BATTERIES Trends in vehicle batteries and battery service equipment As batteries continue to power more systems in and on the vehicle, the tools and equipment needed to service these systems also continues to evolve. by Erica Schueller, Editor, PTEN magazine VEHICLE BATTERIES TODAY are required to handle more load and to cycle more deeply than before due to the amount of power needed for different vehicle modules and systems. TODAY’S VEHICLE BATTERY In the mid- to late-2000s, some vehicle manufacturers began to replace the standard fl ooded lead-acid battery and enhanced fl ooded battery with an AGM battery, to help address the increased load and need for deeper cycle. “There are more than 20 million vehicles in the U.S. alone utilizing AGM batteries that require specialized charging different from traditional fl ooded lead-acid batteries,” says Kimberly Cottle, president and CEO, Associated Equipment. Associated Equipment is a provider of battery chargers, testers, analyzers and other battery servicing equipment (www.associatedequip.com). AGM, or absorbed glass mat, refers to the construction of the battery. Unlike fl ooded lead-acid batteries which have plates that are submerged in an electrolyte solution, each plate in an AGM battery is wrapped in a fi berglass mat. This design allows for better battery cycling, allowing the battery to be discharged more deeply than a typical fl ooded battery. Why is this important? “If you look at starter draw, what does it take to start a vehicle today? Signifi cantly less (power), because the vehicle is much more effi cient,” says Jim O’Hara, vice president, marketing, Clore Automotive. “But, the battery is being asked to do much more. We’re running nav(igation), DVD players, all kinds of modules on the vehicle that are demanding power at the same time.” Clore Automotive designs, develops and manufactures automotive service equipment (www.cloreautomotive.com). In addition to the shift to a different battery type for new vehicles on the road today, many vehicle manufacturers have adopted, start-stop technology. This is mainly due to changes in CAFÉ standards to increase fuel effi ciency in vehicle fl eets. The location and type of battery for this technology is dependent on vehicle manufacturer, and is generally in addition to the standard vehicle battery found under the hood. In general, AGM or enhanced fl ooded batteries are used in start-stop systems. “Start-stop puts even greater demand on the vehicle,” says O’Hara. “All of the original demands don’t change, but now (when) I come to a stop at a traffi c light or a railroad crossing, the engine shuts down, and now everything is running off the battery.” 4 | ELECTRICAL TESTING SUPPLEMENT | DECEMBER 2016 Smart chargers are micro-processor controlled and provide multi-stage charging to optimally charge a number of different battery types seen in repair shops today – including AGM, flooded lead-acid and enhanced flooded battery types. Photo Courtesy of Clore Automotive “Start-stop systems, and therefore AGM batteries, already are – and are going to increasingly be – an issue for aftermarket shops to deal with,” adds O’Hara. BATTERY SERVICE EQUIPMENT TYPES Here’s an overview of different products available to service batteries: Jump starters It is important to note that while a jump starter assists with starting a vehicle through the battery, the unit itself cannot recharge a vehicle’s battery. “The vehicle’s charging system (alternator) will take care of re-charging the vehicle’s battery, assuming it’s in proper working order, after being jump started,” Associated’s Cottle explains. A recent trend has been portable jump starters. These smaller devices – sometimes the size of a smartphone – assist with jump starting a battery. The units can also include additional features such as a light or USB port for charging small electronics. Smart battery chargers Smart chargers are micro-processor
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