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
Battery tester.webp



Noco 1.webp


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
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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
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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.
 
May 11, 2025

FOXWELL, MOTOPOWER, BT300, Kingbolen, Veepeak, KONNWEI, Visdector, ANCEL, AUTOPHIX, TOPDON, and Midtronics. Battery testers compared for performance analyzing good and bad car batteries, a vehicles cranking and charging system.
Click to expand...

 
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