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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Technical Advice => Topic started by: Benzerari on June 05, 2009, 01:53:48 PM

Title: Who still believe in a battery tester?
Post by: Benzerari on June 05, 2009, 01:53:48 PM

Have tried several times using a battery tester and a meter, to test batteries, according to the battery tester the batteries always shown flat or nearly flat even those recently installed, say a year or so. But when using the meter it shows the right readings in terms of volts and Amps...

Would the battery tester need to be re-qualibrated from time to time like any electronics measurement instrument and how often?

Title: Re: Who still believe in a battery tester?
Post by: Wiz on June 05, 2009, 02:02:58 PM

All testing equipment should be checked against a known parameter on a regular basis.

The equipment manufacturer should confirm how regularly this should be.

In all circumstances the period between checks should not normally exceed twelve months.

What sort of battery tester are you using? I have previously described on this forum a proven method of testing most batteries with a multimeter and a suitable load.

If new batteries have failed within a year it is almost always certainly due to a fault with the charging circuit or is temperature related.

Title: Re: Who still believe in a battery tester?
Post by: David Rooney on June 05, 2009, 03:41:53 PM

I must have missed that Wiz... I used to do a "10 minute" test on batteries with big old resistor.... used to get so hot it'd take your finger prints off......!

Have to say i'm not a fan of the electronic testers... and yes they need to go back annually for re-calibration...

Title: Re: Who still believe in a battery tester?
Post by: nearlythere on June 05, 2009, 03:44:36 PM

Can you not use your tongue like a real man would?

Title: Re: Who still believe in a battery tester?
Post by: Allen Higginson on June 05, 2009, 04:01:14 PM

Im lost when it comes to 12aH and above when it comes to that - can't reach both posts!
The meters certainly increase your battery sales1

Title: Re: Who still believe in a battery tester?
Post by: GregC on June 05, 2009, 04:13:27 PM

Resistors are ok but a better load is a lamp, gives you a visual indication and makes it easier to see inside the control panel.

just be careful they aren't halogen 500w 12v items you find lying on the side of a bench in a garage, I couldn't see for about 5 minutes after it lit up and burned out in a split second when I put it across a set of 24Ah batts, I wonder how many lumen's it put out :) 

I think the rating is a 20th for 30 minutes?