Triplett BQ-600A User manual

Brand: Triplett

Model: BQ-600A

Category: Car battery chargers

Type: User 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 prop-

erly 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 dis-

play 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 re-

duced brightness; however, the reading will display as negative (i.e., the nega-

tive 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 ap-

proximately 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. Corro-

sion 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.

BQ-600A

Type 2

Battery Tester Cat. No. 3194

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

TRIPLETT

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 mea-

sured 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 al-

lowed voltages can be found in the vehicle and battery manufacturer’s specifi-

cations. 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 replace-

ment. 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 electri-

cal connection can be used to identify connections where “resistance” is caus-

ing 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

...

typically activates @ approx. 70V

MAXIMUM DURATION

OF OVERVOLTAGE ..................... 30 seconds for voltages less

than the maximum input

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.

TRIPLETT

PN 84-808

Triplett Corporation One Triplett Drive Bluffton, OH 45817

800-TRIPLETT FAX: 419-358-7956 www.triplett.com

Triplett BQ-600A User manual

Brand: Triplett

Model: BQ-600A

Category: Car battery chargers

Type: User manual

Download PDF

report

Triplett BQ-600A User manual

Triplett BQ-600A User manual

Related papers

Other documents