How to check battery amps?

Technical Area Engine, Transmission, Exhaust etc
2

Hi,


Does anyone know how I can easily check what amps my battery is.  I have a 2000 mk2 California with the original battery in.  Unfortunately the car wouldn’t start after a winter in the garage so I bought a charger for it.  This worked and I got it started and took it to Halfords for them to check the battery.  They couldn’t find the amps written on the battery so they said they wouldn’t be able to check it for me until I found out what amps it is.

Thanks

Jane

3

Mazda use a JIS Number (Japanese Industrial Standards) on their batteries which is moulded into the top of the battery. MX-5 AGM battery is S46A24L. This equates to 32 Ah (Amp Hours) and (I think but don’t quote me on it) 325 CCA (Cold Cranking Ampere).

4

Thanks Robbie…

5

 With the greatest respect to Robbie I am fairly sure that the CCA of the panasonic battery is 365amps [SAE]  MX5 parts advertise the Wesco battery at 475amps which they say is 30% more than the panasonic.  Another point is that this battery cannot be tested using a resistance type tester, a “drop tester” as it used to be known.  An electronic tester is needed.  I have just tested my spare panasonic after a couple of days slow charge and it gave a CCA of 351amps.  So I would think a theoretical figure of 365 is about right.

         Regards    Geoff Peace.

6

I will bow to your greater knowledge on the CCA Geoff. Mazda don’t quote a CCA for the Panasonic battery only an Ah rating.