Midtronics MDX-640 User manual

For 6 & 12-volt automotive starting batteries
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY QUALITY
INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY QUALITY WORLDWIDE
MDX-640
Battery Conductance
Analyzer
MDX-640
Battery Conductance
Analyzer

!
Safety Guidelines
Because of the possibility of personal injury, always use extreme caution when
working with batteries. Follow all BCI (Battery Council International) safety
recommendations.
Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.
WARNING—REQUIRED BY CALIFORNIA PROP. 65: Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to
the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproduc-
tive harm. Wash hands after handling.
Capabilities
The MDX-640 Battery Conductance Analyzer tests 6 & 12-volt regular flooded,
AGM at plate, AGM spiral, and gel batteries for passenger cars and light trucks.
It displays the test results in seconds and features a built-in printer to provide
customers with a copy of the results.
Additional features include the ability to:
• testbatteriesfromratedfrom100to2000CCA
• detectbadcells
• protectagainstreversepolarity
• testdischargedbatteries
• testmultipleratingsystems(CCA,CA,MCA,JIS,EN,DIN,SAE,IEC)
• provideamulti-lingualuserinterfacewithEnglish,Spanish,French-Cana-
dian, and Portuguese as the selectable languages.
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Battery Conductance
Analyzer

User Interface
1 UP and DOWN Arrows
Use these keys to choose test
parameters and scroll to menu
options.
2 ENTER Button
Use this button to make
selections.
3. BACK/PRINT Button
Use this button to move to
the previous screen or move
back one space when creating
custom headers. You can also
use this button to printout test
results using the built-in printer.
4 MENU Button
Use the MENU button to
access the Main Menu options
of the tester.
For information about the
options, see “Options Menu”.
M D X - 6 4 0
Battery Conductance
Analyzer
MDX-640
1
2
Display Showing
Battery Result
3
4
IR
Output
Decision
Measured
rating
Measured
voltage
Selected
rating
Button
Toolbar

Option Explanation
View/Print Display the previous test result. Press the PRINT
button to print the results.
QC Mode A quick test to check battery inventory
Export Data Export the last test result to an IR Reader program.
(under development)
Perform Test Begin the Battery Test procedure.
Language Selection Select a language for the tester.
(Default: English)
Set Address Enter the address to display on the top of the printout.
(Limit: 8 lines, 21 characters per line)
Time Select 24-hour or AM/PM and set the time. (Default:
AM/PM)
Date Select the date format as well as set the correct date.
(Default: MM/DD/YYYY)
Counter Clear or display battery and system test by results.
Contrast Adjust the contrast setting of the tester display.
(Default: 10)
Temperature Units Select the temperature units
Degrees F or Degrees C
(Default: Degrees F)
Voltmeter Automatically test battery voltage when the clamps are
rst connected to the battery terminals. Press ENTER
to continue testing the battery. Press BACK to return to
the menu. (Default: ON)
Options Menu
Procedure
1. PresstheMENUbuttontoaccesstheOptionsMenu.
2. Use the UP (p)andDOWN(q) arrows to move to the line you want to edit.
3. PresstheENTERbuttontomakehighlightedlineeditable.
4. Use the UP (p)andDOWN(q) arrows to select the character for that cur-
sor location.
5. PresstheENTERbuttontomovetothenextlocation.
6. PresstheMENUbuttontoreturntotheOptionsMenu.
M D X - 6 4 0
Battery Conductance
Analyzer

Preparations Before the Test
Before connecting the tester, clean the battery posts or side terminals with
a wire brush and a mixture of baking soda and water. When testing side-
post batteries, install and tighten lead terminal adapters. A set of adapters is
included with the tester.
IMPORTANT: Do not test at steel bolts. Failure to install terminal adapters or
installing terminal adapters that are worn or dirty may result in inac-
curate test results. To avoid damage, never use a wrench to tighten the
adapters more than 1/4 turn.
If you are testing in the vehicle, make sure all accessory loads are o, the key is
not in the ignition, and the doors are closed.
Connecting the Tester
• Connecttheredclamptothepositive(+)terminalandtheblackclampto
the negative (–) terminal.
• For a proper connection, rock the clamps back and forth.The tester re-
quires that both sides of each clamp be rmly connected before testing. A
poorconnectionwillproduceaCHECKCONNECTIONorWIGGLECLAMPS
message. If the message appears, clean the terminals and reconnect the
clamps.
• Thepreferredtestpositionisatthebatteryterminals.Ifthebatteryisnot
accessible, you may test at the jumper post; however, the available power
measurement may be lower than the actual value.
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Battery Conductance
Analyzer

Battery Test
When you rst connect the tester to the battery, it functions as a voltmeter
until you press the ENTER button to start the test. This function can be turned
othroughtheOptionsMenu
After you press ENTER, scroll to each parameter using the UP or DOWN
ARROW button and press ENTER to select. If any messages appear during the
test,see“TestMessages”onpage17.
1. APPLICATION:Scrolltoand select AUTOMOTIVE,MOTORCYCLE,MARINE,
LAWN&GARDEN,GROUP31,orCOMMERCIAL-4D/8D.
2. BATTERYTYPE:ScrolltoandselectREGULARFLOODED,AGMFLATPLATE,
AGMSPIRAL,orGEL where applicable.
3. BATTERYSTANDARD:Scrolltoandselectthebattery’sratingsystem.Not
all rating systems are available for each application.
Standard Description Range
CCA Cold Cranking Amps, as specied by SAE.
The most common rating for cranking
batteries at 0 ºF (–17.8 ºC).
100–2000
CA Cranking Amps: Current available
at 32 ºF (0 ºC)
100-2000
MCA Marine Cranking Amps: Amount of current
available at 32 ºF (0 ºC)
100-2000
JIS#
Japanese Industrial Standard, shown on a
battery as a combination of numbers and letters.
26A17 thru
245H52
EN Europa-Norm 100–2000
DIN Deutsche Industrie-Norm 100–1200
SAE Society of Automotive Engineers, the
European labeling of CCA
100–2000
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission 100–1200
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Battery Conductance
Analyzer

6. BATTERYRATING:Scrolltoandselecttheratingunits.HolddowntheUP
or DOWN ARROW button to increase the scrolling speed.
7. Press ENTER to start test. After several seconds the tester displays the deci-
sion on the battery’s condition and the measured voltage. The tester also
displays your selected battery rating and the rating units.
Battery Test Results
Decision Interpretation
GOOD BATTERY Return the battery to service.
GOOD-RECHARGE Fully charge the battery and return it to service.
CHARGE & RETEST Fully charge the battery and retest. Failure
to fully charge the battery before retesting
may cause inaccurate results. If CHARGE &
RETEST appears again after you fully charge the
battery, replace the battery.
REPLACE BATTERY Replace the battery and retest. A REPLACE
BATTERY result may also mean a poor
connection between the battery cables and the
battery. After disconnecting the battery cables,
retest the battery using the out-of-vehicle test
before replacing it.
BAD CELL-REPLACE Replace the battery and retest.
24 VOLT SYSTEM 24-volt system detected. Disconnect batteries
and test individually.
READY TO INSTALL Battery has just been activated and is ready to
install in vehicle (Motorcycle only)
NEEDS CHARGE
Fully charge battery and retest using BEFORE
DELIVERY. (Motorcycle only)
Failure to fully charge the battery before
retesting may cause false readings.
Decision
Measured
CCA
Measured
voltage
Selected
rating
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Battery Conductance
Analyzer

8. PresstheENTER() buttontoproceedwiththestartertest,BACK/PRINTto
printthetestresultsorMENUtoreturntotheOptionsMenu.
NOTE: For an in-vehicle test, the display alternates between the test results
andthemessage“PRESSFORSTARTERTEST.
See “Maintenance & Troubleshooting” in this manual for more information
about the printer.
IMPORTANT: The MDX-640 retains the results of the last test only. When you
start a new test, the last results are overwritten.
M D X - 6 4 0
Battery Conductance
Analyzer

Test Messages
For a more decisive result, the tester may prompt you for additional information.
The messages in the following table may appear before the tester can display
a result.
Test Message Interpretation
BAT. TEMPERATURE
Select ambient temperature above or below 32 ºF (0 ºC)
CHARGE STATE Select before or after battery has been charged.
CHECK
CONNECTION
One or both clamps are not making proper contact
with the battery terminals.
REVERSE
CONNECTION
Clamps are connected in the wrong polarity:
positive to negative or negative to positive.
UNSTABLE
BATTERY
Out-of-vehicle. Weak battery, should be charged and
retested.
WIGGLE
CLAMPS
Clamps are not making good contact with
battery terminals
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Battery Conductance
Analyzer

Error Messages
Error Message Interpretation
CONNECT TO
12V BATTERY
Tester is not connected to the battery
LOW INTERNAL AA
BATTERIES. REPLACE
AA BATTERIES SOON!
Internal AA batteries are low and need to be
replaced. See “Maintenance & Troubleshooting”
section.
NON 12 VOLT SYSTEM
DETECTED
System being tested is not 12-volts.
QC DATA MEMORY FULL
PRINT RESULTS OR
CLEAR MEMORY.
QC mode memory is full. Select QC mode from the
Options Menu to clear the memory.
M D X - 6 4 0
Battery Conductance
Analyzer

Maintenance & Troubleshooting
Changing The Cable Assembly
1. Identify the circled screw.
2. Remove the screw.
3. Grasp the housing and rmly pull the cable assembly from housing.
4. To attach a new cable, align the cable and tester housings and push to-
gether. Insert the screw and tighten.
M D X - 6 4 0
Battery Conductance
Analyzer

Troubleshooting the Display
If the display does not turn on:
• Checktheconnectiontothevehiclebattery.
• Thevehiclebatterymaybetoolow(below1volt)topowertheanalyzer.
Fully charge the battery and retest.
• The analyzer’s AA batteries may need to be replaced. (alkaline recom-
mended).
• IftheanalyzerdoesnotpoweronwhenyoupressandholdtheMENU but-
ton, replace the AA batteries.
Replacing the Battery
The MDX-640 can test down to 5.5 volts when the unit’s internal batteries are
notfunctioning.ThetesterdisplaysLOWINTERNALAABATTERIES,REPLACEAA
BATTERIESSOON! when the internal AA batteries need to be replaced.
NOTE:Setupinformationwillberetainedwhileyouchangetheinternalbatteries.
Use the following procedure to remove and replace the internal AA batteries.
1. Turn the tester face down.
2. Remove the screw securing the battery compartment cover using a small
Phillips screwdriver.
3. Lift the door o and remove the discharged battery.
4. Insert fresh AA batteries making sure the positive and negative terminals
are positioned correctly.
5. Reposition the cover and tighten the screw.
M D X - 6 4 0
Battery Conductance
Analyzer