Low Priced Batt Load Tester?

caokgafamily

Hows it going?

I'm always checking batteries, 6volt, 8volt & 12 volt. I'm having a hard time finding a low price battery load tester that can check all 3 voltages. What is low price? At Harbor Freight thay have one for $19 that works on 6volt and 12volt, prob junk? I have used a DVM and measured each resting then each on a hill. But I really don't know what to do with the data I'm recording. Yes I can see some differences but I don't know if its enough to determine a bad battery.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Steve

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

scottyb

You will find no better load tester than the cart without spending hundreds and hundreds of $.
Post the information you gathered here. Include
pack starting voltage
pack under load voltage
then
individual battery starting voltage and under load

caokgafamily

Thanks Scotty, I guess I'm just a lazy cheap -ss who wants to just connect to a battery and push a button. I believe Sportcoupe had a thread started regarding the results of him checking loads with a DMV running his cart. I guess I need to sit the beer down and read the DMV carefully then remembering the reading so I can record.
Steve

scottyb

Take the pad and pencil with you. Record the results to the 10th.... The HF load testers are a waste of coin.

pachanga90

If you want a decent load tester,the Heavy Duty 600amp one at Harbor works good,but for carts the DVM is still the better alternative.

scottyb

HF HD model only lasted me a number of months before it burned up... Golf cart batteries were just too tough for it - LOL

kgsc

I have the $20 one from HF and no it isn't perfect and yes I have had to redo the wires a few times inside but it can give a preliminary inspection. If it fails, it is dead. If it is iffy, I try something else..

allenb12

I have a 100 amp load tester. I have used it for almost 20years. It does a good job of identifying a bad battery. It states it is for 6 and 12 volts. In reality it does not know the difference. It is just applies a 100 amp load. The scale on the meter is painted and shows 6 and 12 volts. You can interpolate an 8 volt battery. I think a 25% in voltage drop is a bad battery.

CCFanatic

I have the inexpensive HF one and I like it. It is the second one I have bought from there.

pachanga90

The small handheld doesn't have enough load to properly test the batteries,yes they will identify a bad one,but mediocre ones it will miss.I have a Snap-On hand-held tester(they are made by Associated),and it will show a junk battery,but questionable ones usually test as Good,since the load in the tester is too low Amp-Draw.The larger 500amp one will do a much better job,but its' not as durable or accurate as a higher-quality one.I have a Snap-On Vat-tester,I bought it used for $350,they run almost $2k new,and they are worth it.The proper way to load a battery with a load-tester,is to load it to 1/2 its CCA,and remain at 10.6 or higher on a 12v battery(I don't know the specs for 6-8volt ones).The DVM is a very simple,accurate test,that can be done with a $5 meter and still be accurate.Hope this helps.