Exide 12V mfd Feb 2014 reads 12.49 out of box

it should be fine. give it a trickle charge to top it up before installing. where did you buy it, you may want to bring it back and ask them to charge it.

 

4 months old, 12.5V isn't too bad. I think it would be OK to install it after giving the battery a full charge.

 

Nominal voltage for a 12V lead-acid battery IS 12V. After charging they will tend to be closer to 13V and slowly drop as the "surface charge" bleeds away. Depending on the accuracy of your meter 12.49V indicates a very -good- new battery. If it was under 12V I would take it back, but it sounds like it's fine to me.

 

Just curious why you didn't go with the Optima yellowtop battery, which is on amazon for $147, free shipping with prime.

 

A freshly charged battery will read high. It's called "surface charge". That's about all I know but it's a real phenomena. After a few days installed and driving checking it again will give more realistic reading.

Also, I thought new batteries typically are not fully charged, not sure. I think you're on the right track charging it with the CTEK prior to install.

 

Sorry but that's not true.
For an old style wet cell the nominal voltage is 12.6.
For most AGMs, it is 12.8.

If you charge one up and leave it sit overnight not connected and it only reads 12.0 the next morning, chances are excellent that it is not very healthy.
That is assuming that your meter is accurate, that is.

 

Nothing to worry about. Everything has a spec range. If it were under 12 is when I would be suspect. If you added up all the 10%and 20% component tolerances in a charging system you would know what I mean.

As far as meters go. I have a Fluke 87, Fluke 83 V, and a Triplett, 3 or 4 older digital desktop Simpsons as well as a few 3.99 DVMs I picked up at Harbor Freight. I was amazed at how close they all read in current, resistance and voltage.

 

There is always someone who will disagree on an off-hand comment. I posted a 12V lead-acid battery should measure 12V. Not 13V, not 11V, is what I was implying. Sorry to be so "general".

So, to be specific, the OP's battery, an "Exide" manufactured unit, according to Exide's spec. sheet, should display the following:
If "flooded lead acid - deep cycle", at 20% charge - 12.0V, at 50% charge - 12.46V, at 60% charge - 12.52V, at 70% charge - 12.6V, and at 90% charge - 12.7V.
If AGM, at 20% charge 12.1V, at 50% charge - 12.44V, at 60% charge - 12.5V, at 70% charge - 12.6V, and at 90% charge - 12.9V.

Reading through the specs an "old type" flooded plate lead acid non-deep cycle battery is the only one that is "not recommended" to allow to reach 20% charge. For that type, you didn't reach 50% charge.

So your new battery should be fine according to Exide's specifications as you didn't reach "not recommended" areas.

 

And there should be someone to disagree, when the off-hand comment is so off that it gives a false impression. For most uses, 20% charge is considered dead. Appreciate the clarification.

 

If you guys are talking about my disagreement with an off handed remark, all I was saying was basically what others were. Below 12 is a point of concern but, a little more is just sweating the small stuff. Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers but I've just been dealing with both regulated and non regulated power supply systems for about 30 years now and was just pointing out that some things come in at the high or low point of a range but isnt necessarily an issue.

 

He was taking issue with me disagreeing with his incorrect "off hand" remark.I appreciate you chiming in though.

 

I also got mine from Stored Energy Products, mine was mfd in Feb 2013 when I receive it in Feb 2014 it measure 12.9 v right out of the box. I paid $175.

 

No typo, I was surprised and kind of pissed off that was 1 year old...but it works well as I am writing this blog. I am sure they charge it before shipping out, the battery post does not have the black plastic cover only the red cover. I also missing the elbow for the vent. I just leave it plugged without vent hose connect.

 

When I sold batteries years ago, the manufacturer rep told us to tell the customer that car batteries had a "70% charge" coming out of the box. I don't know if that was BS or not, but I never heard a complaint from a customer saying that it wasn't true.