TRIPLETT
BQ-600A
Type 2
Battery Tester Cat. No. 3194
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
INTRODUCTION:
The BQ-600A is an accurate, hand held digital voltmeter designed to measure 6,
12, 24 and 48 volt vehicular batteries. The voltages thus measured can be used
as an indicator of the state of charge of the battery. Because faults in the vehicle’s
wiring or charging system can cause the voltage on the battery to exceed 100
volts when the vehicle is running, protection circuitry is incorporated into the
BQ-600A to reduce the possibility of damage to the “BQ” in the event of an
“overvoltage”.
When the BQ is fed a voltage in excess of about +70VDC or 70VAC RMS, it will
beep to inform the user that an overvoltage condition exists. At the same time,
the meter will “shut down”, causing the display to go blank, until the overvoltage
condition is removed.
The BQ-600A is designed to measure DC voltages ONLY!
IT WILL NOT MEASURE AC VOLTAGES! However, the BQ is protected
from damage caused by the application of AC voltage, up to a
maximum voltage of 240 volts. This means that it is protected against
the application of household AC power, which is nominally 120 volts.
PREPARING FOR USE:
The BQ is shipped with the tapered metal terminal already screwed into the
negative connection of the case. Make sure this terminal is snug.
Screw the provided test lead into the positive connection on the top of the BQ’s
case, making sure it is snug.
A replacement terminal and test lead is available from Triplett as PN 79-727.
USING THE BQ-600A:
Holding the BQ in one hand, press the BQ’s tapered terminal firmly against the
negative (-) terminal of the circuit to be tested, while, with the other hand, press
the BQ’s test lead against the positive (+) terminal to be tested.
If the voltage is between 5.8 and 60.0 volts, the BQ will accurately display the
measured voltage. If the voltage is below 5.8 but greater than 4.0 volts, the BQ
may display the measurement at greatly reduced brightness, but the accuracy
of the measurement is questionable. Voltages less than 2.0 volts cannot be properly measured and will not even light up the BQ’s display.
Voltages exceeding approximately 70.0 volts will cause the BQ to “shut down”.
When this occurs, the display will shut off entirely, and the BQ will start beeping.
Once the voltage causing the overrange or shutdown condition is reduced or
removed, the BQ will function normally.
DC voltages exceeding 240V should not be applied to the BQ or damage may result.
1) Limit measuring time to 30 seconds.
2) Do not exceed measurement limit of 60 VDC.
3) Do not allow overvoltage to exceed 30 seconds in duration.
If the BQ is hooked up backwards (i.e., connected in reverse polarity), the display will be blank except for the Minus sign at the left hand side of the display.
The beeper will not sound with a reverse polarity connection.
Application of 60Hz AC voltage to the BQ will not cause damage if the voltage is
less than 240 volts. When AC is applied to the BQ, the display will light at reduced brightness; however, the reading will display as negative (i.e., the negative symbol will be lit up) and the displayed value will typically be less than 1 volt
. . . even when more than 100 volts is present! If the AC voltage exceeds approximately 70 volts, the beeper will sound.
CAUTION: LARGE AC VOLTAGES WILL READ AS ZERO VOLTS ON THE BQ!
MEASURING VEHICULAR BATTERIES:
To properly measure a vehicular battery, the battery’s “posts” must be clean and
free of corrosion. It is best to touch the BQ’s tapered terminal and test lead
directly to the battery posts, not the cable clamps attached to the posts. Corrosion between the battery posts and the clamps could produce an inaccurate
reading. In fact, knowing this, the user can test for corrosion by comparing the
reading obtained on the posts with the reading obtained on the clamps. They
should agree within ±0.1 volts.
Many newer vehicles do not allow direct access to the battery. Connection points
to the battery are provided within the engine compartment, but the battery itself
may be inside of the vehicle’s front fender. The battery voltage may be measured at these points, but keep in mind that corrosion on the battery posts may
produce inaccurate readings. The battery itself may have to be measured before
making any judgements about its condition.
NOTE:
A recently charged battery, or a battery that has been charged in service (such
as when charged by a vehicle charging system) will exhibit a “surface charge”.
Before accurate readings with the BQ can be obtained, the surface charge must
be allowed to dissipate, or a load must be placed on the battery to “bleed” the
charge off. The surface charge can be dissipated by allowing a recently charged
battery to stand for at least 12 hours. Alternately, if installed in a vehicle, the
headlights can be turned on for several minutes to bleed the charge off.
VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TESTING:
With the vehicle off, connect the BQ to the posts of the battery and note the
battery voltage reading. For a charged battery in a 12 volt system, the reading
should be at least 12 volts.
Crank the engine to start the vehicle. The battery voltage should remain above
10 volts during cranking.
When the vehicle starts running, the charging current delivered to the battery
should cause the voltage to rise. The actual voltage depends on the initial state
of charge of the battery, the ambient temperature, and the performance of the
vehicle’s charging system. At low temperatures, the charging voltage is allowed
to be higher than at moderate temperatures. Specifications for the actual allowed voltages can be found in the vehicle and battery manufacturer’s specifications. In any case, it would be very unusual for the battery voltage, during
charging, to exceed 16 volts in any normal situation. If the battery voltage does
exceed 16 volts, the battery, the charging system, and the specifications, must
be closely examined to determine if a malfunction exists.
A common problem in many vehicles is corrosion that develops on the surface
of the battery posts (caused by outgassing from the battery electrolyte). This
corrosion does not conduct electricity, and so, interferes with the current flow
from the battery posts to the post clamps and battery cables. The corrosion is
not always visible on the outside surface of the clamps, often developing where
it cannot be seen, between the battery posts and clamps.
Another cause for poor electrical connection is that the clamps require replacement. Over a period of time, the soft lead of the clamps and the battery posts
may deform. Also, repeated cleaning of the posts and clamps with a cleaning
tool tends to “ream out” the clamps and reduces the diameter of the posts,
making it difficult to get the clamps to tighten down properly. When these
things happen, tightening the bolts on the clamps won’t always allow the clamps
to get a good “grip” on the battery posts.
Problems with the clamps can be tested for by moving the connections of the
BQ from the battery posts to the clamps. If the BQ’s reading changes by more
than 0.1 volts, then a problem exists.
The general technique of measuring the voltage on different sides of an electrical connection can be used to identify connections where “resistance” is causing a “voltage drop”. Any connection that causes a loss of more than 0.1 volts
should be suspect.
SPECIFICATIONS:
OPERATING VOLTAGE .................... 5.8 Volts to 60.0 Volts
RESOLUTION .................................. 0.1 Volts
ACCURACY ..................................... ±0.2 Volts (at 25° C, ± 5°)
LOAD CURRENT ............................. typically between 75 & 200mA
MAXIMUM DURATION OF
MEASUREMENT .............................. 30 seconds
MAXIMUM INPUT VOLTAGE .......... 240 VDC, 240 VRMS SINE
OVERVOLTAGE WARNING BEEPER
MAXIMUM DURATION
OF OVERVOLTAGE ..................... 30 seconds for voltages less
DISPLAY .......................................... 3 1/2 digit, .43” high red LEDs
DIMENSIONS .................................. approx. 3 3/8” x 3 5/8” x 7/8”
Negative Terminal ...................... approx. 7/8” long
Positive Test Lead ...................... approx. 18” long
WEIGHT (incl. terminal and lead) .... 4.9 oz.
...
typically activates @ approx. 70V
than the maximum input
PN 84-808
TRIPLETT
Triplett Corporation One Triplett Drive Bluffton, OH 45817
800-TRIPLETT FAX: 419-358-7956 www.triplett.com
Loading...