What is LeakTest intended for?
LeakTest is used to determine the amount of current that is drawn from the car battery when the car is parked.
What are the main advantages of the LeakTest logger compared to conventional methods of measuring the discharge current?
First of all, it is the simplicity of connection – just connect the three crocodile clips, and close and lock the car as usual.
Another advantage is that the measurement (recording) can last for any length of time. Another advantage is the availability of the results in both tabular and graphical form. And perhaps one more interesting fact – if a non-zero discharge current has been measured, LeakView will display the parking time after which the battery capacity dropps to a dangerously low level.
How is LeakTest connected to the vehicle?
The LeakTest contains three measuring leads with crocodile clips – green, black and red. The green one is connected to the vehicle’s frame, the black one to the negative battery terminal, and the red one to the positive battery terminal.
What is the procedure for measuring the discharge current using the LeakTest recorder?
First, you need to set the recording parameters in the PC application LeakView (technically, it is not necessary to do this before each measurement).
Then, connect LeakTest to the vehicle. While connected to the vehicle, the measured data is continuously stored in the internal memory of the LeakTest recorder. When the measurement is complete, the stored data is displayed in the LeakView application on the PC.
Is it necessary to disconnect the car battery or do other interventions to the vehicle wiring for the measurement?
No, nothing like that is necessary.
Is it necessary to leave the bonnet open during the measurement?
No, the vehicle is properly closed and locked during the measurement, just like normal parking.
Is the measurement time limited?
No, the measurement can be carried out for any length of time, for example all night or for several days.
Does LeakTest have a display?
No, the measured data is continuously stored in the internal memory. When the measurement is finished, they are displayed in the PC application LeakView.
Does LeakTest have any controls on it?
No, all recording parameters are set in the LeakView application. LeakTest only has LED lights indicating the operation of the instrument.
How are the results displayed in LeakView?
In numerical (tabular) form, and also in graphical form.
On what principle does Leaktest work?
LeakTest determines the amount of current based on the potential difference between the negative terminal of the battery and the vehicle’s frame.
How accurate is the measurement of the discharge current with the LeakTest recorder?
If the value of the resistance between the negative terminal of the car battery and the frame is known (and this value has been entered into LeakView), the accuracy of the measurement is about 2%.If the value of the resistance is not known, the measurement can be considered indicative.
Can the results of the discharge current measurement be useful even if I don’t know the value of the earth resistance?
Yes. If the leakage from the car battery is zero or very small (approximately up to 5-10mA), LeakTest can confirm this condition even without entering the grounding resistance. Similarly, if the discharge current is unreasonably high (more than 100mA), LeakTest will detect this without entering a resistance.
However, if the value of the leakage current is a few tens of mA, it is necessary to know the value of the grounding resistance to determine the actual value.
How do I find out the value of the earth resistance?
The magnitude of this resistance can be measured using a multimeter and a current clamp meter. The procedure for measuring the resistance is described in the Operating Instructions.