Questions & Answers

Conductance describes the ability of a battery to conduct current. It is a measurement of the plate surface available in a battery for chemical reaction, which determines how much power the battery can supply. High relative conductance is a reliable indication of a healthy battery, while conductance declines as the battery deteriorates. Years of laboratory and field test data have determined that battery conductance is an indicator of battery state-of health showing a linear correlation to a battery's timed-discharge capacity test result. If conductance can be measured, discharge capacity can be predicted, giving a reliable predictor of battery end-of-life. Other testing alternatives like voltage and specific gravity testing are not predictive. Timed discharge testing is very time-consuming and expensive, and impedance testing does not correlate directly and linearly with discharge capacity. Thus, conductance testing is a very effective and economical battery management tool.