Best Car Battery Testers

Review & Comparison, Last Update December 30, 2023
To know the car battery charge level is undoubtedly a matter of huge importance. A car battery tester is capable of dealing with this issue quickly and easily. So, if you want to have a clear idea of what condition your battery is in, all you need to do is choose the right battery tester! ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
TYPE
APPLICABLE BATTERY VOLTAGES
BATTERY TYPES
INFORMATION DISPLAY
MEASUREMENT TYPES
FASTENINGS
WEIGHT
WARRANTY
 
PROS
The tester features a comfortable, easy-to-grip handle that makes the measurement process easier. Special clamps ensure quick and reliable grip with battery terminals.
CONS
Some users noted short length of cables.
OUR VERDICT
This is an excellent battery load tester which provides an easy test execution and accurate readings.
detailed parameters
TYPE
Load tester
APPLICABLE BATTERY VOLTAGES
6V, 12V
BATTERY TYPES
Deep cycle
INFORMATION DISPLAY
Analog display with zero adjust
MEASUREMENT TYPES
Battery status, Charge level, Alternator status
FASTENINGS
Clamps
WEIGHT
2.75 lbs
WARRANTY
30-day return policy
PROS
The car battery tester shows both numerical and pass/fail results.The device is made with a built-in over-voltage protection, while clamps feature reverse polarity.
CONS
The manual isn't comprehensive enough.
OUR VERDICT
Clore Automotive SOLAR BA5 is a great solution that offers digital readouts and tests for multiple battery types.
detailed parameters
TYPE
Conductance tester
APPLICABLE BATTERY VOLTAGES
12V
BATTERY TYPES
Wet, MF(Maintenance-Free), AGM (Flat Plate, Spiral Wound), Gell Cell, Deep Cycle
INFORMATION DISPLAY
4-digit LED screen
MEASUREMENT TYPES
Battery status, Charge level, Capacity level (CCA)
FASTENINGS
Clamps
WEIGHT
0.6 lbs
WARRANTY
1 year
PROS
The values on the scale allow you to determine cold cranking amp capacity (CCA).
CONS
The handle is made of metal and can become hot during testing.
OUR VERDICT
NOCO BTE181 is an optimal combination of price and quality. The car battery tester provides very quick diagnostics and precise measurements.
detailed parameters
TYPE
Load tester
APPLICABLE BATTERY VOLTAGES
6V, 12V
BATTERY TYPES
Wet, MF(Maintenance-Free), AGM, Gell Cell, EFB
INFORMATION DISPLAY
Analog display
MEASUREMENT TYPES
Battery status, Charge level, Capacity level (CCA), Alternator status
FASTENINGS
Clamps
WEIGHT
4 lbs
WARRANTY
1 year
PROS
Ergonomiс design and a built-in support stand contribute to ease of use. An LCD backlight is an essential feature while working in poor lighting conditions.
CONS
Replacing a battery requires a disassembly.
OUR VERDICT
This high-precision tool will perfectly fit not only car battery testing but also multiple household applications.
detailed parameters
TYPE
Digital multimeter
APPLICABLE BATTERY VOLTAGES
1.5V, 9V, 12V
BATTERY TYPES
All types
INFORMATION DISPLAY
4-digit LED screen
MEASUREMENT TYPES
Charge level, Amperage, Resistance
FASTENINGS
Test probes
WEIGHT
0.34 lbs
WARRANTY
1 year
PROS
A lightweight, especially user-friendly design will allow you to test batteries much easier and faster.
CONS
Measurements should be conducted with the operating engine.
OUR VERDICT
Cartman 12V Car Battery & Alternator Tester is an easy-to-operate and affordable solution which provides quick and accurate readings.
detailed parameters
TYPE
Conductance tester
APPLICABLE BATTERY VOLTAGES
12V
BATTERY TYPES
Hybrid
INFORMATION DISPLAY
Color indicators
MEASUREMENT TYPES
Battery status, Charge level, Alternator status
FASTENINGS
Clamps
WEIGHT
0.1 lbs
WARRANTY
30-day return policy
X

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OTC 130 Amp Heavy-Duty Battery Load Tester

Choice of Professionals

It's not always enough to have a car battery tester that provides a quick test of your car battery condition, its ease of use also matters. The OTC 130 Amp Heavy-Duty Battery Load Tester is definitely an ideal solution here. The device offers maximal comfort—a well-insulated handle with a power on/off switch ensures great convenience during the measurements. 130 amp load capacity guarantees accurate results for both 6V and 12V batteries. The management is simple enough, all you need to do is connect the load tester to the battery and turn a power switch to the ON position. The accurate reading will be shown on a clearly printed scale with two zones, one of them is intended for 6V batteries while another is for 12V ones. It'll take only 10 seconds to carry out the measurements! It's worthwhile to add that the clamps feature copper contacts for good electrical contact with the car battery posts. Once the testing is complete, the clamps can be fixed on the housing using two special side tabs.

Review of OTC 130 Amp Heavy-Duty Battery Load Tester

Peculiarities of Deep Cycle Batteries

Deep cycle batteries typically have a high discharge rate and deliver power for a very long time. Unlike starter batteries intended to provide short, high-current bursts for cranking the engine, deep cycle batteries can be used as an additional vehicle battery. Such batteries discharge between 45% and 75% of their capacity, depending on a manufacturer and technical characteristics. Although deep cycle batteries can be discharged to 20% of their charge, we'd recommend you to keep the average cycle at about 45% discharge. It's noteworthy that modern deep cycle batteries can be recycled 98% by volume and 99.5% by weight. All lead plates, a plastic case, sulfuric acid, and other metals are 100% recycled, the only part of a battery that can't be recycled is paper separators.

OTC 130 Amp Heavy-Duty Battery Load Tester in the use

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Detailed review of OTC 130 Amp Heavy-Duty Battery Load Tester

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $58.08
Stock In stock
ASIN B000O3U2UQ

VIDEO
OTC 3181 Heavy Duty 130-AMP Battery Load Tester
 

Clore Automotive SOLAR BA5

Vital for Every Car Owner

The Clore Automotive SOLAR BA5 Electronic Battery Tester is an ideal solution for every car owner. The device is suitable for testing most types of 12V batteries. You'll be able to check the condition of wet batteries (including maintenance-free), AGM (flat plate, spiral wound), gel cell, and even deep cycle batteries. The SOLAR BA5 basically belongs to conductance testers that apply an AC voltage during the measurement. An important feature of the tester is that it's capable of indicating the cold cranking amp level, therefore, to find out the estimated lifespan of the battery is no longer a problem! The tester allows you to measure amperage capabilities in the range from 100 to 1200 Cold Cranking Amps, so it'll be suitable for most modern car batteries!

Review of Clore Automotive SOLAR BA5 Electronic Battery Tester

Simplicity and Usability

The tester offers a really incredible ease of use. All readings are shown on the digital LED display, it doesn't matter where and when you will carry out the testing—the display will provide you an optimal viewing. Additionally, you'll be able to select the CCA rating to obtain the most accurate readings! A simple navigation via a few buttons will allow you to select among CCA, DIN, IEC, EN, CA standards depending on the type of an accumulator. Special indicators under the display will help you assess the condition of a vehicle battery based on the achieved data. Additionally, the tester provides pass/fail LED results, so, it'll be a piece of cake to determine whether the battery needs to be replaced.
The SOLAR BA5 is an ideal choice to settle on. An excellent compatibility with a large number of batteries, reverse polarity as well as a comprehensive protection against overloads makes this car battery tester a versatile solution for any self-respecting car owner.

Clore Automotive SOLAR BA5 Electronic Battery Tester in the use

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Detailed review of Clore Automotive SOLAR BA5 Electronic Battery Tester
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B0017R5EQK

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

Great product. It does not have all the un-needed bells and whistles just tests batteries and gives you a number of how many cranking amps are in the battery. Very accurate for being small and digital.

Features

I bought this device to use instead of a regular voltmeter to check my car battery status. It cool that it doesn't require batteries to operate, and lights up when you connect it to your battery.
 

NOCO BTE181 100 Amp Battery Load Tester

For Any Type of Measurements

Often, it's not enough to know the condition of a battery since a starting system should also work well to make an engine start. If you're looking for a device offering such testing, take a look at the NOCO BTE181! This is a 100A battery load tester requiring only 10 sec to test your car battery and show results on the clear analog display. The tester will allow you to check both 6V and 12V batteries providing accurate readings even for low and discharged batteries. Without any doubt, it's a perfect choice to make up your mind! 

The NOCO BTE181 is also capable of testing amperage capabilities, hence, you'll be able to assess the remaining service life of a battery! Besides, with this device, you'll also have an opportunity to check the condition of a starter as well as a charger for your car battery. The NOCO BTE181 is very easy to manage, you only need to connect clamps to the battery posts ensuring the correct polarity and press the load button. Then, you'll get accurate readings on the display! A convenient handle is one more important feature of the device. Use it with ease!
Review of NOCO BTE181 100 Amp Battery Load Tester

How to Use a Load Tester to Test Your Car Battery

1. If you decide to check the battery power level via a load tester, firstly, make sure that the ignition is switched off. Then, you need to disconnect the battery's cables. (Note that before disconnecting a battery you need to plug a battery keeper into a cigarette lighter socket to hold the computer codes.)
2. Don't test a battery when it is connected to a battery charger.
3. Before connecting the load tester make sure that the battery posts are clean and free of corrosion.
4. All load testers get hot during use so it's necessary to allow them to cool down between tests. Do not forget that you shouldn't hold the load test button down for more than 15 seconds. Otherwise, you risk making the tester inoperable.Comply with safety regulations and operating instructions to ensure a long service life of a tester.

NOCO BTE181 100 Amp Battery Load Tester in the use

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Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00316K61S

 

Etekcity MSR-R500

Incredible Functionality

If you're looking for a solution not only for testing batteries but also for other electrical measurements, you definitely need the Etekcity MSR-R500 Digital Multimeter. This tool is ideal for standard tasks such as current, voltage, resistance measurement as well as for continuity test and for checking the condition of the battery. Owing to such capabilities and the possibility to select a range of measurements, this tool will be perfect to check a battery in your vehicle. It's worth mentioning that the MSR-R500 Digital Multimeter can test 1.5V, 9V, 12V batteries, so, no matter what the battery your car is equipped with, it'll be tested easily!

Review of Etekcity MSR-R500 Electronic Amp Volt Ohm Voltage Meter Multimeter with Diode and Continuity Test Tester

Sophisticated Tool

At first glance, the measurements via this multimeter may seem rather complex, however, they're not really challenging, actually. An accompanying manual provides technical details, available type of measurements, and permissible deviations. All you need is to turn a mode switch to the required position and insert the probes into appropriate connectors. With this, the device is ready for operation! The yellow Hold button is responsible for keeping the measurements on the display until you write them down. An LCD backlight will let you see readings clearly even at nighttime. Another important point is that the multimeter comes with a protective rubber bumper making the device suitable for any tests. Taking into account that the product offers a wide range of options it'll be an ideal solution for any household. The convenient and simple-to-use device will allow you to carry out any type of measurement!

Etekcity MSR-R500 Electronic Amp Volt Ohm Voltage Meter Multimeter with Diode and Continuity Test Tester in the use

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Detailed review of Etekcity MSR-R500 Electronic Amp Volt Ohm Voltage Meter Multimeter with Diode and Continuity Test Tester

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $10.49
Stock In stock
ASIN B01N9QW620

VIDEO
Etekcity Digital Multimeter Review

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

This digital multimeter is a must buy for anyone looking for an excellent meter to measure resistance, voltage and ac/dc current.

Measurements

Measures Volts, Ohms, Currents, and Amps. Comes ready to use right out of the box (EVEN HAS BATTERIES!).

Features

The unit has a replaceable fuse for current overloads, and seems well made with a quality feel to the test lead connections and controls.
 

Cartman Car Battery & Alternator Tester

User-friendly Tool

Probably, no one wants to turn the process of checking the battery into something overly complicated. Fortunately, there are a lot of testers capable of providing measurements quickly and comfortably. The Cartman Car Battery & Alternator Tester is an excellent choice to make up your mind if you're looking for one of such car battery testers. Even a brief overview shows that the device is remarkably simple! You won't see a scale, display and operating elements there.
On the front panel, there are 6 LEDs responsible for the certain type of measurements. Two upper indicators show alternator status, the three below indicate battery charge level, while the lowest LED displays the status of measurement. When the indicator is ON, it means that the test has been completed.
Once you connected clamps to the battery posts, you'll need to accelerate the engine to 2000 rotations per minute to get results.
Having bought such a tester, you'll always have an opportunity to check a battery as well as the alternator. Not bad!

Review of Cartman Car Battery & Alternator Tester

Did You Know?

Even when car batteries aren't used, they lose their charge. Therefore, if you're going to leave a car battery unused, don't expect it to be completely charged after some time. Interesting enough, at low temperatures batteries save their charge better, so it's reasonable to store them in a cold place. The point is that most modern cars are equipped with on-board computers and different equipment which consumes energy. It's worthwhile to add that all settings should be stored before replacing the battery.

Cartman Car Battery & Alternator Tester in the use

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Last updated price $8.99
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ASIN B00EXIEVO6

 

What is a Car Battery Tester

A car battery tester is a special measuring tool designed for testing the charge level of car batteries. To put it simply, this device allows you to check whether the power of a battery is enough for proper performance. A good car battery tester will help you avoid possible problems with the ignition system and other connected issues.
If you've got a vehicle, car inverters and car jacks will definitely be useful accessories for you! In addition, to have a possibility to charge a car battery on your own, select and purchase the right car battery charger!

What Features to Compare

Firstly, you should pay attention to the Type of a tester and its Compatibility with the battery installed in your car. Basically, there are several types of testers that work differently while testing the condition of a battery. A load tester, for example, passes electrical current from the battery through a conductive material inside the tester and delivers test results depending on the voltage drop. A conductance tester tests the resistance across the plates inside the battery. The main advantage of conductance testers is that they allow checking even discharged batteries. In view of the fact that batteries for vehicles come with different nominal voltage, you should select a car battery tester which is right for you. For example, a tester designed for testing 6V batteries won't cope with 12V ones. At the same time, testers for 12V batteries are also suitable for 6V accumulators. So, check the type of a car battery your car is equipped with in advance.

It's also important to determine the type of Data Output you want to obtain since this feature is responsible for the device usability. Some car battery testers have a digital display while others feature an analog one. An analog display can contain certain colored sections with scales for different measurements such as voltage and CCA level. To simplify usage, some battery testers come with indicators showing the charge level of a battery and whether it requires recharging.

Finally, don't overlook Special Features of a car battery tester. Without any doubt, safety should be the top priority, so, be sure to read and follow all safety and handling instructions on the car battery tester before use. Advantageous design, a comfortable handle, weight of the tool can significantly contribute to the ease of use. It's also crucial to pay attention to the type of clamps, they should have dielectric properties and ensure easy connection with battery posts.

Sources:

1. Jerry Walch How To Use A Battery Load Tester, Knoji.

2. How to Test Your Car Battery, AA1Car.

3. Battery Basics: A Layman's Guide to Batteries, BatteryStuff. August 25, 2016.

4. Battery tester, Wikipedia. July 19, 2016.

5. What Are Cold Cranking Amps, All About Lead Acid Batteries.

6. Valerie Johnston How to Check the Voltage of a Car Battery, YourMechanic. November 30, 2015.

7. How to test a car battery, How a Car Works.

8. Ben Wojdyla, Is Your Car Battery Really Dead?, POPULAR MECHANICS. March 26, 2013.

9. Car Battery Buying Guide, Consumer Reports.

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Publish Date: 2017-08-29 16:57:36