Here is a quick breakdown on the spectrum of voltage ranges.
Motorcycle battery voltage range.
Likewise a 12v battery is made up of six individual cells giving a total of 6 x 2 1v 12 6 volts.
No 12 volt battery will remain at over 14 volts for more than seconds unless it s being charged.
12 volt batteries supply useful energy only through a limited range from over 14 volts when fully charged and unrested down to 10 5 volts in use under load when lights dim your motorcycle is hard to start.
When any 12 volt battery is discharged below 12 4 volts sulfation begins to occur within the battery.
A battery is at a discharge anywhere from 11 9 to way below that range.
Even though you are testing a 12 volt battery you should know that a battery that is truly 12 0 volts is a boat anchor.
If it reads below those values then your battery is not keeping a full charge.
A good battery should read between 12 4 to 12 6 volts 12 6v being optimal.
Fully charged our redtops including 34m bluetop will read approximately 12 6 12 8 volts and our yellowtops will read approximately 13 0 13 2 volts including bluetops with light gray cases.
We call this the open cell.
A healthy 12 volt motorcycle battery should maintain a range from 9 5 10 5 volts under the load for a good 30 seconds straight.
A 6v battery is comprised of three cells giving a total voltage across it s terminals of 3 x 2 1v 6 3 volts.
Positive to positive and negative to negative.
The following table shows how battery voltage corresponds with state of charge at 80 degrees f.
If the voltage instantly drops to 0 volts that is also a problem.
12 volt motorcycle batteries supply useful energy only through a limited voltaic range from over 14 volts when fully charged and rested down to 10 5 volts in use under load this battery is noticed when lights dim or your motorcycle is hard to start.
Place the voltmeter leads to the battery terminals.
If the battery begins to hold and then steadily drops in voltage there is a problem.
Motorbike batteries are made up from a combination of such cells connected in series to give the required voltage.