Best Battery Testers for Keeping All Your Projects Running
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Gardner Bender GBT-500A Battery Tester -
D-FantiX Battery Tester -
La Crosse Technology 911-114 Portable Battery Tester -
ZTS MBT-1 Multi Battery Tester -
Amprobe BAT-200 Battery Tester -
Buyer's Guide
Of all the things we use in our daily lives, we don't give a heck of a lot of thought to the batteries that power some of our most crucial electronics. Remote controls, camera equipment, alarm clocks are all powered by simple batteries that we don't give a second thought to until they're out of juice. Then you're stuck with a dead device and you're scrambling to find a new battery to replace it. But with a battery tester, you'll know how much power is left in any size cell that you use most often before it dies out on you. They're pretty straight-forward little units that can meter the amount of power in almost any size battery and tell you when it's time for replacement in just seconds. All you need to do is touch a contact to both ends of the battery and instantly read the level of potency on the gauge. It's that easy. The best battery testers in 2022 on our list have been chosen based on factors such as functionality, ease of use, types of batteries that can be tested, portability, and price.
Best Battery Tester Worth Considering in 2022
Gardner Bender GBT-500A Battery Tester - Best Battery Tester Overall
Gardner Bender designed the functionality of this tester very well, starting with the meter interface. The red to green gauge is simple and easy to understand, offering readings for general purpose, nickel cadmium and button lithium cells with one needle. Red and black tester leads are attached with wires and easy to manipulate, instead of installing batteries into contacts within the unit itself. The GBT-500A is also highly accurate to testing the amount of actual current left inside of the cell as opposed to reading only the voltage. This will cut down on false positives as dead batteries will read proper voltage even if they're out of juice. So you can be sure when it's time to trash those dead cells instead of sticking them back in your camera or remote control.
D-FantiX Battery Tester - Runner Up
This inexpensive little unit does a lot for the money. The 7333 tests AA, AAA, C, D, 9-Volt and some button cell batteries. Unfortunately, it won't accommodate all button types because the slider input on the side of the device only moves so far and those tiny little ultra thin cells won't fit between the contacts. But for all those batteries that do fit, the meter reading is a simple to understand, using red/yellow/green insignias and text to tell you when a battery is good and when it needs to be replaced, as well as an indicator for the battery's voltage reading. Tekton also included testing contacts to be used with glass and blade type fuses, commonly used in automobile and household applications; as well as capabilities for checking appliance, automotive and decorative light bulbs. The contacts for these are located on the unit itself and don't require the sliding apparatus.
La Crosse Technology 911-114 Portable Battery Tester - Honorable Mention
La Crosse couldn't have made testing your batteries any easier. This small unit (only about four inches long) can go anywhere you need to test batteries effectively and accurately. Just stick an alkaline or rechargeable AA, AAA, C, or D battery into the slot at the front and push the contacts together. Instantly, the needle reacts on the multi-colored meter at top. You can test 9-volt batteries as well, just apply one to the top of the unit instead of the front. There is one drawback to the 911-114, in that the meter is pretty small and might be hard to read for those with poor or impaired vision.
ZTS MBT-1 Multi Battery Tester - Consider
This ZBT tester can give readings on lithium, nickel cadmium and alkaline batteries along with a large variety of sizes. Standard AA, AAA, C, D and the like, in addition to button cells, coin cells CR123's, and more. In fact, the MBT-1 can test over 30 different types of batteries using ten contact points along the front of the unit. You simply place the positive side of the cell up against the corresponding contact, clearly labeled on the device. Then touch the tester lead to the negative side facing up and the bright LED display tells you how much power the battery has inside. Using the MBT-1 is extremely simple and straightforward, all you really need to know is the type of battery you're testing. The tester itself uses four AA batteries.
Amprobe BAT-200 Battery Tester - Best Battery Tester
The Amprobe is small and lightweight as well as dependable. Just be sure the gauge has been calibrated correctly or you'll get inaccurate readings. The tester uses a slide contact that is nearly identical to the Tekton's and poses some of the same drawbacks as well. Contacts at the end of the device allow for 9-Volt testing while the slide contact can test AA, AAA, C, D and some button cells. The gauge is simple with one color-coded bar graph and needle that are both easy to read and understand. Bottom line, this is a good basic battery tester when all you need is to check out some of those loose batteries in the catch-all drawer of your kitchen or garage.
Buyer's Guide
Most of our crucial electronics devices run on batteries, and we don’t notice the power source until it runs out of power. Devices like remote controls, wall clocks, cameras, flashlights, and more have to be occasionally checked to know when you need a battery replacement. Due to their constant usage, you might not know when they would show up with a dead battery. This is where a battery tester comes in handy. A battery tester is an electronic device that is designed to determine the remaining value of any cell’s overall static charge capacity. It will test the battery's excess power and display the power available in the battery for further replacement. However, finding the best battery tester among a plethora of products is quite challenging. So, we have created a detailed buying guide to help you get your hands on a top-quality battery tester for your use.
What Are The Different Types Of Battery Testers Available In The Market?
Domestic Battery Tester
The domestic battery tester is used for cylindrical batteries (rechargeable kinds) like the AA, AAA, and 9V PP3 batteries. It can also test additional types like C and D batteries seen in many households. You can even use this tester for testing any battery composed of common electrolytes like Ni-Cd, Li-ion, and alkaline solution.
Electronic Battery Tester
The electronic or digital battery tester will test the leftover power of the battery, ranging from a simple device to comprehensive machinery. Its digital model will display the battery test result on an LCD screen, making it easier for people to read the calculated value. Since most battery testers display the results in graphs or bars, this model has been preferred by most people because of its quick reading and analysis of the test results.
Car Battery Tester
A car better tester is usually connected to the vehicle’s/ car’s batteries to obtain a clear reminder of the battery’s condition, health, and power/voltage output. Most car batteries use lead-acid batteries, and the tester is specially designed to test those types of batteries especially. Every automobile needs it as the vehicle owner/driver needs to know the battery's condition during the start-up of their transport. So, make sure it is compatible with your vehicle’s battery type and promises you safe testing conditions.
Universal Battery Tester
A universal battery tester is suitable for testing batteries of any size and is primarily used for cylindrical batteries. Carrying a universal battery tester can save you the trouble of buying different battery testers for your home, car, and heavy electronic devices.
What Factors Do You Need To Consider To Buy The Best Battery Tester?
Precise Scale And Display
Ensure that the battery tester you pick out has a clear-cut scale printed on the unit with a quality lens so that you have no difficulty reading the meter’s reading scale from any angle you view it. A poor-quality lens will deflect the user’s vision of the meter scale by refraction, resulting in reading an incorrect value on the battery tester. Therefore, you can preferably go with the digital battery tester for easier readability or stick to the Analog type for familiarised comfort.
Compatible Battery Types
There are multiple batteries of varying sizes available in the market, making it more challenging to select the best battery tester. So, note down the common battery types available at your home, vehicles, and other electronic devices and find a tester that matches all these types. Then, before finalizing your purchase, try to check the battery tester's compatibility with all the above sizes and types to ensure you are buying the right one.
Sturdy Construction
Before selecting the best battery tester, make sure that the device's material is meeting the regulatory standards. No one would want their battery tester to fall apart due to accidental drop or collision. So, it should have sturdy construction with insulated handles. In addition, the tester product must pass different construction tests which will prove whether it has a longer lifespan or not.
Price And Budget
The battery testers come in various types and sizes, so it is challenging to set an average price for the electronic device. Each battery tester has unique properties and functions. The buyer should choose the best battery tester that provides multiple testing facilities at a lower price range. Usually, the price range varies from $9 to around $100, based on the functions and features of the product.
What Are Some Of The Additional Features To Look For In A Battery Tester?
If you want to buy the best battery tester, conduct a quick research on the internet for the local and international brands available in the current market. The high-quality battery testers will provide you a high degree of accuracy for a lifetime, a precise reading scale, multiple battery compatibility types, and a simple setup or interface to make your work easier. So, choose the combination of features that meets your requirement and check the product before going ahead with the purchase.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Battery Tester?
- The battery tester is the best way to determine the battery's condition of any device conveniently.
- It can provide you with the or volts of the remaining battery capacity of the tested electronic appliance, estimating an accurate time for a replacement.
- The best battery tester can give you a proper assessment by testing different batteries of a wide range of sizes.
- It can offer the safest way to check your battery’s condition, voltage level, and other specifications by providing insulations and other safety features attached to the electronic device.
Battery Tester FAQ
Q. How do I recognize whether the battery is good or not?
A. Check the battery using the battery tester to determine the cells' voltage or remaining battery capacity. If the voltage remains above 9.6 volts, the battery is considered good, and anything below 9.6 will be considered bad. So, recharging your battery to a full charge will term your battery good after the battery test.
Q. How do I know my car battery is fully charged?
A. Any car battery measured at or above 12.6 volts using the battery tester is termed fully charged. If the vehicle is on, then the reading in the range of 13.7 to 14.7 volts will suggest a fully charged car battery.
Q. Do I need to calibrate the battery tester?
A. No, the battery testers come with calibrated systems and sensors which will display the results according to the calibrations.
