Battery Load Tester - what one?

[surprisingskoda]

So I'm quite sick of not knowing if my charger is doing anything or not. I've just bought a new charger but as always, there's no level indicator.

I'd like a good battery tester that can tell me if the battery is done, or needs a charge, or is ready to go - would also be helpful in lifting a battery that will do the job as I ended up trying over 20 batteries trying to get one into a car to start it over the weekend...

I used to use a really good one at Halfords but can't remember what it was, and they don't actually sell them AFAIK, but it had all those functions. Maybe a current staff can tell me the name of it?
Or what would you recommend?

[retrowagen1234]

I used to work for power batteries , they had their own load testers made as the ones you could order realy didnt do anything more than a multimeter would.

To test its charged you need nothing more than a multimeter,

Put it on the battery wheile you charge it, If its a average size 12v block it should be up around 12.90+ while charging on a good charger. If it goes up around 13.20 or higher its likely a dead block.

A real LOAD TESTER needs to have a winding inside to waste the engergy but also give you a reading of how long the block can waste/use this energy for.

The reading given is of no use unless you are comparing it to hundreds of others a day like i was. It only reads in seconds.

Id just charge the block, with a meter on it, when you think it should be done , take the charger off and leave the multimeter on.

It shoudnt drop below 12.50 , Idealy you want it around 12.90/13.00

[composimmonite]

I've got one of these -
www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cvt1-battery-tester?da=1&TC=SRC-battery tester
and can recommend them.
Loads on eBay with differfent makers names but all probably come from the same factory in China
However I think this might be OTT for your needs and as Retrowagon says a multimeter is what you want to check battery being charged.

Paul H

[surprisingskoda]

Thanks guys - I want something way OTT, I break cars for a living and am constantly needing to check batteries. I'm not happy with what my multimeter can tell me - I want a dedicated tool for the job. I've seen the machine mart one (in lots of brands!) but would prefer digital if I can get one. Problem is I can find nothing at all on t'internet

[composimmonite]

Feb 7, 2012 15:26:04 GMT surprisingskoda said:

. I've seen the machine mart one (in lots of brands!) but would prefer digital if I can get one. Problem is I can find nothing at all on t'internet

You mean like this -

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-DIGITAL-BATTERY-LOAD-TESTER-12V-output-125-amp-LED-CCA-Test-/140693407240?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item20c1fb0608

;D

Paul H