Load tester for batteries? How do I measure them efficiently?

[GotaCamaro]

I have been buying a few golf carts a year and when they are fully charged i simply put my battery volt meter onto the batteries to make sure they are all reading the same voltage.

Is there a hand held tool I can buy that will effectively test them to tell me how old or how bad they are? I see a ton on amazon but I want to make sure I get one that can test 6 8 and 12 volt batteries.

I dont want to go cheap here, i have bought a few golf carts that seemed ok then I get them home and the batteries are complete garbage a month later.

[cgtech]

The automotive style tester is weak for testing golf cart batteries, it will tell you if a battery is totally bad (needle drops more that a few tenths of a volt), but the automotive tester is not strong enough to give you much of a reading of "how good" a battery is.

[scottyb]

keep your eye out for a Lester 'draw down load tester' battery tester. These machines cost about a grand new but they are worth their weight in gold when it comes to battery assessment. The machine will simulate operational load on the cart and record lowest voltage and run time until pack hits a preset (50%) draw down.
This and a refractometer never steered me wrong in battery pack analysis.
I found mine on eBay -

Here it is > http://www.lesterelectrical.com/products/dischargers/

[GotaCamaro]

I see a discharge tester on amazon (lester) for $800.

So If i hook this discharger up to the batteries, what exactly will it tell me? Will it give me a reading that will ***** the batteries life expectancy left? I would like to know if i purchase a cart if the batteries have another couple years left, or if they are on their last year of life.

Amazon.com: DISCHARGE TESTER 36V/48V: Automotive

Amazon.com: DISCHARGE TESTER 36V/48V: Automotive

[scottyb]

It's going to tell you how much run time they can provide and what the lowest voltage seen was while providing that run.

That information has to be weighed in with other information... like the battery's size and age, The batteries' ability to take and hold a charge, and the SG of each cell and the variation in SG cell to cell. Once you have compiled this info you will have a crystal ball into the life expectancy of the pack based upon past use and today's true condition.


The simple answer is it still requires some speculation and interpretation.
Maybe one of the many other shop owners would like to share their expertise on the subject before you drop that kind of coin

[beau]

I just scored a Lester discharge tester. Yes, it will draw your pack down and tell you how much drive time your pack will give you. It is not an instant reading, it is a load test, so it takes 120 minutes on a pack that can deliver 120 minutes of run time. Of course driving it could do the same, but you wouldn't have the benefit of being able to meter each battery under load or hit your connections with an ir thermometer looking for increased resistance. It's amazing how hot a 6g set of cables gets after being under load for 15 minutes.


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[scottyb]

Originally Posted by beau

I just scored a Lester discharge tester. Yes, it will draw your pack down and tell you how much drive time your pack will give you. It is not an instant reading, it is a load test, so it takes 120 minutes on a pack that can deliver 120 minutes of run time. Of course driving it could do the same, but you wouldn't have the benefit of being able to meter each battery under load or hit your connections with an ir thermometer looking for increased resistance. It's amazing how hot a 6g set of cables gets after being under load for 15 minutes.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That's what I'm talkin' about and then there's info to learn monitoring the recharge and settling.

[pachanga90]

I've got a regular VAT-machine from Snap-On that I use,but I just bought a new computerized battery and system analyzer that I want to try out on the cart batteries.I have to see what voltage ranges it does.I tried it the day I bought it,and it does a CCA and Load-Test by pressing a button,then there are other tests in the menus,but I haven't had a chance to play with it yet.It was $200,but alot of the test equipment is coming down finally,so its a realistic price for once from Snap-On.My VAT machine goes for well over $1000,but it has a true Carbon-Pile Load,so it draws accurately.I'm waiting to hear back from my dealer as far as testing 6v/8v batteries.Here is the info from Snap-On:

229.99 USD
Snap-On # EECS150
Description
•Test autos, trucks, motorcycles, ATV's and more
•Comfortable horizontal handhold position, soft grips and easy to access buttons
•Menu and test results viewable on back-lit screen
•Select from 8 languages for on-screen commands
•Reverse polarity protection
•Displays % of cold cranking amps
•Patented conductance technology
•Test 12V batteries
•Test batteries rated 100 - 1400 CCA
•Test standard and AGM batteries
•Ratings CCA, SAE, EN, IEC
•Detects battery voltage as low as 6V
•Starter and alternator results voltage only
•S and A technician decision from voltage
•Power from battery being tested
•3' cable and small jaw clamps
•Post/stud adaptors optional
•1 Year Warrantyhumbup:

[pachanga90]

Snap-On said the unit I listed is 12v only.This one covers 6/8/12v.
Snap-On#: EECS350 429.99 USD

•Test autos, trucks, motorcycles, ATV's and more
•Comfortable horizontal handhold position, soft grips and easy to access buttons
•Menu and test results viewable on back-lit screen
•Select from 8 languages for on-screen commands
•Reverse polarity protection
•Displays % of cold cranking amps
•Patented conductance technology
•Test 6, 8 and 12V batteries
•Test batteries rated 100 - 1700 CCA
•Test standard, AGM, GEL and EFB batteries
•Ratings CCA, CA, SAE, EN, IEC, DIN, JIS
•Detects discharged battery down to 1V
•Interactive starter and alternator routine
•S and A decision from tester
•Power from vehicle or internal 9V battery
•4' cable and medium alligator clamps
•Post/stud adaptors included
•2 Year Warranty
•Shipping box and zipper storage case
•Optional IR or PC print capability
•Customizable printouts w/shop information
•Magnet to hold unit while testing & storing
•Temperature prompt above or below 32° F
•Tests alternator diode ripple
•Bad Cell Detection

[GotaCamaro]

Thanks for the responses.

Hmm it may require 120 minutes to run a test with some of this equipment? I need something that could tell me within maybe 15 minutes if the batteries are good or not if its worth buying the golf cart.