Armoured-vehicle battery diagnostics
Getting vehicles combat ready
Batteries are improving, but their service life remains difficult to predict.
Spectro CM-12 models a battery against an application-specific matrix to validate Minimum Operational Reserve Energy (MORE). The non-invasive, 30-second test identifies whether an armoured vehicle has the capacity needed for engine start, Silent Watch, and the next mission.
30 sec
Typical test time
27.5–300 Ah
Supported capacity
3–12 V
Standard test range
300–1,250 A
CCA test range
The leading health indicator
Capacity reveals what a cranking test can miss.
A battery may still deliver strong cold-cranking amps while its usable energy has already faded. In a Johnson Controls analysis of 800 AGM starter batteries, 48% became unusable due to low capacity, compared with 12% due to low CCA.
Reading capacity and CCA together gives service teams a more complete view of battery condition and helps identify batteries that are likely to fall short before the next service interval.
48%
Failures linked to capacity fade
12%
Failures linked to low CCA
Source: Johnson Controls Power Solutions EMEA, AABC Europe 2017, Mainz, Germany.
From measurement to action
Validate the battery against the mission it must support.
A battery matrix translates a complex electrochemical response into an application-specific service decision.
01
Measure
Scan the battery non-invasively across multiple frequencies to classify capacity, CCA, state of charge, resistance, and anomalies.
02
Validate
Compare the response with a matrix built from same-model batteries at known performance levels.
03
Decide
Apply the selected MORE threshold and return a clear pass, service, or replacement decision.
Fleet-ready diagnostics
Test the reserve that combat readiness depends on.
Capacity assessment supports Silent Watch with engine start. It can expose batteries that still deliver acceptable cranking current but no longer store the energy required by the vehicle’s operational loads.
- Open battery test platformUse a supplied matrix or download additional application-specific matrices from the Matrix Library.
- Clear service decisionsMove from pass/fail toward tri-state or numeric reporting as matrix integrity advances.
- Non-invasive testingAssess batteries in about 30 seconds without a lengthy discharge test.
Connected records
Carry battery history from the vehicle to the fleet office.
The tester connects to its host by Bluetooth and can optionally share results through CadexCloud over Wi-Fi. Records can include battery status, charge level, internal resistance, temperature, vehicle identification, and work orders.
QR-coded batteries can retrieve model-specific matrices and historical readings at the point of service.
Battery aging trend
Cranking performance can hide capacity loss.
In a study of 175 starter batteries, capacity declined with age while cold-cranking performance remained within the operating range. The trend explains why a cranking-only test can miss the weak link.
Measuring both capacity and CCA gives service teams a more complete view of mission readiness.
Spectro CM-12
Test capabilities at a glance
Measurement
Capacity, CCA, state of charge, internal resistance, temperature, and battery anomalies using Multi-Model EIS.
Frequency and timing
Typical 30-second scan from 2,000 Hz to 4 Hz; 0.1 Hz configurations are available.
Battery range
3–12 V standard; 24 V on request. 27.5–300 Ah and 300–1,250 A CCA.
Thresholds
Capacity and CCA thresholds are typically set at 50%; other settings are available on request.
Power and connections
Internal Li-ion battery for approximately 250 tests, Bluetooth host connection, optional Wi-Fi cloud connection, and USB-C charging.
Physical and compliance
182 × 96 × 47 mm; 430 g net; IP52. Applicable CSA, UL, CE, RoHS, REACH, RED, WEEE, ISTA 3A, and FCC Type A compliance.
Keep vehicles mission ready
Make capacity part of every battery service.
Talk with Cadex about armoured-vehicle matrices, fleet workflows, and application-specific thresholds.