Top 10 Best Car Battery Testers in 2023
Car batteries can be recharged but after some time they tend to lose some of their properties and cannot hold a charge properly. This happens gradually over a course of several years but they tend to die suddenly. Car battery testers can be very useful to determine just how long will the battery last and what is its current state. Fortunately, they are fairly affordable and here are plenty of models to choose from.
Best Car Battery Testers in 2023
Out of all of the currently available car battery testers, we chose a handful for our list. With no further ado here are the top 10 best car battery testers in 2023 reviews.
10. OTC 3182 130-Amp Digital Battery Load Tester
The OTC 3182 battery tester is a simple device that can be used to check car batteries. It has two clamps for each pole and a compact unit that can display the load for any battery of 6 to 12 volts. It comes with a digital display and just an on and off switch which makes it easy to use and straightforward. The model was built to be easy to use as it has a simple handle and a lightweight measurement unit.
9. Actron CP7612 Battery Load Tester
Acrtron CP7612 is a simple battery load tester with a straightforward construction. It has two copper plated clamps for each pole that come color-coded and a simple measurement unit that moves when current is detected. The model works with standard 12-volt batteries and comes with only an on and off switch. It has a metal construction and comes with a convenient handle making it fairly light as it is also reasonably small.
8. Midtronics PBT300 Battery Charging Starting System Tester
Midtronics PBT300 is a great tool mostly for professionals. It is fairly expensive but extremely accurate and reliable. The model comes with two copper coated color-coded clamps for the negative and positive pole and a large console with a simple digital display. It was made to allow the user to adjust the measurement range and show the available power. The model was also made to detect bad cells and diagnose car batteries.
7. Pulse Tech Xtreme Charge Quick Battery Tester
The Pulse Tech Xtreme battery tester is probably the most affordable model on the market. It has a simple construction with small pins that only need to touch the poles of a battery and a straightforward LED light indicator panel. The model can measure the charge of a battery and can detect if the battery is in a good or bad state. What makes it a decent purchase is the fact that it is extremely compact and easy to use.
6. Associated Equipment 6031 Battery Tester
The Associated Equipment 6031 is a decent battery tester that offers reliable results. It has a solid metal body with two copper clamps that have been color-coded for each pole. The model comes with a simple handle and an easy to read a meter. To use it all it takes to connect the clamps and switch the device on. The device itself was made to protect the user from surges and provide accurate reads without overcomplicating the process.
5. Schumacher BT-100 100 amp Battery Load Tester
Schumacher BT-100 is a classic battery tester that is both easy to use and affordable. The model has an easy to read a meter and just an on and off button. It can be used on batteries of 6 to 12 volts and can also detect if a battery is still good or bad. The model comes with a simple handle and two copper clamps with color-coded handles for the positive and negative pole. From a user protection standpoint, the handle of the tester is covered with a plastic material.
4. SOLAR 1860 125 Amp Digital Fixed Load Battery Tester
The SOLAR 1860 is a great battery tester for the ones that haven’t used one before. It was made to be used even by the ones with very little knowledge about batteries. The model will automatically detect the real load of a battery and if the battery is in a good state, week or plain bad. The model supports a maximum load of 125 amps and comes with a simple digital display.
3. Cartman 12V Car Battery & Alternator Tester
The Cartman 12V tester is a cheap model that can be used to check the state of the battery or alternator. It is a two in one machine that manages to provide accurate reads or even detect a bad battery. The model is straightforward and easy to use. To perform a reading all it takes it to connect the color-coded clamps on each pole of the battery. There is no need to push an on or off button as the device will read the state of the battery right away.
2. Cen-Tech Digital Automotive Battery Analyzer
Cen-Tech’s Digital Automotive Battery Analyzer is a professional model that offers in-depth details with regards to the state of a battery. The model comes with a large digital display and a soft covered case. Having the enclosure made out of plastic means that the model is completely safe for the user. Like most other models it comes with two clams that have been color-coded for each pole.
1. Midtronics PBT100KIT Digital Battery Charging System Tester Kit
Midtronics PBT100KIT is the downgraded version of the PBT300. It is more affordable but it shares both the design and the features of the more expensive model. The PBT100 comes with two color-coded clamps and a simple menu that allows a bit of customization for the measurement. It can detect if a battery is good or bad and requires minimal knowledge to be operated. It might not be very straightforward but it is easy to use and quite accurate.
Car battery testers tend to be accurate but some models offer more info than others. More expensive models use modern digital displays and can determine if a battery is still good or bad. Our top 10 includes a wide selection of car battery testers from all categories and price ranges making it more convenient to find a suitable model.
I work for Midtronics. While I’m happy to see that the PBT-100 and 300 models made this Top 10 list, I have to say we certainly have better testers available. The PBT-100 does not display measured CCA, only a pass-fail LED and voltage. That’s a deal-breaker for me. The PBT-300 (and 200) show measured CCA, so I would choose one of those for an entry-level product -and assuming you do not need to test AGM batteries. To test AGM, you would need to move up to the MDX, EXP or DSS models. The DSS represents the pinnacle in handheld testers with our exclusive Conductance Profiling test which checks the Reserve Capacity integrity of the battery in addition to our very best Conductance CCA testing ability.
Sorry to need clarification, but is your “Top” pick in ascending or descending numerical order? Or, your Top suggestion is #10 / #1?
Thanks,
Dee