Battery load tester?

My friend with his 1100 amp hour bank will be coming in shortly- it's probably time to pull and test them, so I'll probably buy it then.

RJsfishin wrote:
Well, quit wonder'n and start buy'n and report back, then we won't have to wonder no more ! :h
:)

On edit......
I tried to buy one, (time for new toy) but would you believe they don't take paypal ?

I've got no problem being the guinea pig, but I'm thinking the tester could show my batteries to be good, when, if a different test is needed, they would have been bad and I wouldn't know it until well down the road

Well, quit wonder'n and start buy'n and report back, then we won't have to wonder no more ! :h
:)

On edit......
I tried to buy one, (time for new toy) but would you believe they don't take paypal ?

Chris Bryant wrote:
I wonder if anyone has used, or has an opinion on (hah!) this "battery analyzer", which apparently determines the internal resistance of the battery to gauge its capacity and health.

So, what is your take on the value of this kind of a battery tester, as opposed to a load tester? Seems that in the type of batteries that we use in the RV (coach), that the load testing would be more of an indicator? I would love this to be just as good as I won't have to deplete my battery to test it, and it's really quick. jeff

You are quite welcome, Sir. Glad at least someone here recognizes the benefits of this device!

Ed_Gee

Two Ears And A Tail For your reply!

Indispensable for AGM battery testing! I put this on the Docket for "Just Before I Leave To Head South". The PRO model. I can whimper and whine all I want about what it took me 30-years ago to discrete build a device that worked with a $4,000 dinosaur Compaq desktop.

Thank You Sir!

I use a real battery analyzer to determine the true capacity of my batteries.
West Mountain battery analyzers
These testers measure the actual capacity of your batteries and with a Windows computer you can graph the true voltage vs current load chart all the way to an end point. Load testers can not tell you the capacity of your battery.

The three wise men of battery testing

HYDROMETER

ADJUSTABLE LOAD CARBON PILE TESTER

IMPEDENCE TESTER

When I test I use all three. Hydrometer, impedence then load test. None can test what the other two do. An impedence tester may or may not pick up on dendrite plate-to-plate shorts but the load tester will if used correctly. Batteries that pass all three tests have a low rate of incidence of approaching failure.

RJsfishin wrote:
Last time I saw them, they were 20 bucks at Harbor freight. They are cheap but they work. Some cold hearted theif stole mine, so I replaced it w/ their $50 500 amp carbon pile tester.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=battery+load+tester

I have the 500 amp carbon pile tester too. After DW retired, her battery died. I charged it up and tested it. It tested fine. I finally determined that she did not drive far enough for the alternator to recharge the battery, so it died. Now, once a week, she takes the car for a longer drive.

Looks like a good tester and owner reviews were very good. FYI here's a 20% off Harbor coupon. This one expires Oct.31 but they'll always have others.

"83760990"