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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,592
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Vattery tester>
I'm thinking of buying one for our two cars. I'm confused after a net search has prices from $500 to well under $100. Guess I looking for a "learn me about" thread.
Not talking multimeter for measuring volts...but a complete battery tester. (sorry about the title typo.)
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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03-19-2019, 03:37 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 9,882
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Like testing load, charging system, cca...? I bought this a couple years ago and it does what I need it to do. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCJFERU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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The fun - '06 Carrera, '79 930, '06 S4 Avant, '16 i8 The mundane - '24 Tesla Model 3, '22 Tesla Model Y, '19 Tacoma |
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03-19-2019, 03:51 PM
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I’d get a Fluke Multimeter with the Max/Min feature. I want one.
You can load test a car battery. |
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03-19-2019, 03:56 PM
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Fleabit peanut monkey
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I like this type.
https://www.amazon.com/Actron-CP7612-Battery-Load-Tester/dp/B0009XQUJI It ain't complete but it clearly tests the battery. It's basically a toaster. The spiffy ones at the FLAPS for testing your battery/charging system have more goodies that ferret out charging anomalies that take the price much higher.
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1981 911SC Targa |
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03-19-2019, 04:06 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: CA
Posts: 5,878
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I love this one and not just because it's fairly cheap...
https://www.amazon.com/BA9-40-1200-Digital-Battery-System/dp/B00IZFNJ6Y I've had a few testers from simple multimeter to the smoking load testers - and all have lied to me in a fashion... This one requires you enter the type and CCA of the battery, it tests it and tells you how many actual CCAs are "left" and gives you a pass/fail on whether it's worth recharging on not... It has allowed me to troubleshoot and toss a problematic battery that other testers had passed and which I had ruled out as the problem (and a new battery fixed all issues), and to resurrect one other testers had failed, and it was right each time... I loaned it to my neighbor and he liked it so much he bought his own after the same experience.. Last edited by Deschodt; 03-20-2019 at 08:20 AM.. |
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03-20-2019, 08:02 AM
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Edministrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF east bay
Posts: 24,862
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Vat looks like the way to go!
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03-20-2019, 08:12 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,592
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After watching youtube unitl my eyes fell out
Decided I wanted a tester giving a conductance test with a milliohms readout. The gives you an idea of the amount of sulphation.
Strangely, it seems a Harbor Freight unit gives a good bang for the bucks... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtWflJTp_mM
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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03-20-2019, 10:37 AM
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canna change law physics
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Paul, edit your first post, then "go advanced" and you can edit the title
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James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 |
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03-20-2019, 03:14 PM
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White and Nerdy
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Post Title
Quote:
You know, I might start trolling some day and leave a hint in the post title. |
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03-20-2019, 03:17 PM
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canna change law physics
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In OT, it will edit the displayed title
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James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 |
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03-20-2019, 03:18 PM
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?
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 30,610
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Quote:
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03-20-2019, 03:53 PM
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?
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 30,610
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Hey Paul....ya only go 'round once man....buy ya a coupla new vatteries every other year....you've earned it
 . Or a standby spare....
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03-20-2019, 04:01 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,592
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Well, FWIW, new battery installed today. Optima digital 1200 "smart charger" wouldn't bring the old one past 11.4 volts, gave a readout "cannot charge this battery". Last optima 35 only gave me 6 years. Hmmm. Probably the Ford Mustang design with the battery on the passenger side firewall...perfect spot for high underhood heat. Most optimas have given me a decade at least.
Still going to buy a vattery tester though...
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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03-20-2019, 06:09 PM
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White and Nerdy
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Battery's should last one day past the warranty.
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03-20-2019, 06:11 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,592
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Check the battery location...talk about a heat sink!
 Of course, I "needed" a billet battery hold down for it's looks. Why keep things simple when more complicated looks better? 
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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03-20-2019, 06:18 PM
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canna change law physics
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A solar installer was repairing part of a client's system. He didn't know what he was doing and disconnected the feed for the inverter system. So of course it flipped to battery mode and it zerod out the batteries. The client didn't know. I went to help him, but all of the battery chargers were "smart" chargers. none would try with the voltage low. I had to go buy an old style dumb charger to get his batteries back.
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James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 Last edited by red-beard; 03-20-2019 at 06:37 PM.. |
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03-20-2019, 06:19 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,592
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Quote:
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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03-20-2019, 06:22 PM
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UnRegistered User
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I had to do that with my mom's (momz?) car.
The smart charger code indicated a bad battery and my old century charger put 6 amps (the highest setting) for a long time before it started to drop the amperage. The smart charger then would do its job and topped up the charge.
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Bill K. "I started out with nothin and I still got most of it left...." 83 911 SC Guards Red (now gone) And I sold a bunch of parts I hadn't installed yet. |
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03-20-2019, 06:41 PM
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1981 Porsche 911 SC Targa
1970/1982 Porsche 914-6/911SC 2.7 RS
Copenhagen Blue
1983 Porsche SC
