Battery Tester Analyzer

[goeduck]

It seems cars and trucks are not as tolerant of a battery on its way out which makes complete sense but it can also leave you stranded with little to no warning. Which is what happened to me for the second time in a little over a year (different vehicles). Our mild climate allows our batteries to easily last 7 to 10 years so they can be overlooked (out of sight out of mind).

Anyone have a battery tester analyzer they would recommend? A quick search turns up some very inexpensive ones to ones you would need to have a mechanics shop to justify. I would rather spend a few bucks than have my wife stranded someday. I never buy bottom of the market for quality reasons but found this one that seems reasonable (BT715 model) for $119 US

Search Result: BT715

Foxwell BT-715 Battery Analyzer Tests Multiple Battery Types

 

[dodge man]

I’d would recommend a load tester, I paid about $60 for mine and got it at Oreilys.

 

[shovelmike]

I became accustomed to carbon pile load testers such as Sun VAT 28 while in automotive school, even well used those are expensive. I trust carbon pile more than digital handheld units. I bought a carbon pile tester at Harbor Freight for a decent price, don't remember...might have been 50-60 dollars. They are pretty simple, not much to go wrong. Make sure the battery is fully charged, load at 50 percent of rated cold cranking amps for 15 seconds, if the voltmeter on the unit reads 9.6 or more you're good....less then it's new battery time.

 

[fried1765]

It seems cars and trucks are not as tolerant of a battery on its way out which makes complete sense but it can also leave you stranded with little to no warning. Which is what happened to me for the second time in a little over a year (different vehicles). Our mild climate allows our batteries to easily last 7 to 10 years so they can be overlooked (out of sight out of mind).

Anyone have a battery tester analyzer they would recommend? A quick search turns up some very inexpensive ones to ones you would need to have a mechanics shop to justify. I would rather spend a few bucks than have my wife stranded someday. I never buy bottom of the market for quality reasons but found this one that seems reasonable (BT715 model) for $119 US

Search Result: BT715

Foxwell BT-715 Battery Analyzer Tests Multiple Battery Types

No particular need to buy a battery load tester.
Many auto parts stores will load test your battery for FREE!

 

[Gem99ultra]

I was excited about the Foxwell at first, thinking that they tested batteries from 6V - 24V. But - after re-reading the description, I see they're only made to check 12v batteries with voltage as low as 6V. I'd like to find one that would also test my golf cart batteries - which are more expensive than car batteries.

My solution was to buy an inexpensive emergency jump starter for each vehicle, and just leave them in the car/truck. As far as load tester, I've had two that really didn't produce reliable results, and ended up sending both back.

Good luck on your search for

I am simply relying on a hydrometer tester for all of my batteries. It's probably just me, but batteries don't seem to last for me more than 4-5 years at best. I envy those that are getting more than 7 years out of their batteries.

Good luck on your search for the analyzer.

 

[goeduck]

No particular need to buy a battery load tester.
Many auto parts stores will load test your battery for FREE!

Yes, but the out of sight out of mind factor precludes me even stopping at the auto parts store to check them. Plus I would have to road my tractors there

 

[goeduck]

I became accustomed to carbon pile load testers such as Sun VAT 28 while in automotive school, even well used those are expensive. I trust carbon pile more than digital handheld units. I bought a carbon pile tester at Harbor Freight for a decent price, don't remember...might have been 50-60 dollars. They are pretty simple, not much to go wrong. Make sure the battery is fully charged, load at 50 percent of rated cold cranking amps for 15 seconds, if the voltmeter on the unit reads 9.6 or more you're good....less then it's new battery time.

That is a good option. Simple. Do you have to take the battery cables off to use them?

 

[cqaigy2]

I got a Topcon ArtiBattery Topcon ArtiBattery 101 from Ebay for $37, after my Subaru wouldn't start when picking up takeout. Had a lithium battery so was able to start it. Not surprisingly, the tester said i needed to replace the battery. I saw a few reviews about them and decided to take the chance. Oh, and it can do in vehicle and out of vehicle test as far as the battery is concerned.

 

[msb1766]

Here is what I got works good:
Amazon.com: SOLAR BA9 4-12 CCA Digital Battery and System Tester: Automotive

 

[Rebeldad1]

had a automotive shop for 30 years. I can count on one hand the number of batteries that failed before their service time was up. (50 month, 60 month etc). Most all failed batteries that we had calls for were peoples cars that were beyond their designed life.

being said most failing batteries will give some indication something is wrong. a few happened overnight. Battery testers also can be tricked and show good readings. Have had a few customers who went all over with problems that couldnt be solved(mostly starter issues) Battery checked at each place. We simply tested and ignored the readings. Wenyt on how the battery reacted to cranking test and the way it took a charge. Put a battery in...problem solved.

You really dont need a tester. keep the battery up to date. If you want to test -disable ignition and crank for 15 seconds. if it sounds as good as when the test started you should be ok.

 

[fried1765]

Yes, but the out of sight out of mind factor precludes me even stopping at the auto parts store to check them. Plus I would have to road my tractors there

You can't remove a battery from a tractor, and take it in for load testing?

 

[YLee Kioti]

So, here is what I have recently learned from gear heads on line and working on Y-Lee and son's G37x.

A carbon pile tester has its place and would recommend one of a set of diagnostic tools.
This should be the go to at first.
Now if this includes a vehicle with crank or cam sensors there is another tool. One that measures milli-volt (AC ripple) output of alternator.
Not that it affects the battery but will play with sensors and throw codes.
So we learned the hard way is that the alternator was the root cause but we did not know this at the time and replaced three sensors.

On edit- the high milli-volt ripple would cause the cam position sensors to throw a code. Seems they have a narrow range of tolerance for AC ripple.
So any meter that can measure this and fits your budget should work.

So between these two items you should be covered for tractor and vehicles.
Because vehicles are only getting more touchy about the power supply based on all the sensors now used.

 

[goeduck]

You can't remove a battery from a tractor, and take it in for load testing?

Yes, hence ending my post with .

 

[Popgadget]

Testers like the Foxwell assess the batteries condition and capacity by measuring the impedance of the battery at varying frequencies. They put no load on the battery and give a direct readout of the CCA capacity of the battery. They take little knowledge or skill to evaluate the result.
I have one (not a Foxwell) and would recommend it. I also have a Sun VAT carbon pile tester, both are good tools, but I use the impedance tester for testing batteries, the Sun for testing systems and troubleshooting.

 

[3930dave]

Bought an Ancel BA101 a couple of months back..... haven't used it enough to add much to the composite Reviews on Amazon. Gave me a sanity check on one vehicle's battery, that I hadn't got near a pro tester before now. Gives me some visibility (uncalibrated, admittedly, but that's just my inner geek talking....) into parameters I couldn't see before.

Auto parts stores that do parking lot testing with pro kit should be able to evaluate starter and alternator performance too, and some units give you a final printout. Nice, esp. for free.

A carbon-pile tester is usually only slightly less reliable than an anvil, and if I could have caught one on-sale last Winter at Canada's version of HFreight, I probably would have bought that as well or instead of for now.....

An ex-stock-car racer neighbour used to buy vehicles new, then @ 5 years, would yank the battery regardless and replace. Said he found alternators lasted longer this way too...... I don't think of myself as having the money he does, but I do see the wisdom of what he was doing....... Amortizing a battery over 5 years, against the value of a modern vehicle..... not a bad play, esp. with what a better-half drives.....

Not trying to drift..... but stay away from Interstate replacement batteries :2cents:

Rgds, D.

 

[coobie]

TopDon bt100 is a good option.

 

[Jstpssng]

Remove the battery from my tractor or pickup and drive 50 miles one way, or... buy a tool to do it myself.
I've had batteries fail in 3 of my company trucks over the last 16 years. Twice I'd been to the dealer who said there was nothing wrong with them. (ne Ford, one Chevy.) The third time was in a hardware store parking lot... the check engine light had been on for a few days but that seems to be normal for GM products so I was waiting until my next oil change to get it looked at.

I usually get a new company truck every 3 years, so they all were within the warranty period.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have learned that if you start to have starting issues and the battery is getting old, just do yourself a favour and replace the battery first. The troubles and expense that can be caused by a weak battery, isn't worth trying to extend the use of your battery.

I think a load tester will tell you the most critical thing you need to know about a battery. I have an analog (Goodall) one and a Digital one from Princess Auto. I have blown up and repaired the Digital one, from connecting it backwards. The analog one is forgiving.

 

[goeduck]

Okay, a dead Optima (Yellow Top) battery in one of the Kubotas today. Tractor would not start, took the battery out and charged it up on a conventional charger. Charged for about 1/2 hour and charger indicated the battery was fully charged. Measured 12.27 Volts so I put it back in, but no luck starting. With my multimeter hooked up when I turned the key the voltage on the whole keyswitch dropped to 0.9 V when attempting to start. Pulled the starter and jumped it off another battery, starter good. Swapped out battery and the tractor started. The battery seems to have enough Voltage but can not put out any current.

The Optima is about 5 years old and now measures 12.25 Volts with no load. I know there are special AGM chargers which I do not have but does anyone think this battery is recoverable? I will be headed to the auto parts store tomorrow to have them check it out, but curious what anyone thinks. I would like to salvage it, 830 CCA yellow tops are not cheap. I have 5 Optimas so maybe an AGM charger is also something I need to get if there is a real advantage.

 

[YLee Kioti]

A little light reading but it looks like a charger with different selection modes is what you may need to resuscitate the battery.

Also it seems a yellow top is not the correct application for starting purposes.....

Find the Best Optima Battery Charger



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OPTIMA Batteries: How to Bring a Deeply Discharged Battery Back to Life