1. Forum
  2. Usenet
  3. UK.D-I-Y

  • Slightly OT: Car battery Load Tester

    From Andy Smith@21:1/5 to All on Wed Feb 14 16:56:13 2024
    I have a need for a 12V load tester and, being of a certain age, I
    remember testers something like this type http://tinyurl.com/52prntn8

    I'm wondering how the modern digital-type ones like this http://tinyurl.com/yprfcyu2 compare with the carbon pile ones?

    Which type is best?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Fredxx@21:1/5 to Andy Smith on Wed Feb 14 17:46:32 2024
    On 14/02/2024 16:56, Andy Smith wrote:
    I have a need for a 12V load tester and, being of a certain age, I
    remember testers something like this type http://tinyurl.com/52prntn8

    I'm wondering how the modern digital-type ones like this http://tinyurl.com/yprfcyu2 compare with the carbon pile ones?

    Which type is best?

    I got one like this:
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204104445294

    It seems to do the job, I have never used the sort in your link.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Andy Smith@21:1/5 to Fredxx used his keyboard to on Wed Feb 14 18:53:42 2024
    Fredxx used his keyboard to write :
    On 14/02/2024 16:56, Andy Smith wrote:
    I have a need for a 12V load tester and, being of a certain age, I remember >> testers something like this type http://tinyurl.com/52prntn8

    I'm wondering how the modern digital-type ones like this
    http://tinyurl.com/yprfcyu2 compare with the carbon pile ones?

    Which type is best?

    I got one like this:
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204104445294

    It seems to do the job, I have never used the sort in your link.

    Thanks Fred

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From The Natural Philosopher@21:1/5 to Andy Smith on Wed Feb 14 19:20:01 2024
    On 14/02/2024 18:53, Andy Smith wrote:
    Fredxx used his keyboard to write :
    On 14/02/2024 16:56, Andy Smith wrote:
    I have a need for a 12V load tester and, being of a certain age, I
    remember testers something like this type http://tinyurl.com/52prntn8

    I'm wondering how the modern digital-type ones like this
    http://tinyurl.com/yprfcyu2 compare with the carbon pile ones?

    Which type is best?

    I got one like this:
       https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204104445294

    It seems to do the job, I have never used the sort in your link.

    Thanks Fred

    As I understand it, these do not load the battery excessively to test
    it, what they do is draw a small current, assume that the batteries
    internal resistance is constant with much higher currents, and then
    *calculate* the Vdrop at cold cranking amps, and if would pull the
    voltage below some level, flag the battery as bad.

    Some people do not regard that as as valid a test as sticking a real
    heavy load on. But I reckon they work for most purposes.


    --
    "Strange as it seems, no amount of learning can cure stupidity, and
    higher education positively fortifies it."

    - Stephen Vizinczey

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Brian@21:1/5 to Andy Smith on Thu Feb 15 17:07:38 2024
    Andy Smith <a@b.com> wrote:
    I have a need for a 12V load tester and, being of a certain age, I
    remember testers something like this type http://tinyurl.com/52prntn8

    I'm wondering how the modern digital-type ones like this http://tinyurl.com/yprfcyu2 compare with the carbon pile ones?

    Which type is best?


    I have a ‘modern’ one. I’m not entirely convinced they are that accurate.

    I tried it on an old battery, which I expected was on its way out, and sure enough the results confirmed my thoughts.

    However, the new battery ( a quality one, which I charged) while it
    measured as good, the readings weren’t that accurate ( CCA that is).

    I think I paid about £25 for mine, around 7 / 8 years back.

    I’ve not used it since.

    When I suspected the motor home battery recently, I just changed it. You can’t bump start a 3.8+ T diesel.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)