The AGM battery on my BMW was 10 years old so I was curious if it was time to replace it. It was cranking a bit slow, but the standing voltage was about 12.8 after a good drive so I was not sure if it was going bad. I purchased this tester and it said I had 13% health left on it and recommended replacement. The tested voltage was 12.7V, about what I had read with my Fluke, which just goes to show that standing voltage is not indicative of a good battery. Just to make sure, I took my battery into O'Reilly Auto Parts and tested it there, and it gave pretty much the same result: 15% health and 12.6V standing voltage. So the inexpensive tester appears to work just as well as the testers at the auto parts stores. Installed new battery, and it tested 100% health and 12.8V standing voltage. Tested on my wife's car battery which I had just replaced 9 months ago, and it confirmed it was 98% health, which seems correct. Tested on my son's AGM battery which we had replaced 2 years ago, and it was 90% health. Again, seemed about right.
I did not realize that a simple voltage test does not tell you if battery is good or bad. This tester appears to put a load on the battery to see how well it handles the load, and gives an indication of health based on that, as well as the battery's internal resistance.
So really happy I purchased this. Good item for my tool chest.
| Brand | ANCEL |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Style | Voltage Tester |
| Color | Red |
| Item Weight | 5 Ounces |
| Item dimensions L x W x H | 9.5 x 7 x 2 inches |
| Upper Temperature Rating | 140 Degrees Fahrenheit |
| Manufacturer | ANCEL |
| Model | BA101 |
| Item Weight | 5 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 9.5 x 7 x 2 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | BA101 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Manufacturer Part Number | BA101 |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
