J2801™ MAY2018

SURFACE VEHICLE
STANDARD Issued 2007-04
Revised 2013-08
Stabilized 2018-05

Superseding J2801 AUG2013

Comprehensive Life Test for 12 V Automotive Storage Batteries

RATIONALE

This document is published as Stabilized – the technology has not changed and does not need to be updated.

STABILIZED NOTICE

This document has been declared "Stabilized" by the SAE Starter Battery Standards Committee and will no longer be
subjected to periodic reviews for currency. Users are responsible for verifying references and continued suitability of
technical requirements. Newer technology may exist.

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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 .......................................................................................................................................................... 2
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 .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
4.1 Key Words ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
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1. SCOPE

This SAE Standard applies to 12 V, flooded and absorptive glass mat lead acid automotive storage batteries of 200
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.

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 Document

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

2.1.1 SAE Publication

Available from SAE International, 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 SAE Technical
Report.

2.2.1 SAE Publication

Available from SAE International, 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.
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3.4 The test cycle is performed as follows:

a. Discharge 18 s, 25 A

b. Charge 30 min, 14.2 V, max 25 A

c. Discharge 15 min, 3 A

d. Charge 30 min, 14.2 V, max 25 A

e. Discharge 18 s, 25 A

f. Charge 30 min, 14.2 V, max 25 A

g. Discharge 15 min, 3 A

h. Charge 30 min, 14.2 V, max 25 A

i. Discharge 15 min, 3 A

j. Charge 29 min 24 s, 14.2 V, max 25 A

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

k. After the six cycle, Discharge 15 min, 10 A followed by a charging period of 255 min at 14.2 V, maximum of 25 A.

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

m. Repeat Step a-j, four additional times

n. Discharge 15 min, 10 A

o. Charge 120 min, 14.2 V, max 25 A

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 h 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 A to 7.2V, 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 A at the end of any charge step (check charge acceptance at the last
second of each charge step).
– The battery fails to maintain a minimum of 7.2V on any discharge step.
– The battery terminal voltage falls below 12.0V at the end of the rest period.
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NOTE: Due to the nature of specific failure modes, circuit voltage control may be an issue. To accommodate for this
condition, one should consider including test circuit logic to check for charge voltage >15V at any charge step. If
such a failure to control voltage is encountered, please assure equipment is operating properly and move the
battery to another test station that has confirmed functionality, and continue testing. If unable to control voltage
on the second test station as well, the life test shall be considered complete. Continuing to charge/discharge a
battery in this condition is a potential safety concern and could result in hydrogen ignition.

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.

4.2 Marginal Indicia

A change bar (l) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where technical revisions,
not editorial changes, have been made to the previous issue of this document. An (R) symbol to the left of the document
title indicates a complete revision of the document, including technical revisions. Change bars and (R) are not used in
original publications, nor in documents that contain editorial changes only.

PREPARED BY THE SAE BATTERY STANDARDS STARTER BATTERY COMMITTEE