Battery Testers – A Complete Guide

Battery testers are electronic devices designed to test the remaining capacity of a battery’s overall charge. Contrary to popular belief, they do not test the voltage – simply the remaining capacity.

Every battery has a direct current. Battery testers work by applying a load and monitoring the voltage response of the battery. This enables the device to identify how much power is left in the battery.

Ideal for both monitoring and troubleshooting, battery testers are used across a broad spectrum of applications and industries, including:

• Industrial maintenance
• Automotive
• Facility maintenance
• Electrical
• Test and measurement
• DIY and domestic purposes

Simple and easy to use, these devices provide quick, straightforward results and are a staple battery charger accessory for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. Battery testers may also be known as voltage meters.

There are multiple different types of battery tester, each suited to varying battery types and sizes. Some of the most common types are detailed below.

Electronic Battery Tester

Electronic and digital battery testers are used to test the remaining capacity of a battery.

Most digital models feature an LCD display which presents the result of the battery test in a clear and easy to read format. Often displayed in the form of bars or a graph, depending on the particular model, this enables quick reading and analysis of the test results via a user-friendly interface.

Domestic Battery Tester

A domestic or household battery tester is normally used for rechargeable cylindrical batteries including AA batteries, AAA batteries, and 9V PP3 batteries.

Common battery chemistries include alkaline, NiCd, and Li-ion. These standard chemistry types cover the majority of everyday household batteries including those outlined above as well as additional battery types such as C batteries and D batteries. A typical domestic battery tester will be suitable for testing a combination of these battery types, if not all of them.

Universal Battery Tester

Universal battery testers are suitable for use with batteries in a range of different sizes. Similarly to domestic battery testers, they are primarily used for cylindrical batteries.

However, some voltage meters can test a large variety of different-sized batteries, ranging from smaller button cell batteries through to larger industrial and automotive batteries.

Car Battery Tester

Car battery testers are intended for use with lead-acid batteries. These testers connect to vehicle batteries to provide a clear indication of the battery’s health, condition, and voltage output.

Battery testers for automotive applications are important. It is crucial to determine the condition of car batteries as high currents are drawn during start-up. You must ensure that your tester is compatible with lead-acid batteries before use, in order to ensure safe testing conditions.

Battery testers work by applying load and monitoring the voltage and current of the battery. The actual process is quite simple – when the conductive elements of the tester touch both the positive and negative contacts on the battery, the current is released and can be measured.

As battery testers solely measure current, they typically provide more accurate readings on certain types of batteries compared to others. For instance, the current in an alkaline battery will usually decrease at a steady rate, leading to more accurate results when tested. Conversely, Li-ion batteries, for example, experience greater drops at certain specified charge levels. This means that results are more likely to be inaccurate with these types of batteries due to their less precise charge levels.

How to Take a Voltage Meter Reading

Once the battery is correctly positioned, you should be able to take a voltage meter reading.

Depending on the specific model you have, the output of the test may vary between several different results formats. If your battery tester displays a graph or chart, it should be easy to assess the battery’s remaining capacity.

As a general rule, batteries in the green or pointing towards the higher end of the scale are most likely to be in good working order with strong remaining capacity. Batteries with results around the middle of the scale may still be suitable for use in some lower-power applications, but close monitoring will be required. Batteries where the indicator points to the lower end of the scale, perhaps in the red section, will have little remaining capacity and should be changed or recharged, depending on the type of battery.

Various factors will contribute towards the purchase of a battery tester. Most importantly, you must ensure that the tester you choose is compatible with the type or types of battery you will be testing. Additional features will largely come down to personal preference and your unique requirements.

Some key factors to keep in mind when looking for the best battery tester include the following:

• Compatible battery types
• Price and your budget
• Brand loyalty
• Additional features offered

As a result, deciding what is the best battery tester will primarily depend on your own requirements, so it is important to conduct thorough research and ensure the tester you choose meets your needs.

What is the Best Car Battery Tester?

Car battery testers must be dependable and reliable pieces of equipment. Ideal for a range of vehicles, these electronic devices enable car batteries to be tested or monitored quickly and easily.

RS Pro, our in-house range, offers high-quality battery testers for a range of battery types and sizes. RS Pro lead-acid car battery testers are the ideal solution, providing you with one of the best car battery testers at an affordable price. Click the button below to browse our full range of RS Pro car battery testers.

How Do I Test My Car Battery?

The easiest way to check a car battery is to use a dedicated automotive battery tester. Once again, you should always make sure to refer to the instruction manual of your chosen model before using the battery tester. More comprehensive instructions for particular models are usually supplied by the manufacturer, but the following guidelines should prove helpful:

• Attach the red lead to the positive charging terminal
• Attach the black lead to the negative terminal
• Check the battery tester’s screen for the results

What Voltage Should a Car Battery Be?

The voltage on a standard car battery is around 12.7 Volts. You may also read 13.8V on the battery when the car is running with the alternator float charging. Additionally, a boost charge would be 14.4 Volts. Therefore, a realistic Voltage reading on a lead acid battery would be between 11 and 13 Volts depending on the amount of charge left in the battery. 11V would indicate that the battery is moving into the region of needing a boost charge before battery sulphation occurs on the plates. You should bear in mind that this all relates to battery reconditioning.

Are Battery Testers Accurate?

While modern battery testers tend to have a good degree of accuracy, it is best to keep in mind that they are intended for indication only. Higher-quality testers will usually provide more accurate readings and may also offer additional features, depending on the model. Similarly, the accuracy of a battery tester will also be impacted by the type of battery being tested. For instance, testing an alkaline battery should provide a more accurate result than a test for a Li-ion battery, due to the different battery chemistry types.