Budget battery tester recommendation.

Owen Lucas

Owen Lucas

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The exclamation and power lights are flashing alternately on my Noco Genius 2D.

The online user manual states: "Bad Battery Error and Standby LEDs single-flash. Battery will not hold a charge. Have the battery checked by a professional."

What budget battery tester do you recommend? Considering it's the Black Friday weekend, I should be able to score a good deal. Are there entry level budget brands I should look for? I will use this tool probably 2x a year.

I'm currently considering the "KONNWEI KW208 12V Car Battery Tester" for $18 after coupon. What do you think?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MPXGSGN/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A8TK8X0P0NYME&psc=1
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Noco 3.webp
Noco 4.webp
 
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I personally use OEM Tools Digital, was $60 so probably a bit overpriced but that was at Autozone.

Harbor Freight sells the Viking brand for $39.
 
I have an older midtronivs. it gives less informatio than current testers do, but it's still helpful to see the CCA. However there's still a place for an actual load test.
 
I have MOTOPOWER MP0515A which I bought 2 years ago, it's a basic tester the way I see it, not to be considered precise or very trust worthy. It does allow baseline assessment of a battery in question thou. The tool is small and light and very portable, I keep in it in trunk; it doesn't require batteries.
 
Carbon pile tester.

Those little electronic testers don't load the battery.

Auto Meter (SB-5/2) 800 Amp Variable Load Battery/Electrical System Tester https://a.co/d/9OUVe2C

There are plenty of cheaper, lower quality versions available as well.
 
I have one, use it to monitor the short-tripping car. It provides similar data as my battery charger.

100% satisfied for my basic needs (should I be OCD and top-off charge the battery this week?).

100% recommend for a basic/intermediate-level DIYer or as a spare for the glove box if you have something nicer.
 
I have this, for $23 and change, it simply works fine. It used to drive me crazy how people in the cheese grater tester days, would dance around this subject. "How can I tell if my battery is ok? And don't tell me to test it, that's not something I would consider." So I bought one.

https://a.co/d/6W4NSer
 
John105 said:
I have this, for $23 and change, it simply works fine. It used to drive me crazy how people in the cheese grater tester days, would dance around this subject. "How can I tell if my battery is ok? And don't tell me to test it, that's not something I would consider." So I bought one.

https://a.co/d/6W4NSer
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Yep, required equipment. There cheap. They work. Today's cars use a lot more current and today's batteries seem to be lacking.
 
Sayjac said:
You might want to check out the link.

Sayjac

Thread 'Ancel BA101 Battery Tester, $16'

Amazon has the Ancel on sale with 50% off coupon, lowest price I've seen for it. I bought one a year ago on BF and paid significantly more. For my purposes, satisfied with the BA101 and this is an excellent price. Shipping free with Prime, otherwise ~$3

Ancel BA101 Battery Tester.
  • Like
Click to expand...
Its now $36 with a 35% coupon, so $25 all in. Still a very good price IMHO.
 
Owen Lucas said:
The exclamation and power lights are flashing alternately on my Noco Genius 2D.

The online user manual states: "Bad Battery Error and Standby LEDs single-flash. Battery will not hold a charge. Have the battery checked by a professional."

What budget battery tester do you recommend? Considering it's the Black Friday weekend, I should be able to score a good deal. Are there entry level budget brands I should look for? I will use this tool probably 2x a year.

I'm currently considering the "KONNWEI KW208 12V Car Battery Tester" for $18 after coupon. What do you think?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MPXGSGN/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A8TK8X0P0NYME&psc=1
View attachment 252337


View attachment 252334

View attachment 252335View attachment 252336
Click to expand...
I have that one. Seems fine.
 
people who drive little NEED a good battery charger + USE it, add todays xtra JUNK on modern vehicles adds to issues. just changed a 9 YO napa AGM battery that ended up being a bad alternator on my rarely driven 2001 audi TT roadster + just because i replaced a 10 YO FLOODED interstate in my 2011 frontier, both got regular "boosts" from my C-tek 4.3 muse!!
 
I have a CGSulit BD715, it checks the battery, cranking and starting system

Had a Foxwell one but didn’t like that the cable is permanently attached to the unit. The cgsulit is not permanently attached to the unit.
 
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