Obviously you can check what voltage it's putting out but how can you test what power/amps it's holding and whether a battery is 1/4, 1/2 or fully charged?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

you need a battery load tester Vijay

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cbt500-professional-battery-tester

 

Bit pricey for a one-off test though bud :(

 

Steve :)

dont kwik fit do a free battery test or was it halfords?

I wouldn't trust those guys Chris ;)

 

How do they work and will these do the same thing?? http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m38.l1313&_nkw=battery+load+tester&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Found out how they work (I think). Looked at Ebay and there seems like 3 choices:

 

Draper - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAPER-53090-100AMP-6V-12-VOLT-BATTERY-LOAD-TESTER_W0QQitemZ130323349312QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment?hash=item1e57e07f40

 

Gunson - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GUNSON-G4184-12V-100A-BATTERY-LOAD-CHARGING-TESTER_W0QQitemZ350186805935QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment?hash=item5188c29aaf

 

Franklin - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FRANKLIN-BT110-Digital-Battery-Load-Tester-125A_W0QQitemZ390105549750QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Hand_Tools_Equipment?hash=item5ad41a4bb6

 

My Z battery is 750A 74AH but will be using on other smaller batteries too. I assume the digital ones will be more accurate and more sensitive to smaller changes in battery levels.

 

No idea which one to get though.............

sit it in a room with a piece of paper and pencil, then ask it questions that you know the answers to???

 

hope i aint got the wrong end of the stick lol

 

sorry bud but the only way i know of is to charge it, stick it on a car with a known good alternator, if it dont keep the charge then its fooked

You can measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte using a hydrometer, (assuming the battery is of the non-sealed type) to determine the state of charge. They only cost a couple of quid.

stick ya tongue on it

Often if a cell is knacked the electrolite will be discoloured. It can also bubble up after a load is applied to it. Take the caps off and have a look as someone tries to start the car if one of the cells bubbles up and the rest are ok, every chance the battery has had it. Just dont have any naked flames whilst doing it or the fooker will explode in your face.

 

Safety advice: wear goggles :)

Alan, you sure you don't drink much these days??? lol

 

I'll mainly want to check the condition of a battery I use for running pumps and for transferring bio to my car. It's charged by one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-30AMP-SELF-SWITCHING-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-KIT_W0QQitemZ200397761079QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories?hash=item2ea8a32a37 so I obviously have no easy way of seeing how charged at any point it is.