Battery: Specific Gravity Test

The lead acid battery used in today's automobile is made of plates, lead, lead oxide, in a
solution of electrolyte. This solution consists of 65% water and 35% sulfuric acid. The specific
gravity or weight of this solution increases as the battery charges and decreases as the battery
discharges. As the battery discharges, sulfur moves away from the solution and toward the
plates. The opposite is true as the battery is charged, the sulfur returns to the electrolyte
solution.

The specific gravity of the electrolyte depends on this 65% to 35% ratio for the necessary
chemical reaction to take place. This ratio is affected by the amount of sulfuric acid and the
temperature of the solution.

As the temperature drops, the electrolyte contracts increasing the specific gravity. As the
temperature increases the electrolyte expands deviating from its optimal ratio and affecting the
specific gravity reading.

A battery's specific gravity is a great way of measuring a battery's state of charge. This is
because during a discharge, the specific gravity decreases linear with ampere-hours discharged.
The specific gravity also increases as the battery is recharged.

A hydrometer is used to measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte solution in each cell. It's
a tool used to measure the density or weight of a liquid compared to the density of an equal
amount of water. A lead acid battery cell is fully charged with a specific gravity of 1.265 at 80
F. For temperature adjustments, get a specific gravity reading and adjust to temperature by
adding .004 for every 10 F above 80 F and subtracting .004 for every 10 F below 80 F.
 Battery Level Check
Check the level of the electrolyte solution. As the level gets lower, the specific gravity is
higher than optimal. When a technician adds water to the cell, the specific gravity is lowered,
bringing the solution closer to its optimal ratio.