Battery Testing Equipment

[dundee_stokie]

I'm having some bother with my wifes Focus battery, looks like its dead, do most of you keep a battery tester and charger handy ? I really should get both of these in the garage for times like.....well times like these !

Any reccomentdations on devices ?

[manclad]

A battery charger is always handy and they can be bought relatively cheap.

For a battery tester I usually take the battery to a local motor factor or tyre bay and get them to test it.

[miniredcooper]

Lidl were doing one last week - from memory circa £15-£20. Very compact and could charge, trickle charge and also 'pulse charge' for very weak batteries. Seemed like a good deal but you may struggle to find one as was last weeks offer.

Any 'kwik repair' type tyre/exhaust shop or even Halfords can test your battery properly - normally for free - but fully expect to be sold a new one!

You can do a quick check - but doesn't really give a good indication of actual battery functionality (you need the professional drop/amp tester for that). But a multimeter across the terminals should read 12.3-12.8V or similar when everything is turned off and 14.1-14.8 approx when the engine is started (alternator charging). Really this will only tell you that the alternator is doing it's job and charging.

You could try topping up the cells if they are not sealed with de-ionised water and a good overnight charge, there are even pellets in most of the accessory shops (bat-aid or similar) which you pop into the cells - but I've never tried them so can't vouch for their usefulness.