TM400M1: BATTERIES, STARTING AND CHARGING

• TEACHER GUIDE :THIS ACTIVITY IS DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT IS INVOLVED IN INTERPRETING (VOLT-AMPERE-TIME ASSOCIATED )GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF INFORMATION ACQUIRED DURING THE ELECTRICAL TESTING OF BATTERIES , STARTERS AND ALTERNATORS.

• The application of current technologies and use of spreadsheets can graphically show some of the relationships between Volts & Amperes duing automotive starting and charging system testing.

• THE SPREADSHEET APPLICATION EXERCISES ARE ACTIVE ONLY IF YOU HAVE "MICROSOFT EXCELL" INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER.

• The Automotive Technology Instructor fully versed in the use of either manual or electronic Volt-Amperage test equipment such as the "SUN VAT 40, 45 or 60" series machines will find the four (4) "Microsoft Excell" spreadsheet exercises useful in showing the relationships between Volts -Time, amperes -time ,and Voltage drop when an electrical load is applied in Amps to a Vehicles battery, starter and alternator. The resultant graphs plotted in the spreadsheet calculation will be most useful in line or bar graph form, including the average test line calculated from three separate tests, however several other graph styles are included in the pull down menus.

• Materials required are those standard to any "Hands On" automotive program that teaches electrical diagnostics with the use of Volt-Amperage test equipment. The only special requirements are access to the internet to use the links section and a computer with "Microsoft Excell" installed (version from "Office 97" or above).

• The Math or Physics teacher will find the spreadsheet section useful for their students in the exploration of relarionships between Volts-Time -Amps as test values can be arbitrarilly changed in the spreadsheet. Three dimensional graphs showing columns, surfaces, bars etc. can be used and modified to show many different mathematical and scientific relationships.

• NON-LAB and NON-AUTOMOTIVE programs require only a computer with a browser and "Microsoft Excell" installed to manipulate the data section of the spreadsheet application.

• The SUBJECT MATTER is at the High School or Junior College level designed for Automotive students with experience in Volt-Amperage Testing of Vehicle batteries, starters and alternators. The class time allocated for this lesson is 5 to 7 days depending on the entry skill level of the students and any other associated vehicle concerns affecting this test. Math students should find the manipulation of spreadsheet data with the associated graphs good for several learning sessions. Physics and Physical science students can explore the Volt- time relationships that change according to electrical loads applied etc.

• The INSTRUCTORS APPROACH is designed for "Hands On" activities and will fit a variety of learning styles. All instructors should spend some time with the spreadsheet sections and the trial inputing of data to see how the graphs are affected. Evaluation of this goal in an Automotive program is left to the instructor. A quiz is available in "Microsoft Word" format and is on the disk version as tm400quiz.doc. It requires "Excell" be installed on your computer and the BATVOLT.XLS etc. be accessed and data input to print graphs and make calculations. Knowledge of the concepts learned while completing "Hands On" vehicle tests is necessary to complete the written section. Volt -Time and Volt -Amp graphs and data sheets are assessed for accuracy by the instructor as vehicle tests are completed.