Car Battery Tester - Everyone Should Have One Of These

A car battery tester is a useful piece of equipment to own.  When the car is slow to start, or does not start, the first thing that comes to mind is the battery.  Having a good battery tester would verify if the problem were actually a dead battery, or not.  A car battery tester can indicate other problems, aside from low battery voltage.  Sometimes the tester will indicate a charging problem.  This would likely be    a problem with the alternator or alternator belt.  Many battery testers will test the alternator, as well.

There are quite a few car battery testers available.  Some research and a little shopping around will ensure an appropriate car battery tester is purchased.  Browsing the internet for information on the vehicle, battery, and testers will be useful in making a selection.  A few of the available battery testers are:

1. The Schumacher SC-1200A SpeedCharge 12/8/2 Amp Charger/Maintainer/ Starter/Tester:
This charger/tester features push button control for selecting battery type, charge rate, and display modes.  It has a retractable handle which provides easy handling and convenient storage.  The charger/tester is equipped with 50 Amp clamps for top or side posts.  The 12 Amp “Speed Charge” provides a quick charge while monitoring the battery and preventing any damage.   The 8 Amp medium charge rate causes less “wear” on the battery and helps maintain peak performance.  The 2 Amp slow charge is for smaller batteries.  The Schumacher SC-1200A SpeedCharge is available online at car-batteries for $44.99.

2. The Schumacher BT-100 100 Amp Battery Load testers: This hand held tester is simply a carbon load tester.  This tester tests fully charged batteries (at least 75%).  It performs a 100 Amp load test for 12 volt batteries and a 50 Amp load test for 6 volt batteries.  This battery tester will not test for low voltage or electrical charge.  This battery load tester is available at car-batteries for $29.99.

3.  The 12v Battery and Alternator Tester:  This handy little device is easy to use and convenient to keep on hand.  It plugs into the cigarette lighter to test the battery and alternator.  The tester has lights to indicate low, normal, or high output.  This compact car battery tester is safe, fast and accurate.  The 12v Battery and Alternator Tester is available at car-batteries for $6.99.

Car batteries should be checked for corrosion, water level, and tested regularly.   Cables and posts need to be inspected fairly often.  The cables and posts should be clean and securely attached.  Carefully remove cap(s) to check water level in an older battery.  The battery has to have water in it to charge.  New, maintenance free batteries don’t use water.  Batteries should be filled with distilled water.  When testing the battery, have the engine off.  When test the alternator, have the engine running.  If testing with a car battery tester reveals a jump start is needed, be careful.