Battery Cables: Notes

A voltage drop test will determine if there is excessive resistance in the battery cable terminal connections or the battery cable. If excessive resistance is found in the battery cable connections, the connection point should be disassembled, cleaned of all corrosion or foreign material, then reassembled. Following reassembly, check the voltage drop for the battery cable connection and the battery cable again to confirm repair.

When performing the voltage drop test, it is important to remember that the voltage drop is giving an indication of the resistance between the two points at which the voltmeter probes are attached. EXAMPLE:  When touching the leads of the voltmeter on the battery cable end and the B+ terminal of the starter, the voltage reading should read 0 volts. A reading above 0.2 volts indicates high resistance in the cable.