Vehicle Battery Tester (1 Viewer)

[Stewart J]

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

 

[stevewagner]

All you really need is a cheap multimeter which you can use for both the vehicle and the leisure batteries.

 

[Stewart J]

All you really need is a cheap multimeter which you can use for both the vehicle and the leisure batteries.

I have a very expensive Fluke multi tester but it does not indicate battery condition which is what I require.

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[stevewagner]

You only really need to check voltage to determine condition

 

[Vipar]

.

 

[St3v3]

You only really need to check voltage to determine condition

No, no you don't.

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[pappajohn]

You only really need to check voltage to determine condition

No you don't.

My battery shows 12.6v but only 60% capacity.
A volt meter only shows voltage, not battery condition.

 

[Stewart J]

For those unsure

Broken Link Removed

 

[stevewagner]

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.

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[Lenny HB]

IMO if you need to test the battery it's probably time to replace it.

 

[Stewart J]

Probably Lenny it’s over 4 years old

 

[St3v3]

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.

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.

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[TheBig1]

Fit one of these to each vehicle and you can keep tabs on all the batteries/starting/alternator

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=233822174599

 

[Stewart J]

IMO if you need to test the battery it's probably time to replace it.

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.

 

[Mikeco]

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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[Stewart J]

Fit one of these to each vehicle and you can keep tabs on all the batteries/starting/alternator

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=233822174599

Thank you for that unfortunately I need 18-20 metre range ( no I cannot store van closer to house) which is a bummer or it would be perfect.

Edit, researched this and have just ordered one so again thank you,

 

[rosalan]

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.

 

[Spanner]

This is the one I’ve used for about 2 years, I use it quiet a lot and find it very usefull. When I compared it side by side on a suspect battery with a £400 version that the AA patrols use the results were 95% the same.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=313187168043

Bear in mind almost all of these types of tester are not ideal for testing leisure batteries !

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[stevewagner]

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.

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.

 

[St3v3]

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.

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?

 

[stevewagner]

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?

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.

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[androidGB]

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

I've got that very same model and have been very satisfied with it.

Andrew

 

[St3v3]

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.

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

And it takes two to argue

 

[steven2002]

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 | 1 Year Warranty | Sealey

Fast and accurate assessment of battery condition, even with the battery partially discharged. No heat, no sparks and no misdiagnosis. Tests battery in accordance with rated output based on SAE, DIN or ENC2 criteria and displays results on LCD screen. Diagnose battery faults at the trade...

www.sealey.co.uk

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[Stewart J]

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.

 

[Stewart J]

Interesting to see the solar panel really kick in as it’s thick frost covering thawed.

 

[Stewart J]

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.

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