Car battery testers

[LX89]

Any thoughts,opinions,experience,recommendations on car battery testers either digital or analog.

Are the lower cost ones,(under $100) any good or junk?

[ZR]

Best you have these days is a load tester like this.
https://media-www.canadiantire.ca/product/automotive/light-auto-parts/auto-battery-accessories/0113003/motomaster-100a-battery-tester-d4cc8a06-5cbc-480e-a9ca-86cb88241866-jpgrendition.jpg?imdensity=1&imwidth=640&impolicy=gZoom

[ZR]

If you have a battery with removeable tops, checking condition via specific gravity gives you a much better idea of it's real condition and charge.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Hlipyfr5L._AC_SL1389_.jpg

[LX89]

If you have a battery with removeable tops, checking condition via specific gravity gives you a much better idea of it's real condition and charge.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Hlipyfr5L._AC_SL1389_.jpg

My antifreeze tester looks like that.
I had a battery specific tester years ago,but it looked like a long round glass cylinder.
The rubber bulb rotted out and cracked.

That would be a lot cheaper than a battery tester.

What about internal resistance,is that important to know or not so much.
Would that load tester you showed measure that?

[ZR]

Specific gravity gives better insight as to state of charge and general condition to predict good to go or time to replace.
Load tester only measure amps available.
Yes looks very much like a coolant tester.

[shakin]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/battery-testers/category/330-015-015-005?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PMax&utm_campaign=PR2401&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwl6-3BhBWEiwApN6_ktR5ElDh8h6yR-N3_6gsXxWZHeBDNjqUUJjlpSYQPUUZUI9St2sPMRoCs6IQAvD_ BwE

I use the POWERFIST 100A Battery Load Tester. It goes on sale frequently. I believe I paid 16.99.

[Darkhorse]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/battery-testers/category/330-015-015-005?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PMax&utm_campaign=PR2401&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwl6-3BhBWEiwApN6_ktR5ElDh8h6yR-N3_6gsXxWZHeBDNjqUUJjlpSYQPUUZUI9St2sPMRoCs6IQAvD_ BwE

I use the POWERFIST 100A Battery Load Tester. It goes on sale frequently. I believe I paid 16.99.

I have that one too.

[LX89]

Anyone have or tried a digital battery tester?

[RedSN]

My OBDII scanner does a battery test. Not sure how good it is, but it measures the battery performance during a start-up

https://photos.smugmug.com/16-Frontier-1/i-wf67jD6/0/L6PxcdqhMB48G7Q5q3QpTPQ3G6CFV5xKdsrckT5Kn/M/E21E0ECB-8AEA-4CC6-B816-F9C553FEE037-M.jpg

[LX89]

Best you have these days is a load tester like this.
https://media-www.canadiantire.ca/product/automotive/light-auto-parts/auto-battery-accessories/0113003/motomaster-100a-battery-tester-d4cc8a06-5cbc-480e-a9ca-86cb88241866-jpgrendition.jpg?imdensity=1&imwidth=640&impolicy=gZoom

Looks like the one Canadian Tire sells.
Is that a carbon pile tester?

Can you load test with the battery hooked up to the car.
Instructions just show a battery not hooked up.

[ZR]

Yes car off, battery connected to test.

[LX89]

Partsource sells a similar one made by Schumacher that costs more than the CT one.
$64.99 vs $48.99

Wonder how much of a quality difference there is.
Schumacher has been around a long time.
https://partsource.ca/products/bt-100-schumacher-100a-load-tester

[LX89]

Purchased the 100amp analog load tester on sale at Canadian Tire.
Tried it on my 10 year old Exide group 58 lead acid battery.

Tried it first without charging the battery as it was charged 1-1/2 months prior.
Voltage was 12.17 volts.

Got around 10.2 volts under load and the needle was pointing right at the 200amp green area.Needle went back to the 12+ volt area after the test.

Charged the battery then tested the next day and got basically the same readings.
Voltage was around 12.5 volts the next day after charging.

This battery is rated at 600 CCA and the needle points to the 200amp area.
Did this last week,checked the voltage today and it's 12.3 volts.
Didn't drive the car.

What do you think-time to replace?
Shouldn't the needle point to or be close to the 600 amp position on the scale?
Guess it's lost some capacity due to age.

[Old Fart]

Is the battery in the vehicle? Looks like it's weak and should be replaced, especially since the cold weather is coming. You are correct, needle should be pointing in the 600 amp green area.

You did good for 10 years of use.

[LX89]

Battery is in vehicle and cables connected.

Instructions are vague,just say's ok if in green area.

[ZR]

Exactly how you do it however most accurate when battery has sat overnight / before first start of the day.

[LX89]

Exactly how you do it however most accurate when battery has sat overnight / before first start of the day.

I can't remember the last time I started it,lol.

[ZR]

Even better time to test.