PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-682
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 682
SEPTEMBER 2009
12
PS 682
SEP 09
PS 682
What Yellow, Red, and Green Mean
Charge is OK to start engine
Yellow: 22-26 volts
Watch the gauge when you turn the power
switch to ON and before you crank up the
engine. The gauge needle should land in the
yellow section, or between 22-26 volts. If the
needle goes into the red section at the left of the
gauge, your batteries are weak, defective, need
charging, or there’s a short in the system.
Now, crank up the engine at idle rpm. If the
needle hangs to the left after you’ve started the
engine, one battery could have a bad cell.
Correct charging is about 28.5 volts
Green: 26-30 volts
Lead-Acid Batteries…
Protect Vehicle Battery Life
paying attention to the
bat-gen indicator on your
instrument panel can make a
positive difference wherever
you use your vehicle.
but you’ve gotta know
how to “read” that
gauge so you can tip
off your mechanic to
battery trouble…
here’s
how…
turn off all electrical
components, like your
lights and radio.
operators, your
vehicle has a
valuable feature
that shows the
condition of its
batteries.
by simply
turning on a
power switch
and looking
observantly, you
can determine
the charging
level and
activity of the
battery charging
system.
by now, you
might have
guessed this
feature is
the bat-gen
indicator.
after the engine starts,
run it at fast idle—
about 1,500 rpm, for at
least 20 minutes.
the battery charging
system is working fine
if the needle settles at
about 28.5 volts, in the
green section.
…and
not
get
stranded in
the middle
of nowhere!
682.12-13.indd
1-2
8/3/09
2:55:43 PM
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