While using a battery-operated unit, it is often useful to find out whether the batteries actually work, and how much charge is left after a period of use. For this, the Battery Tester has been invented, and , like most technological gizmos, it ranges from basic to high tech, and is available in as many forms as you can think of battery operated objects. Although the Battery Tester is usually an external, portable device, and purchased separately from its object, some are built into their object, while some batteries actually have their own Battery Tester. Several are designed with the ability to test multiple batteries and battery types.
Finding a Battery Tester is easy, as they are readily available, and it is equally as easy to use. The average Battery Tester is armed with two poles (positive and negative) to correspond with the positive and negative electrode points of the battery. Slotting in the battery, or otherwise connecting these poles with those of the Battery Tester (with leads, for example, in the case of a car battery) will generate a reading for the user, that will be usually be displayed digitally. Sometimes, however the reading is indicated by an analog needle, as in the case of a watch.
The Battery Tester reading will indicate the percentage of power remaining, and depending on the model, may add extra information on your battery capacity and health, such as its expected longevity or its rate of discharge. The Battery Tester may additionally display a coloured charge-level box, indicating by a majority of green, that the battery is well within its charge, by yellow that the charge is middling, and by red that the battery should be replaced.
Battery Tester sizes vary, depending on their object, so, while the tester for your necessary AA or AAA batteries may be inbuilt, the Battery Tester for a car resembles a small box. Automotive chargers are important when you suspect that the car may not even have the ability to start. A good car Battery Tester is designed to test other sources of power, such as the vehicle’s alternator. Many models actually include a built-in charger for an instant boost.
Car batteries can be tested in several ways. You may use a carbon pile Battery Tester or a battery load tester, both of which require that the battery is fully charged. The Battery Tester should typically return a reading of 9.6 volts, if it is a good battery, or else it is likely faulty.
Before you give up on the battery, however, you may want to perform a three-minute battery charge test. The test checks for any hardening of the battery plate, usually achieved by frequent undercharging, that results in that portion of the battery being unavailable for use. The test involves charging the battery slowly for six minutes, at the rate of 40 AMP/hr. You then recheck the voltage, while the charger continues to charge; any reading below 15.5 volts confirms the battery’s viability, while anything above this indicates that the battery has refused to absorb charge. Charging the battery slowly for up to a day may help to reverse the hardening of the plate or sulfation, thus preserving the battery, however a new investment is indicated.
The popular electronic Battery Tester does not require a fully charged battery to give an accurate reading, and some models additionally indicate the battery’s conductivity capacity. This reveals the portion of the battery that is available to absorb and discharge power; the smaller this portion is, the lower the battery’s conductivity, and the sooner it will need replacement.
A good battery is one that is able to absorb a charge, store it stably, and subsequently discharge it as and when required. A faulty battery either cannot properly absorb power or won’t release it as designed to. If you test a battery after purchase and it is not indicating full capacity after charging, you should return it and ask for a replacement.
In a high quality Battery Tester, you should look for features that allow it to take into consideration deviations in discharge times and patterns. It should also have several settings, to adjust to the battery type and size that it is monitoring.
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