Vehicle Battery Tester

Stewart J

Stewart J

Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Posts
3,241
Likes collected
45,165
Location
SW Northumberland
Funster No
12,394
MH
Hymer B 588 DL
Exp
Since September 2010
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All you really need is a cheap multimeter which you can use for both the vehicle and the leisure batteries.
 
stevewagner said:
All you really need is a cheap multimeter which you can use for both the vehicle and the leisure batteries.
Click to expand...
I have a very expensive Fluke multi tester but it does not indicate battery condition which is what I require. 👍
 
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You only really need to check voltage to determine condition
 
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If you have concerns over your battery condition you can measure the voltage over a period of time and if the voltage drops it is a good indicator of condition. I know there will be some who disagree because it seems to be a favoured pass time on this site, but I’ve been motorhoming for many years and always used this method successfully.
 
stevewagner said:
If you have concerns over your battery condition you can measure the voltage over a period of time and if the voltage drops it is a good indicator of condition. I know there will be some who disagree because it seems to be a favoured pass time on this site, but I’ve been motorhoming for many years and always used this method successfully.
Click to expand...

I have a battery that was replaced months ago because as soon as you put any load on it the voltage drops right off. It hasn't been charged for months. The voltage right now? 12.66V

You have to apply a load and see how the voltage reacts to gauge condition. Google it, read the link posted above.
 
Lenny HB said:
IMO if you need to test the battery it's probably time to replace it.
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It’s for piece of mind mate, van has stood for over 3 months now having to charge it for 3-4 hours twice a week. Weather of late and van being sheltered under trees at this time of year means solar panel is struggling. It’s been so miserable and overcast for weeks not helped by all the snow over last couple of weeks despite me brushing it off. Battery master percentage bias is for leisure batteries 70/30 I recall (for wilding) may change that this week as they show fully charged.
Being a tightwad I am leaning toward having my own tester it would be handy for the car as well and they are not a lot of money.
 
I tested mine by leaving the tv on and disconnecting the solar panel, it only lasted 26 hours though and it’s a 100 battery which somehow ended up fully discharged a few months ago. Gave me something to do while in lockdown.

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After having problems starting, I took my battery for a 'load' test, which it passed but a little surprised after it failing me, I asked if there was any other way of checking it out and was told they had other equipment to test the battery but it would take several hours. I left the battery with the dealer and they phoned me later to say that the battery was u/s. He did explain why but I forget. There was no charge for the testing and I did buy a new battery from them although they made it clear that I did not need to buy from them. They are a battery specialist company on a trading estate and also sell to the trade.
 
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St3v3 said:
I have a battery that was replaced months ago because as soon as you put any load on it the voltage drops right off. It hasn't been charged for months. The voltage right now? 12.66V

You have to apply a load and see how the voltage reacts to gauge condition. Google it, read the link posted above.
Click to expand...
I never said disconnect the battery otherwise that would defeat the object. I don't need to google anything. As I said there's always one.
 
stevewagner said:
I never said disconnect the battery otherwise that would defeat the object. I don't need to google anything. As I said there's always one.
Click to expand...

If it's got an unknown load on it, that's probably varied over an unknown amount of time, the voltage will change by an unknown amount...

Instead of arguing the point, why don't you do some research?

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St3v3 said:
If it's got an unknown load on it, that's probably varied over an unknown amount of time, the voltage will change by an unknown amount...

Instead of arguing the point, why don't you do some research?
Click to expand...
Think you’ll. find that it’s you that’s arguing. I was just trying to help the OP when you decided to have a dig at me.
 
Stewart J said:
Thinking of buying a tester to check on our vehicle starter batteries rather than pay a garage to do it. I am aware these testers are not suitable for leisure battery testing so we won’t go there guys.
Two models come recommended on another group, anyone have any experience of either, suggestions and advice welcomed. 👍

Amazon product ASIN B071NS74YK3&sr=8-5&th=1

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=124190836463
Click to expand...
I've got that very same model and have been very satisfied with it.

Andrew
 
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stevewagner said:
Think you’ll. find that it’s you that’s arguing. I was just trying to help the OP when you decided to have a dig at me.
Click to expand...

Having a dig and correcting wrong information are two very different things.

And it takes two to argue ;)
 
Been using the sealey tester for quite a few years always been accurate, instant results if the battery is charged and takes the guesswork out if it.

12V Digital Battery Tester | BT2101 | Sealey

1 Year Guarantee - Fast and accurate assessment of battery condition, even with the battery partially discharged. No heat, no sparks and no misdiagnosis.
www.sealey.co.uk www.sealey.co.uk
 
Quick update, thanks to the Big1 for suggesting the BM2 Monitor, it is an excellent piece of kit and I am in awe of it. My Hymer is on a Fiat Base so the vehicle battery is under the floor on U.K. passenger side where I eventually fitted it. The claimed Bluetooth range of 10 metres is easily exceeded, and I can check the battery voltage by standing in front of the kitchen winder unless temp well below zero which seems to reduce range in which case I just step out of the kitchen door and can interrogate the monitor. It is brilliant, at lunchtime I was working outside with the monitor app running in the background on my phone so receiving updates every 3 minutes. Looking at the graph you can see where the sun as it moved West struck the solar panel (photo 1) and voltage increased despite being under a thick hoar frost covering (last photo) impressive. Have also played about testing the cranking load and alternator charging efficiency. So a big thumbs up from me.👍👍👍

DEEA15F4-EC5C-4E83-8CB9-44A11F793C3F.png 276AA758-3C07-4F4E-A225-2A9CB63F3406.png F27F4F88-4C1F-45CD-BCDC-6F4180D3FCBE.png 809C2772-9A98-40F8-A53A-66CCB8049109.jpeg

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Plugged van into ehu yesterday, interesting graph from monitor shows times and charging rate then sudden reduction in charge as the batteries became charged up.
C7F5F80C-39C4-4621-8FB0-2642D99A86BF.png
 

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