Battery Tester

[Scooter Cushman]

Originally Posted by camodude1954

Says it's good for golf carts, cars, trucks, lifts, boats. Heavy Duty 100 Amp Load Tester. Would using a Hydrometer with the float balls inside help determine the charge of my batteries? I got one of those today and was going to take it down with me this Fri. when we go back to the campground.

Well I like scooty's load test. hook up the meter and head for a hill...lol

[camodude1954]

You would think that yours would work. Sounds like it's bigger than mine, and probably more apt to handle the load test. What do you think about the hydrometer test?

[camodude1954]

Amen, brother on the head to the hills

[Scooter Cushman]

i haven't used a hydrometer since High school. It will tell you the state of charge.
In my case now I need to verify the load and if it's too low I would buy a 5oo amp load tester. I have solar and ten running carts. I need to recount, I think I have 100 deep cycle batteries right now I would use it all the time.

[camodude1954]

No doubt, you would use it all the time. I guess I'll just settle for the "State of charge" with the Hydrometer until the Scotty Meter gets here, and then I'm gonna head to the hill, bro

[pachanga90]

I have a 500amp unit from Harbor-Freight,they are also made by Associated,Solar,Mac and Schumaker.If you check with local Tool-Guys like Snap-On,You can score an older VAT-Machine reasonable.I bought one for $300 from Snap-On,the new equivilent is about $2000.The older ones like mine are on a cart,and also have a Amp-Probe to check amp-draw/Charging).

[Scooter Cushman]

Good Luck!I hope they work.

I wonder if it would be accurate to count the volts that the battery falls for a 100 amp load then multiply as if 500 amp load to get a voltage. just as a reference

[pachanga90]

If the battery fails with a 100amp tester,its' definitely shot,But an accurate reading needs proper testing,whether you choose a large Load-Tester,or the Meter-on-Wheels method(running a hill with a VoltMeter).Math-Formulas aren't accurate in this case.

[simple man]

An automotive load tester will give you a very rudimentary idea of a golf cart battery's condition. To properly have them tested you need one of these: http://www.golfcarcatalog.com/produc...ge-Tester.html
They are quite expensive so it may pay you to take your cart to a shop to have the batteries tested. It will be a definitive test!

[pachanga90]

Thats why I mentioned the Snap-On unit I have at the shop,its' not a cheap hand-held.Its' a High-Current,Good Quality unit made for testing Heavy-Duty batteries and charging-systems on Heavy-Trucks and Equipment.Another alternative is to take them to a place like Interstate-Batteries,and have them tested there.