There are a lot of car battery testers on the market so finding the best one can be a challenge. Instead of you having to try out different ones though, we will make it easier for you and provide a list of some of the top battery testers.
We will look at the benefits and negatives of each one, and the end gives you our recommendation. Continue reading to find out which one our experience has determined is the best one.
Just quick check my list here:
Here is my details review about car battery testers:
The first battery tester we will look at is the Schumacher BT-100. This is a simple battery tester which comes with the benefits of being easy to use.
The good thing about this model is it is still fairly small. It weights 2.7 pounds and measures 15”x7.5”x3.5”. It can still fit in a glove box if needed but is more suited to be carried in a toolbox.
This model is great for everyday use on 6V and 12V batteries. It can test load, battery condition, starter motor draw, and offers complete charging system diagnosis.
One thing that users love about this model though is it has alligator clip connectors. This makes it easy to connect the ends to the battery and you don’t have to hold the ends on there.
That makes using this tester way easier. This one also does have a few more features than just testing the battery charge, but not all the bells and whistles.
Users love that they can use this model to test the start draw. This means you can find out if your starter is bad while this one is connected.
It can also diagnose the complete charging system in your car which means you can find out if the alternator is working properly and charging the battery.
Users love that this one can do those things because it allows them to troubleshoot some things with there car battery and make sure other things aren’t wrong before getting a new battery.
The big problem with this unit, however, is that some users have issues with it getting too hot. This hasn’t been across all units though and could have just been a bad batch.
Next, we have the Solar BA9. This model is starting to get more into the more advanced models. The digital LCD screen is optimized, so it is easy to view in all lighting conditions which users love.
Also, this is a small unit which people like. It weighs 3 pounds and measures 10.3”x7.1”x2” making it nice and compact to fit into a glove box.
The controls on this model are easy to use and make it easy to scroll through the different menu options. The way this is connected to the battery is also high end. The alligator clip connectors are top quality, and users have been able to use this tester for years.
Users also love that this model has been showed to test accurately multiple battery types. It can test all four of the most common battery types (including Flooded, AGM, Spiral and Gel Cell) and gives accurate results on charged and discharged batteries (down to 7 Volts).
Solar BA9 has wide operating range tests batteries all the way down to 40 cold cranking amps and as high as 1200 cold cranking amps.
These is good because you don’t have to worry about your battery tester not being compatible with your battery model or giving you false results.
It is safe to use. It doesn’t get hot while testing and the instructions are easy to follow. Also, it has overvoltage protection and reverses polarity to make sure you don’t get hurt while using it.
The next model we will look at is the Foxwell BT705. This is a fairly advanced model as well with a nice bright LCD screen. The size is good which makes it easy to store and use.
It weighs 3 pounds and measures 13”x3.2’’x9.1”. Users like how this model can do more than just check the charge of the battery. The clamps on this model also work well.
The BT705 can do a load test, charging test, and starter checks on top of checking the voltage of the battery making it a useful tool.
This model can test batteries from rated from 100 to 2000CCA and multiple battery types- regular flooded, AGM flat plate ,AGM spiral and gel. It also test 12&24 volt charging system with quick and accurate test result display in just 3 seconds.
The menus are easy to navigate, and the buttons are of good quality. Users like the ability to use this tester easily without much experience.
Also, the tester is sturdy and built well meaning it will last a long time. The rubber sleeve helps protect it from scratches or drops.
The one flaw with this model is that it needs updates to make sure it functions right and some users have had issues doing that.
Depending on the type of battery you have, this might not read it accurately unless you install the update. The update issues have only been for some people though and could have just been bad internet and not the unit itself. This is still a good unit but is something to remember.
The next tester we will look at is the Schumacher SE-4022. This is a powerful device that serves double duty as both a tester and a charger.You can test a battery to make sure it needs charging before starting to charge it.
This battery tester is larger at 14inches x 14inches x 20inches and weighs 27.3 pounds, but it does have wheels so that you can roll it around your shop.
One nice thing about this tester is it accommodates 6-volt and 12-volt batteries so that you won’t need any other tester or chargers.
The tester’s cables are six feet long which gives you a total of twelve feet of reach since there are two cables. This means you won’t have any problem with being able to connect this tester to the battery.
This tester can not only test your battery, but it can also check your starting system and other electrical systems. It does this with two rotary switches that are included.
Also, built into this tester is a voltmeter, so you won’t have to have an external one. The tester has bright, colorful gauges that make it easy to read.The cool thing about this tester is it can be used to start an engine in a pinch. It can put off 200-amps when needed.
As a charger, it has a 40-amp mode and a 2-amp mode. The 40-amp model is best for charging larger batteries or charging quicker. For slowly charging the battery or for smaller batteries you can use the 2-amp trickle charge mode. It also has an auto shutoff switch.
Having all these features makes it a nice all in one tester and charger combo.The only complaint is that some units have came broken, but customer service has fixed that error, and it seems they are packaging them better now to prevent this.
With all that is built into the Schumacher SE-4022, it is an excellent multipurpose tester and charger.
Another more advanced model from Solar is the Solar BA327. This model can do pretty much everything, which users love.
It is a bigger battery tester, but that is because it is also a printer. The Solar BA327 wights 5 pounds and measures 14.5”x10”x3.3”. This means that it is still small enough to carry around, but you probably want to carry it in a toolbox.
This battery tester does pretty much everything, and there isn’t anything bad to say about it. It can test multiple battery types (including Conventional, AGM, Gel Cell, Spiral Wound and Deep Cycle Batteries), 6 and 12 volt batteries from 40-2000 CCA, operating range from 1.5-30V, 6, 12 and 24V system testing.
This model has long cable leads which are extra long at 10 feet meaning you won’t have any problem connecting it to the battery.
Also, the clamps are high-quality alligator ones. This scanner can test every battery type so that you won’t have compatibility issues and it can test drained or charged batteries. Also, it has temperature compensation built into it, so if it is hot or cold, that won’t affect the reading.
This unit is also multilingual, so anyone can use it and understand it. The menus are easy to navigate, and the printer feature is nice so that you can document things.
This will test all parts of the battery electrical and charging system meaning if there are any issues anywhere it will let you know. The printed report is easy to read and makes keeping track of multiple vehicles scans easy. The Solar BA327 is great and is the do all of the battery testers.
The best car battery tester out of these depends on what you are needing. If you just want an easy to use simple unit, then the best one is the Schumacher BT-100. It is built strong and does the job it is meant to do very well.
If you need a a powerful device with tester and charger combo, you can choose the Schumacher SE-4022. It is an excellent multipurpose tester and charger.
If you are an advanced user or shop owner though, then you will want a more hi-tech unit. If that is the case, then you can’t go wrong with the Solar BA327.
It does everything and the printer built in is a nice perk. If you go with the Solar BA327, it will most likely be the last battery tester you buy because it does all the things you will need it to do.
In addition, Foxwell BT705 vs Solar BA9 are good depending on what you need, all product descriptions mentioned above, you can rely on that to choose the product that best suits you.
All the units on this list though are good and have there pluses and minuses. Now that you have read the reviews you can match your needs up to them and find the best car battery tester for you.
You can’t go wrong with any on this list. They will all do what you need them to do, and you will get results easily that make you satisfied.
