery is good.

%Ref. Value by

UP ARROW: Press for 12-volt batteries
and to scroll to the reference value
(20 to 600 siemens).

ENTER: Press

VOLTMETER:
Press at
any time
to read
DC voltage

DOWN ARROW: Press for 6-volt
batteries and to scroll to the
reference value (20 to 1200 siemens).

The red LEDs above the keypad indicate the test mode and the
numerical value shown on the display (voltage, siemens, and percent
of reference). You can use the SecurePower 6/12 as a voltmeter at
any point in the test procedure by pressing the VOLTMETER button.

BATTERY TEST PROCEDURE

1. Disconnect the battery from the system.

2. Connect the tester clamps to the battery: red to positive (+), black
to negative (–).

3. Select the voltage by pressing the UP ARROW button for 12 volts
or the DOWN ARROW button for 6 volts. Press ENTER.

4. Scroll to the reference value by pressing the UP or DOWN
ARROW buttons. Press ENTER. (The tester will default to the last
reference value entered.)

5. Start the test by pressing ENTER. A series of dots will flash on
the display while the SecurePower 6/12 measures conductance
and voltage, and calculates a percentage of reference.

6. The first value displayed is the percentage of reference.

7. To display the actual conductance value (S), press and hold the
ENTER button.

8. To display voltage, press the VOLTMETER button.

TROUBLESHOOTING

TOO LO: The battery’s voltage is below the specified operating range

(< 6.00 V for a 6 V battery or <12.00 V for a 12 V battery).

Note: If the battery is below 5.5 V the tester will not operate.
TOO HI: The battery’s voltage is above the specified operating range

(> 6.90 V for a 6 V battery or >13.80 V for a 12 V battery).
999 (or 9999 when ENTER is pressed): The battery has exceeded the

range specified. Refer to SecurePower 6/12 Specifications on the
back of the manual for the tester’s operating range.

to select the
reference value,
to start the test,
and to display
conductance in
siemens (S)

Excessive electromagnetic interference may cause the tester to
reset. If the tester resets during testing, simply disconnect it from
the battery, reconnect and start the test process again.

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