SURFACE J2801

ISSUED
APR2007
VEHICLE Issued 2007-04
STANDARD

Comprehensive Life Test for 12 V Automotive Storage Batteries

RATIONALE

This test was developed through an industry sponsored laboratory and automotive fleet study to improve the correlation of
test results versus time in the field for a broad spectrum of 12 V lead-acid battery manufacturing technologies.

INTRODUCTION

The SAE Storage Battery Committee commissioned a task force to investigate alternatives to the current high
temperature (75 °C) SAE J240b life test. The objective for the task force was to develop a life cycle test that would
produce the failure modes found in high temperature service for the most common commercially available 12 V Starting
Lighting and Ignition lead-acid battery manufacturing technologies. This test procedure is the result of a three year
industry sponsored study involving large-scale laboratory testing and vehicle fleet.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. SCOPE.......................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Purpose......................................................................................................................................................... 2

2. REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................................. 2
2.1 Applicable Publication................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1.1 SAE Publication ............................................................................................................................................ 2
2.2 Related Publications ..................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2.1 SAE Publication ............................................................................................................................................ 2

3. TEST PROCEDURE ..................................................................................................................................... 2

4. NOTES.......................................................................................................................................................... 3
4.1 Key Words..................................................................................................................................................... 3

1. SCOPE

This SAE Standard applies to 12 V, flooded and absorptive glass mat lead acid automotive storage batteries of 180
minutes or less reserve capacity and cold crank capacity greater than 200 amperes.

This life test is considered to be comprehensive in terms of battery manufacturing technology; applicable to lead-acid
batteries containing wrought or cast positive grid manufacturing technology and providing a reasonable correlation for hot
climate applications.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is
entirely voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”
SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.
Copyright © 2007 SAE International
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE.
TO PLACE A DOCUMENT ORDER: Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada)
Tel: 724-776-4970 (outside USA)
Fax: 724-776-0790
Email: CustomerService@sae.org
SAE WEB ADDRESS: http://www.sae.org
SAE J2801 Issued APR2007 -2-

This document is intended as a guide toward standard practice, but may be subject to change to keep pace with
experience and technical advances.

1.1 Purpose

This life test simulates high heat automotive service when the battery operates in a voltage regulated charging system. It
subjects the battery to charge and discharge cycles comparable to those encountered in automotive service. Other
performance and dimensional information is contained in the latest issue of SAE J537.

NOTE: Caution must be exercised when using this test as a means to provide an absolute value for battery life, as
recommendations for sample size are not contained in this procedure.

2. REFERENCES

2.1 Applicable Publication

The following publication forms a part of the specification to the extent specified herein. Unless otherwise indicated, the
latest revision of SAE publications shall apply.

2.1.1 SAE Publication

Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001, Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and
Canada) or 724-776-4970 (outside USA), www.sae.org.

SAE J537 Storage Batteries

2.2 Related Publications

The following publications are provided for information purposes only and are not a required part of this document.

2.2.1 SAE Publication

Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001, Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and
Canada) or 724-776-4970 (outside USA), www.sae.org.

SAE 2007-01-0637 High Temperature Application Accelerated Cycle Life Test for 12 V Lead-Acid SLI Automotive
Storage Batteries

3. TEST PROCEDURE

3.1 Cycle life testing shall begin within sixty days of the final nondestructive test as shown in 3.3 of SAE J537 (Table 1).
Begin test with a fully charged/conditioned battery per SAE J537.

3.2 The battery is tested in a water bath maintained at 75 °C ± 3 °C (167 °F ± 5 °F)

3.3 Water level of the bath specified in 3.2 is to be maintained at a height equal to or greater than 75% of the overall
height of the battery container or within 12 mm (1/2 in) of the metal bushing of side terminal batteries.

3.4 The test cycle is performed as follows:

a. Discharge 18 seconds, 25 amps

b. Charge 30 minutes, 14.2 volts, max 25 amp

c. Discharge 15 minutes, 3 amps

d. Charge 30 minutes, 14.2 volts, max 25 amp

SAE J2801 Issued APR2007 -3-

e. Discharge 18 seconds, 25 amps

f. Charge 30 minutes, 14.2 volts, max 25 amp

g. Discharge 15 minutes, 3 amps

h. Charge 30 minutes, 14.2 volts, max 25 amp

i. Discharge 15 minutes, 3 amps

j. Charge 29 minutes 24 seconds, 14.2 volts, max 25 amp

The battery is continuously cycled using steps a-j for a total of six cycles. Each cycle will take 3.25 hours.

k. After the six cycle, Discharge 15 minutes, 10 amps followed by a charging period of 255 minutes at 14.2 volts,
maximum of 25 amperes.

l. Repeat steps a-k, four additional times.

m. Repeat Step a-j, four additional times

n. Discharge 15 minutes, 10 amps

o. Charge 120 minutes, 14.2 volts, max 25 amp

The testing outlined in steps 3.4 will comprise one week. A total of 34 cycles shall be recorded for each week of
successful testing. A cycle is defined in steps a-j of 3.4 (example: Monday noon until 4:00 p.m. Friday).

3.5 A switching delay of not more than 10 s is permitted from termination of charge to start of discharge and termination
of discharge to start of charge.

3.6 The battery is given a 28 to 33 hour stand on open circuit in the 75 °C ± 3 °C (167 °F ± 5 °F) waterbath.

3.7 With the battery at the temperature obtained in 3.6, discharge at a rate of 200 amps to 1.2 V per cell, or a minimum
discharge time of 10 s, whichever occurs first.

3.8 The life test shall be considered complete if one or more of the following conditions occur:

– The battery current acceptance is greater than 15 amps by the end of any charge step
– The battery fails to maintain a minimum of 1.2 V per cell on any discharge step
– The battery terminal voltage falls below 12.0 V at the end of the rest period.

3.9 Water should be added to the electrolyte as required during the test except to those batteries described as
maintenance free. Water should not be added to the electrolyte during the test of maintenance free batteries.

3.10 Total cycles completed is based on the count of cycles described in 3.4, steps a through j, that meet the test criteria
in 3.8.

4. NOTES

4.1 Key Words

Life Test, Storage Battery, High Heat, 12 V.

PREPARED BY THE SAE STORAGE BATTERY STANDARDS COMMITTEE