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Prepare Your Car Battery for the Winter
How to Prepare Your Car Battery for the Winter
Nov 27, 2017
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How to Prepare Your Car Battery for the Winter
Batteries are not exciting things. They store power. They make our stuff work. You have to replace or recharge them sometimes. You can get new ones almost anywhere.
Nobody thinks much about batteries. This is a funny thing since batteries are everywhere. There are probably at least a handful batteries within a 20-foot radius of you right now and you probably care about none of them. There is at least one battery in your life, however, that you should be thinking about right now, and it’s the battery in your vehicle.
“I hope someone visits me, soon,” the battery in your car says. “It’s getting cold out, winter is coming, and I could use me a little bit of lovin’ before the cold and ice show up. Why does nobody ever visit?”
Your car battery is lonely. It doesn’t ask for much. But right now, it wants you to give it a little love. After all, when the cold and snow and ice arrive, that lowly battery begins the hardest part of its year.
Do you like being late for meetings because your car won’t start? Do you like playing a game of “OMG WILL IT START TODAY?” every morning before work? Does being stranded at the airport Park-N-Fly at 3 am sound like a thing you’d enjoy? Are you a fan of inventing new swear words when you turn your car’s key, only to be met with the sound of silence?
Probably not.
We’ve compiled some tips below on how to give your battery a little TLC before and during winter so your winter doesn’t suck quite as much.
Check It: Even if your older battery has been firing up reliably all summer and fall, it could still be on the verge of failure. If that’s the case, you can expect a big letdown on the first really cold morning of the winter.
Solution? Have the battery checked. Special battery-testing equipment runs your battery through a barrage of tests and spits out a result. The result might be that your battery is perfect, fine, or totally mucked — even if it still seems to be working. Do not underestimate the speed with which a few cold starts on a few cold mornings can kill a weak battery.
For maximum peace of mind, have your car’s battery scanned before the cold weather arrives, and replace it accordingly.
Sometimes, checking your battery means taking it out of your vehicle and bringing it to a place like an auto-parts store. Many service centers can run a battery check for you in minutes without even removing the battery from your car.
“We usually check the battery condition when performing an oil change at no extra charge,” automotive service technician Paul Kennaley says. “Customers appreciate it and it takes less than a minute. Plus, it could save you a major headache on those cold winter mornings.”
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Clean It: Like us humans, batteries can accumulate disgusting levels of unsightly gunk if not cleaned regularly. Because of science and chemicals, the terminals of the battery (which are the metal bits that poke out of the top or side to facilitate an electrical connection) are magnets for this sort of gunk. Mostly, visible battery gunk is made of dirt, salts, crusty yuckiness, and some byproducts of gasses formed inside of your battery as they escape near the terminals.
Pop your hood and look at the battery terminals. If you see a crystallized mess that resembles a crust of salt, then you’ll want to clean your battery terminals pronto. Not only can the accumulations be harmful to your battery and things near it, it can also cause your battery to discharge even when the vehicle isn’t’ running. If you see this sort of corrosion, chances are that your battery is slowly being drained at all times. With winter approaching, your battery needs all the help it can get — and if it’s being discharged by a buildup of semi-conductive crudsicles, you’ll need to do something about it.
Easy solution here. You’ll need a battery terminal cleaning solution (available from your favorite auto parts store), and a wire brush. Follow the instructions on the cleaner, which is typically applied after the battery cables are removed for safety. Brush the corrosion away with the wire brush to reveal shiny, clean terminals.
You’ll also want to spray some battery terminal lube onto the terminals to help fend off future buildup. If you’re doing this job yourself, be sure to reconnect the battery cables snugly, ensuring there’s a good connection. Clean and lubricate the battery cable connections, too.
If you’re not comfortable handling this maintenance on your own, ask your favorite mechanic for help, perhaps while your car is in for a pre-winter oil change.
Help It: There are a few ways you can help your battery to make its life less miserable when the weather turns cold.
First, consider the use of a trickle charger, which can be purchased on the cheap from your favorite auto parts store. You hook it up to your battery and plug it into an electrical outlet when you won’t be driving for a while. The trickle charger works to maintain a full battery charge and is a great idea to use when you won’t be driving for a few days or more — and especially if you’ve got a modern car with high-draw electronics.
Second, consider using synthetic motor oil if you don’t already, even just for the colder months. Synthetic motor oil is pricey and may be overkill for some vehicles, but using it makes it much easier for your battery to turn your engine over in extreme cold. This can help ensure your car starts every time and doesn’t kill your battery in the process.
Third tip? Use the block heater. Plug your car in when it’s going to get really cold and your engine will be toasty warm under the hood. Starting a warm engine is much easier on your battery than starting a cold one, which means a higher likelihood of cold-start success in the middle of February and less drain on your battery throughout winter.
Here’s a final tip: if you do need to jump start your car to get it started this winter, be sure to drive it a good while before turning it off again to help the battery recharge. Do not turn the engine off again until your parked at a safe location where you won’t freeze if your ride fails to restart.
AutoGuide.com
How to Prepare Your Car Battery for the Winter
Nov 27, 2017
How to Prepare Your Car Battery for the Winter
Batteries are not exciting things. They store power. They make our stuff work. You have to replace or recharge them sometimes. You can get new ones almost anywhere.
Nobody thinks much about batteries. This is a funny thing since batteries are everywhere. There are probably at least a handful batteries within a 20-foot radius of you right now and you probably care about none of them. There is at least one battery in your life, however, that you should be thinking about right now, and it’s the battery in your vehicle.
“I hope someone visits me, soon,” the battery in your car says. “It’s getting cold out, winter is coming, and I could use me a little bit of lovin’ before the cold and ice show up. Why does nobody ever visit?”
Your car battery is lonely. It doesn’t ask for much. But right now, it wants you to give it a little love. After all, when the cold and snow and ice arrive, that lowly battery begins the hardest part of its year.
Do you like being late for meetings because your car won’t start? Do you like playing a game of “OMG WILL IT START TODAY?” every morning before work? Does being stranded at the airport Park-N-Fly at 3 am sound like a thing you’d enjoy? Are you a fan of inventing new swear words when you turn your car’s key, only to be met with the sound of silence?
Probably not.
We’ve compiled some tips below on how to give your battery a little TLC before and during winter so your winter doesn’t suck quite as much.
Check It: Even if your older battery has been firing up reliably all summer and fall, it could still be on the verge of failure. If that’s the case, you can expect a big letdown on the first really cold morning of the winter.
Solution? Have the battery checked. Special battery-testing equipment runs your battery through a barrage of tests and spits out a result. The result might be that your battery is perfect, fine, or totally mucked — even if it still seems to be working. Do not underestimate the speed with which a few cold starts on a few cold mornings can kill a weak battery.
For maximum peace of mind, have your car’s battery scanned before the cold weather arrives, and replace it accordingly.
Sometimes, checking your battery means taking it out of your vehicle and bringing it to a place like an auto-parts store. Many service centers can run a battery check for you in minutes without even removing the battery from your car.
“We usually check the battery condition when performing an oil change at no extra charge,” automotive service technician Paul Kennaley says. “Customers appreciate it and it takes less than a minute. Plus, it could save you a major headache on those cold winter mornings.”
Clean It: Like us humans, batteries can accumulate disgusting levels of unsightly gunk if not cleaned regularly. Because of science and chemicals, the terminals of the battery (which are the metal bits that poke out of the top or side to facilitate an electrical connection) are magnets for this sort of gunk. Mostly, visible battery gunk is made of dirt, salts, crusty yuckiness, and some byproducts of gasses formed inside of your battery as they escape near the terminals.
Pop your hood and look at the battery terminals. If you see a crystallized mess that resembles a crust of salt, then you’ll want to clean your battery terminals pronto. Not only can the accumulations be harmful to your battery and things near it, it can also cause your battery to discharge even when the vehicle isn’t’ running. If you see this sort of corrosion, chances are that your battery is slowly being drained at all times. With winter approaching, your battery needs all the help it can get — and if it’s being discharged by a buildup of semi-conductive crudsicles, you’ll need to do something about it.
Easy solution here. You’ll need a battery terminal cleaning solution (available from your favorite auto parts store), and a wire brush. Follow the instructions on the cleaner, which is typically applied after the battery cables are removed for safety. Brush the corrosion away with the wire brush to reveal shiny, clean terminals.
You’ll also want to spray some battery terminal lube onto the terminals to help fend off future buildup. If you’re doing this job yourself, be sure to reconnect the battery cables snugly, ensuring there’s a good connection. Clean and lubricate the battery cable connections, too.
If you’re not comfortable handling this maintenance on your own, ask your favorite mechanic for help, perhaps while your car is in for a pre-winter oil change.
Help It: There are a few ways you can help your battery to make its life less miserable when the weather turns cold.
First, consider the use of a trickle charger, which can be purchased on the cheap from your favorite auto parts store. You hook it up to your battery and plug it into an electrical outlet when you won’t be driving for a while. The trickle charger works to maintain a full battery charge and is a great idea to use when you won’t be driving for a few days or more — and especially if you’ve got a modern car with high-draw electronics.
Second, consider using synthetic motor oil if you don’t already, even just for the colder months. Synthetic motor oil is pricey and may be overkill for some vehicles, but using it makes it much easier for your battery to turn your engine over in extreme cold. This can help ensure your car starts every time and doesn’t kill your battery in the process.
Third tip? Use the block heater. Plug your car in when it’s going to get really cold and your engine will be toasty warm under the hood. Starting a warm engine is much easier on your battery than starting a cold one, which means a higher likelihood of cold-start success in the middle of February and less drain on your battery throughout winter.
Here’s a final tip: if you do need to jump start your car to get it started this winter, be sure to drive it a good while before turning it off again to help the battery recharge. Do not turn the engine off again until your parked at a safe location where you won’t freeze if your ride fails to restart.
AutoGuide.com
4
The Best Booster Cables for Winter Driving
The Best Booster Cables for Winter Driving
Feb 15, 2018
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There’s a bit of twisted humour in the timing of when things fail.
The furnace always calls it quits on the coldest day of the year. Air conditioning bites the dust just as the heat of the summer reaches its peak. In the same way, car batteries seem to fail in the coldest months of the year. Perhaps a smaller passenger has left an interior light on, and the battery has been drained. In both cases, starting a cold engine is a tough task. When a dead battery inevitably happens, you need a boost.
Predicting when you’ll need a boost is impossible, so it’s better to be prepared with booster cables on board. But what are some of the best things to look for when picking your booster cable? There are a lot of great options available, and most will do the trick. User ratings online can provide some indication of how good they are, and Amazon still has the best collection of user ratings online.
Consider how your booster cables will be stored. These long cables can be cumbersome if not stored well, or damage to the rubber insulation could occur. Look for cables that come with their own carrying case. This is a really easy way to keep them tucked away. Winter temperatures can make cheap rubber insulation brittle, causing booster cables to be stiff and difficult to use. More expensive cables use special compounds that endure cold weather. All weather resistance is a must, though widely available.
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A good value level example is the Capri Tools CP21081 Booster Cable. This booster kit includes a carrying bag and good UL rating for all-weather performance. There are other considerations, too, like the length. At 16 feet, this is an ideal length for parking lot boosting. Cold weather boosting requires a lot of crank power. In automobiles, this is generated using a lot of current, measured as amps.
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In order to accommodate this increase in electrical flow, booster cables should have bigger cables. AWG, American Wire Gauge, is a standard that helps identify how big a cable is. The smaller the number, the bigger the cable. The Cartman Booster 16-foot booster cables offer four AWG wires. These wires are ideal for high cranking vehicles and designed to endure extreme winter conditions. Larger wires also stand up to wear and tear.
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Large vehicles, like full-size SUVs and trucks, produce a lot more current than smaller vehicles. Additional length is required to reach boost points. At 25 feet, the ABN Jumper Cable features low-temperature performance, and impressive 600 amp capacity through two AWG wires.
With the right booster cables, even a dead battery won’t keep you off the road for long.
AutoGuide.com
The Best Booster Cables for Winter Driving
Feb 15, 2018
There’s a bit of twisted humour in the timing of when things fail.
The furnace always calls it quits on the coldest day of the year. Air conditioning bites the dust just as the heat of the summer reaches its peak. In the same way, car batteries seem to fail in the coldest months of the year. Perhaps a smaller passenger has left an interior light on, and the battery has been drained. In both cases, starting a cold engine is a tough task. When a dead battery inevitably happens, you need a boost.
Predicting when you’ll need a boost is impossible, so it’s better to be prepared with booster cables on board. But what are some of the best things to look for when picking your booster cable? There are a lot of great options available, and most will do the trick. User ratings online can provide some indication of how good they are, and Amazon still has the best collection of user ratings online.
Consider how your booster cables will be stored. These long cables can be cumbersome if not stored well, or damage to the rubber insulation could occur. Look for cables that come with their own carrying case. This is a really easy way to keep them tucked away. Winter temperatures can make cheap rubber insulation brittle, causing booster cables to be stiff and difficult to use. More expensive cables use special compounds that endure cold weather. All weather resistance is a must, though widely available.
A good value level example is the Capri Tools CP21081 Booster Cable. This booster kit includes a carrying bag and good UL rating for all-weather performance. There are other considerations, too, like the length. At 16 feet, this is an ideal length for parking lot boosting. Cold weather boosting requires a lot of crank power. In automobiles, this is generated using a lot of current, measured as amps.
In order to accommodate this increase in electrical flow, booster cables should have bigger cables. AWG, American Wire Gauge, is a standard that helps identify how big a cable is. The smaller the number, the bigger the cable. The Cartman Booster 16-foot booster cables offer four AWG wires. These wires are ideal for high cranking vehicles and designed to endure extreme winter conditions. Larger wires also stand up to wear and tear.
Large vehicles, like full-size SUVs and trucks, produce a lot more current than smaller vehicles. Additional length is required to reach boost points. At 25 feet, the ABN Jumper Cable features low-temperature performance, and impressive 600 amp capacity through two AWG wires.
With the right booster cables, even a dead battery won’t keep you off the road for long.
AutoGuide.com
Memory Saver (3Meter) with Alligator Clip-On 12V Car Battery
VSTM OBD II Vehicle ECU Emergency Power Supply Cable Memory Saver (3Meter) with Alligator Clip-On 12V Car Battery Cigarette Lighter Power Extension Socket
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Replacing a car battery on older vehicles used to be simple!! You unhook the old battery and install the new one.
Late-model vehicles, however, rely on computers that operate everything from the stereo to the transmission. If power is lost to the computer, the settings are lost and have to reset to default. That means the vehicle may feel different when driven, and you may have to enter a security code to access the stereo.
Using this simple memory saving device when replacing your car battery will help you avoid these problems. This device can work with any 12V DC power source, including jump starter, DC 12V Lead-acid battery, or another car’s DC 12V power outlet.
Product Description and Operation:
Powered by any jump starter with a 12V outlet into an OBD II Memory Saver.
Interface connector between a 12V DC power source and vehicle's OBD II port.
Preserves vehicle codes and electronic presets.
Replacing a car battery on older vehicles used to be simple!! You unhook the old battery and install the new one. Late-model vehicles, however, rely on computers that operate everything from the stereo to the transmission. If power is lost to the computer, the settings are lost and have to reset to default. That means the vehicle may feel different when driven, and you may have to enter a security code to access the stereo. Using this simple memory saving device when replacing your car battery will help you avoid these problems.
This device can work with any 12V DC power source, including jump starter, DC 12V Lead-acid battery, or another car’s DC 12V power outlet.
As our device with 3 meter cable, it will be a convenient way, should you not have jump starter (or Lead-acid battery) on hand, and the device can also get the 12v power supply from cigarette lighter of another good car. Just insert the Cigarette lighter plug to this car and insert into 16 pin plug to the OBD port of the car you want to replace battery. And now you can replace the battery.
As typical OBD Auto Memory saver not have Anti-protection on Incorrect Polarity (AIP), so that in case a wrong polarity power input, it will probably damage your auto ECU (Electronic Control Unit). For our Newly Upgraded Version OBD Auto Memory Saver, it has been added the Safety Function of AIP; In case a power input with incorrect polarity, AIP function automatically put into effect (electric power can’t be transmitted to your car, in case wrong polarity power input); as well, led light on memory saver will not light up. So that your car ECU and other electric devices are fully under protection during a wrong power connection.
It works on any vehicle with OBDII which is 1996 and later. It is not needed or required to change your battery. It is used to keep the memory of you radio setting and other memory computer controlled devices on the vehicle (EMCU for example.) It is used as a convenience as to not erase the memory. I used it to keep my computer controlled climate control memory because one of my 3 actuators would loose its memory and go into a failed default setting after changing the battery. When it failed it would only blow air through the defrost and the GM dealer is the only way to get it calibrated again. It worked for me so i didn't have to spend money and the dealership and it also kept all my radio settings so i didn't have to reset the time and memory stations and even the radio equalizer settings.
It is very easy to use, instructions shouldn’t be necessary; plug into your OBD2 connector (typically located under the left side of dashboard) and connect the other side to a 12VDC source before disconnecting the vehicle’s battery. After the vehicle’s battery is reconnected unplug the memory saver from the 12VDC source and then unplug from the OBD2 connector. Hope this helps, good luck.
VSTM OBD II Vehicle ECU Emergency Power Supply Cable Memory Saver (3Meter) with Alligator Clip-On 12V Car Battery Cigarette Lighter Power Extension Socket
Replacing a car battery on older vehicles used to be simple!! You unhook the old battery and install the new one.
Late-model vehicles, however, rely on computers that operate everything from the stereo to the transmission. If power is lost to the computer, the settings are lost and have to reset to default. That means the vehicle may feel different when driven, and you may have to enter a security code to access the stereo.
Using this simple memory saving device when replacing your car battery will help you avoid these problems. This device can work with any 12V DC power source, including jump starter, DC 12V Lead-acid battery, or another car’s DC 12V power outlet.
Product Description and Operation:
Powered by any jump starter with a 12V outlet into an OBD II Memory Saver.
Interface connector between a 12V DC power source and vehicle's OBD II port.
Preserves vehicle codes and electronic presets.
Replacing a car battery on older vehicles used to be simple!! You unhook the old battery and install the new one. Late-model vehicles, however, rely on computers that operate everything from the stereo to the transmission. If power is lost to the computer, the settings are lost and have to reset to default. That means the vehicle may feel different when driven, and you may have to enter a security code to access the stereo. Using this simple memory saving device when replacing your car battery will help you avoid these problems.
This device can work with any 12V DC power source, including jump starter, DC 12V Lead-acid battery, or another car’s DC 12V power outlet.
As our device with 3 meter cable, it will be a convenient way, should you not have jump starter (or Lead-acid battery) on hand, and the device can also get the 12v power supply from cigarette lighter of another good car. Just insert the Cigarette lighter plug to this car and insert into 16 pin plug to the OBD port of the car you want to replace battery. And now you can replace the battery.
As typical OBD Auto Memory saver not have Anti-protection on Incorrect Polarity (AIP), so that in case a wrong polarity power input, it will probably damage your auto ECU (Electronic Control Unit). For our Newly Upgraded Version OBD Auto Memory Saver, it has been added the Safety Function of AIP; In case a power input with incorrect polarity, AIP function automatically put into effect (electric power can’t be transmitted to your car, in case wrong polarity power input); as well, led light on memory saver will not light up. So that your car ECU and other electric devices are fully under protection during a wrong power connection.
It works on any vehicle with OBDII which is 1996 and later. It is not needed or required to change your battery. It is used to keep the memory of you radio setting and other memory computer controlled devices on the vehicle (EMCU for example.) It is used as a convenience as to not erase the memory. I used it to keep my computer controlled climate control memory because one of my 3 actuators would loose its memory and go into a failed default setting after changing the battery. When it failed it would only blow air through the defrost and the GM dealer is the only way to get it calibrated again. It worked for me so i didn't have to spend money and the dealership and it also kept all my radio settings so i didn't have to reset the time and memory stations and even the radio equalizer settings.
It is very easy to use, instructions shouldn’t be necessary; plug into your OBD2 connector (typically located under the left side of dashboard) and connect the other side to a 12VDC source before disconnecting the vehicle’s battery. After the vehicle’s battery is reconnected unplug the memory saver from the 12VDC source and then unplug from the OBD2 connector. Hope this helps, good luck.
11
Top 10 Best Replacement Car Batteries
Don't unexpectedly get stuck on the side of the road. Get a replacement car battery that will last.
Oct 25, 2019
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You don’t want to wait until the day your car doesn’t start to begin researching replacement car batteries. Eventually, your car’s battery will run out of charge and needing a replacement is part of your car’s maintenance. Generally, you will likely have to replace your car’s battery once or twice during its life, although there are products you can purchase to help maintain and extend your car’s battery life. But that’s not what this article is about—you’re likely here because you’re shopping for a replacement car battery.
There are two general types of automotive batteries: Lead-acid (regular) and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM). Lead-acid batteries typically cost less than AGM batteries but won’t hold a charge for as long. AGM batteries, on the other hand, are designed to withstand routine draining and recharging cycles. Most modern vehicles with high-tech features such as start/stop systems now come from the factory with AGM batteries, which is why most of our recommendations on this list are AGM batteries. They may be more expensive, but they offer better long-term performance by withstanding deep discharges and are more likely to be recovered if they’ve been accidentally drained.
Batteries also come in different sizes and terminal types, so you’ll want to check your car’s manual to get the right one prior to purchasing. You may notice some of the battery models on our list are similar but with different top terminals—make sure you’re getting the one you need.
As you browse through our list, you’ll see that we’ll highlight a couple features for most of the batteries. One of them is cold cranking amps (CCA), which measures how well a battery can start your car in cold weather conditions. Another feature is reserve capacity, which is how long a battery can run if any parts of your car’s charging system fails.
For more information on the best replacement car batteries, refer to our table of contents.
Table of contents
1. Editor's Pick: Optima Batteries RedTop 35
Optima is one of the most well-known brands within the segment, so it’s little surprise 3 of its batteries end up on our list, even though 2 are essentially the same with different terminals. Our top recommendation is the company’s RedTop 35 starting battery. It’s a good balance of price and performance, boasting 720 cold cranking amps (CCA) and C20 capacity of 44 Ah, along with a reserve capacity of 90 minutes for constant performance. The battery itself measures 9.38″ by 7.69″ by 6.75″ and weighs 31.7 pounds.
The RedTop 35 features SAE posts and its case is made of polypropylene.
Providing a strong starting burst, Optima claims this battery has more than 15 times the vibration resistance of a standard battery and is maintenance-free with up to 3 times longer life. It’s spill proof and mountable in virtually any position.
Product features:
2. Best for Cars with Lots of Accessories: Optima Batteries YellowTop D34/78
If your car is packed with a lot of accessories, such as an aftermarket audio system, you’ll want to invest into a high-performance battery. We have a few high-performance batteries on our list, but our recommended pick also comes from Optima and its YellowTop lineup. The YellowTop D34/78 offers 750 CCA and its C20 capacity is 55 Ah. Measuring 10″ by 6-7/8″ by 7-13/16″, this battery weighs 43.5 lbs and boasts dual SAE and GM posts. If you need different terminal types, make sure to check out the rest of Optima’s YellowTop lineup.
Along with a polypropylene case like the RedTop 35, the YellowTop D34/78 has a reserve capacity of 120 minutes (versus 90 on the RedTop 35). This battery also claims to be 15 times more resistant to vibration for enhanced durability.
Offering deep-cycle and cranking power, the YellowTop also boasts faster charging and over 300 discharge/recharge cycles before it needs to be replaced. Like other Optima batteries, it has a spill proof design and can be mounted in virtually any position.
Product features:
3. ACDelco 94RAGM Professional Automotive Battery
From popular brand ACDelco is the company’s 94R Professional AGM battery. This battery features a leak-proof pressurized valve system that is engineered for safety and long life, helping prevent dry-out and acid damage to the terminals. The 94R has high cycling capabilities and is remarkably charge-receptive, which means they’re great for vehicles with start/stop systems.
One standout feature on this battery is its use of high density negative paste, which improves performance and increases battery life. In addition, enhanced life alloy/Silver Calcium stamped alloy increases life cycle and also contributes to improved battery performance. A precision manufactured ribbed case, which has been 100% pressure tested to help avoid future leaks, adds strength and rigidity.
ACDelco’s Professional Automotive AGM batteries come with a 36-month free replacement period.
Product features:
4. Optima Batteries RedTop 75/25
Our third and final battery from Optima is the company’s RedTop 75/25. It’s very similar to the RedTop 35 with 720 CCA and C20 capacity of 44 Ah, but it features dual SAE/GM posts instead of just the SAE posts found on the RedTop 35. This battery measures 9.38″ by 7.75″ by 6.81″ and weighs 33.1 lbs.
You can expect the same performance as the RedTop 35, providing a strong starting burst and up to 3 times the battery life. It is also 15 times more vibration resistant and boasts a reserve capacity of 90 minutes for constant performance. The RedTop 75/25 has a maintenance-free, spill proof design and can be mounted in virtually any position.
If you need GM posts on your battery, go with the RedTop 75/25.
Product features:
5. XS Power D3400 High Output Battery
Another high-performance replacement car battery option comes from XS Power with the D3400. Boasting capacity of 65 Ah, 3,300 max amps, and 1,000 cranking amps (not CCA), this battery is spill proof, sealed, valve regulated, and vibration resistant. It’s designed for heavy-duty applications with ultra low internal resistance and is ideal for vehicles with stereo systems that require a lot of power.
XS Power claims to use the highest energy density chemistry known in AGM batteries and the brand has quickly become the battery choice for competition car audio enthusiasts. So if you’re in need of a strong battery that will last, take a look at XS Power.
Product features:
6. DieHard Advanced Gold Battery
One brand you’ve likely heard of in this segment is DieHard. The company offers a wide range of replacement car batteries and we recommend its Advanced Gold lineup. Several different models are available depending on your vehicle, so make sure you select the right one for your car prior to purchasing. These batteries range in CCA and Ah rating, from CCA 650 to CCA 850 and 50 Ah to 92 Ah.
Designed to withstand elevated temperature conditions and increased accessory power demands, these batteries are maintenance free and feature a spill proof design. They can also be mounted in practically any position. Heat-sealed and tamper-resistant construction adds protection for sophisticated electronic equipment, while an enhanced electronic suspension system works to safeguard internal components in these batteries.
DieHard says these batteries have 20 times more vibration protection and provides twice the life cycle of regular batteries. They are also backed by a free replacement warranty for up to 3 years.
Product features:
7. Kinetik 2400-Watt Battery
If your car is packing some serious audio equipment and you’ve experienced issues with dimming headlights, you’ll want to invest into a battery from Kinetik. This company specializes in high-performance batteries, mainly aimed at car audio enthusiasts. But that also means they’ll provide more than enough juice for a conventional vehicle. Just one quick glance at the user reviews for this product proves it resolves many users’ issues with dimming headlights.
This particular battery is a 2400-watt unit featuring a spill proof, sealed design and can be mounted in any position. Ultra low ESR with more plates provide stronger energy density, while tightly packed cells are good for higher voltage under load. Superior heat and vibration resistance means this battery is built to last.
Product features:
8. AutoCraft Platinum Battery
If you need a replacement car battery in a hurry, we have two options on our list that you can purchase online and pick up locally. Advance Auto Parts carries AutoCraft’s lineup of car batteries and 2 of them land on our list. The first is the Platinum AGM battery, engineered to provide up to twice the life compared to a standard flooded battery. AutoCraft’s AGM batteries use what it calls PowerFrame grid technology, which is a stronger and more durable positive grid technology. AutoCraft says PowerFrame offers up to 70% better electrical flow than other grid technologies. In addition, PowerFrame virtually eliminates premature failure and is up to 66% more durable and more corrosion-resistant than other grid designs.
As a spill proof battery, it can be installed in any location on your vehicle, while the battery itself has a robust design that offers exceptional high temperature climate performance and reliable starting power in cold conditions. It also boasts a higher level of vibration resistance compared to standard flooded batteries.
The AutoCraft Platinum battery is rated at 60 Ah and 740 CCA. It measures 10.25″ by 7.75″ by 6.812″ and weighs 38.7 lbs.
Product features:
9. Odyssey Extreme Series Battery
Another brand you really can’t go wrong with is Odyssey. These batteries are made in the U.S. and its Extreme Series is our recommendation, specifically the 34R-PC1500. It’s designed for general automotive use and light trucks, ending up as a popular option for SUV owners. This particular battery offers 68 Ah and 850 CCA with 135 minutes of reserve capacity.
Unlike the lead alloy used in other batteries, Odyssey’s battery plates are made of pure virgin lead, which means it can pack in more plates. More plates result in more plate surface area, providing more power. Odyssey says the 34R-PC1500 has twice the overall more power and 3 times the life of conventional batteries, with up to 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.
This battery uses SAE terminals and is resistant to vibration with flexible mounting options. The company provides a limited 3- and 4-year full replacement warranty.
Product features:
10. AutoCraft Automotive Battery
If you quickly need an extremely affordable replacement battery, there’s AutoCraft’s entry-level automotive battery. Available at Advance Auto Parts, which means you can pick it up locally after purchasing it online, this is a fairly basic car battery offering 650 CCA. Aimed at providing starting power at an affordable price, this battery is maintenance free and has a “durable” battery life span.
Given its price, this battery is mainly an option for low maintenance vehicles and for car owners looking for something really cheap. If you need a battery to just get you going temporarily, this is the way to go. Advance Auto Parts also provides a 90-day replacement if the battery is defective.
It’s worth noting that AutoCraft has other battery models as well. So if you don’t need the performance from the Platinum AGM battery earlier on our list and want something a bit more reliable than the standard battery, take a look at the company’s Silver and Gold options.
Product features:
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Don't unexpectedly get stuck on the side of the road. Get a replacement car battery that will last.
Oct 25, 2019
You don’t want to wait until the day your car doesn’t start to begin researching replacement car batteries. Eventually, your car’s battery will run out of charge and needing a replacement is part of your car’s maintenance. Generally, you will likely have to replace your car’s battery once or twice during its life, although there are products you can purchase to help maintain and extend your car’s battery life. But that’s not what this article is about—you’re likely here because you’re shopping for a replacement car battery.
There are two general types of automotive batteries: Lead-acid (regular) and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM). Lead-acid batteries typically cost less than AGM batteries but won’t hold a charge for as long. AGM batteries, on the other hand, are designed to withstand routine draining and recharging cycles. Most modern vehicles with high-tech features such as start/stop systems now come from the factory with AGM batteries, which is why most of our recommendations on this list are AGM batteries. They may be more expensive, but they offer better long-term performance by withstanding deep discharges and are more likely to be recovered if they’ve been accidentally drained.
Batteries also come in different sizes and terminal types, so you’ll want to check your car’s manual to get the right one prior to purchasing. You may notice some of the battery models on our list are similar but with different top terminals—make sure you’re getting the one you need.
As you browse through our list, you’ll see that we’ll highlight a couple features for most of the batteries. One of them is cold cranking amps (CCA), which measures how well a battery can start your car in cold weather conditions. Another feature is reserve capacity, which is how long a battery can run if any parts of your car’s charging system fails.
For more information on the best replacement car batteries, refer to our table of contents.
Table of contents
1. Editor's Pick: Optima Batteries RedTop 35
Optima is one of the most well-known brands within the segment, so it’s little surprise 3 of its batteries end up on our list, even though 2 are essentially the same with different terminals. Our top recommendation is the company’s RedTop 35 starting battery. It’s a good balance of price and performance, boasting 720 cold cranking amps (CCA) and C20 capacity of 44 Ah, along with a reserve capacity of 90 minutes for constant performance. The battery itself measures 9.38″ by 7.69″ by 6.75″ and weighs 31.7 pounds.
The RedTop 35 features SAE posts and its case is made of polypropylene.
Providing a strong starting burst, Optima claims this battery has more than 15 times the vibration resistance of a standard battery and is maintenance-free with up to 3 times longer life. It’s spill proof and mountable in virtually any position.
Product features:
- 720 CCA
- C20 capacity: 44 Ah
- Strong starting burst
- Up to 3 times longer life
- Reserve capacity of 90 minutes for constant performance
- 15 times more vibration resistant
- Spill proof
- Mountable in virtually any position
- Maintenance-free
- Faster recharging
- Polypropylene case
- SAE posts
2. Best for Cars with Lots of Accessories: Optima Batteries YellowTop D34/78
If your car is packed with a lot of accessories, such as an aftermarket audio system, you’ll want to invest into a high-performance battery. We have a few high-performance batteries on our list, but our recommended pick also comes from Optima and its YellowTop lineup. The YellowTop D34/78 offers 750 CCA and its C20 capacity is 55 Ah. Measuring 10″ by 6-7/8″ by 7-13/16″, this battery weighs 43.5 lbs and boasts dual SAE and GM posts. If you need different terminal types, make sure to check out the rest of Optima’s YellowTop lineup.
Along with a polypropylene case like the RedTop 35, the YellowTop D34/78 has a reserve capacity of 120 minutes (versus 90 on the RedTop 35). This battery also claims to be 15 times more resistant to vibration for enhanced durability.
Offering deep-cycle and cranking power, the YellowTop also boasts faster charging and over 300 discharge/recharge cycles before it needs to be replaced. Like other Optima batteries, it has a spill proof design and can be mounted in virtually any position.
Product features:
- 750 CCA
- C20 capacity: 55 Ah
- Up to 3 times longer life
- Reserve capacity of 120 minutes for constant performance
- 15 times more vibration resistant
- Deep-cycle and cranking power
- Spill proof
- Mountable in virtually any position
- Faster recharging
- Polypropylene case
- Over 300 discharge/recharge cycles
- Dual SAE/GM posts
3. ACDelco 94RAGM Professional Automotive Battery
From popular brand ACDelco is the company’s 94R Professional AGM battery. This battery features a leak-proof pressurized valve system that is engineered for safety and long life, helping prevent dry-out and acid damage to the terminals. The 94R has high cycling capabilities and is remarkably charge-receptive, which means they’re great for vehicles with start/stop systems.
One standout feature on this battery is its use of high density negative paste, which improves performance and increases battery life. In addition, enhanced life alloy/Silver Calcium stamped alloy increases life cycle and also contributes to improved battery performance. A precision manufactured ribbed case, which has been 100% pressure tested to help avoid future leaks, adds strength and rigidity.
ACDelco’s Professional Automotive AGM batteries come with a 36-month free replacement period.
Product features:
- Leak-proof pressurized valve system
- High cycling capabilities, remarkably charge-receptive
- Great for vehicles with start/stop systems
- High density negative paste
- Enhanced life alloy/Silver Calcium stamped alloy
- 100% pressure tested, precision manufactured ribbed case
4. Optima Batteries RedTop 75/25
Our third and final battery from Optima is the company’s RedTop 75/25. It’s very similar to the RedTop 35 with 720 CCA and C20 capacity of 44 Ah, but it features dual SAE/GM posts instead of just the SAE posts found on the RedTop 35. This battery measures 9.38″ by 7.75″ by 6.81″ and weighs 33.1 lbs.
You can expect the same performance as the RedTop 35, providing a strong starting burst and up to 3 times the battery life. It is also 15 times more vibration resistant and boasts a reserve capacity of 90 minutes for constant performance. The RedTop 75/25 has a maintenance-free, spill proof design and can be mounted in virtually any position.
If you need GM posts on your battery, go with the RedTop 75/25.
Product features:
- 720 CCA
- C20 capacity: 44 Ah
- Strong starting burst
- Up to 3 times longer life
- Reserve capacity of 90 minutes for constant performance
- 15 times more vibration resistant
- Spill proof
- Mountable in virtually any position
- Maintenance-free
- Faster recharging
- Polypropylene case
- Dual SAE/GM posts
5. XS Power D3400 High Output Battery
Another high-performance replacement car battery option comes from XS Power with the D3400. Boasting capacity of 65 Ah, 3,300 max amps, and 1,000 cranking amps (not CCA), this battery is spill proof, sealed, valve regulated, and vibration resistant. It’s designed for heavy-duty applications with ultra low internal resistance and is ideal for vehicles with stereo systems that require a lot of power.
XS Power claims to use the highest energy density chemistry known in AGM batteries and the brand has quickly become the battery choice for competition car audio enthusiasts. So if you’re in need of a strong battery that will last, take a look at XS Power.
Product features:
- 65 Ah
- 3,000 max amps
- 1,000 cranking amps
- Ultra low internal resistance
- Spill proof, sealed, valve regulated, and vibration resistant
- Ideal for competition car audio
6. DieHard Advanced Gold Battery
One brand you’ve likely heard of in this segment is DieHard. The company offers a wide range of replacement car batteries and we recommend its Advanced Gold lineup. Several different models are available depending on your vehicle, so make sure you select the right one for your car prior to purchasing. These batteries range in CCA and Ah rating, from CCA 650 to CCA 850 and 50 Ah to 92 Ah.
Designed to withstand elevated temperature conditions and increased accessory power demands, these batteries are maintenance free and feature a spill proof design. They can also be mounted in practically any position. Heat-sealed and tamper-resistant construction adds protection for sophisticated electronic equipment, while an enhanced electronic suspension system works to safeguard internal components in these batteries.
DieHard says these batteries have 20 times more vibration protection and provides twice the life cycle of regular batteries. They are also backed by a free replacement warranty for up to 3 years.
Product features:
- Wide range of options
- Maintenance free
- Spill proof design
- Can be mounted in practically any position
- Heat-sealed and tamper-resistant construction
- Offers 20 times more vibration protection
- Twice the life cycle of regular batteries
- Backed by 3-year free replacement warranty
7. Kinetik 2400-Watt Battery
If your car is packing some serious audio equipment and you’ve experienced issues with dimming headlights, you’ll want to invest into a battery from Kinetik. This company specializes in high-performance batteries, mainly aimed at car audio enthusiasts. But that also means they’ll provide more than enough juice for a conventional vehicle. Just one quick glance at the user reviews for this product proves it resolves many users’ issues with dimming headlights.
This particular battery is a 2400-watt unit featuring a spill proof, sealed design and can be mounted in any position. Ultra low ESR with more plates provide stronger energy density, while tightly packed cells are good for higher voltage under load. Superior heat and vibration resistance means this battery is built to last.
Product features:
- Ideal for car audio enthusiasts
- 2400-watt battery
- Spill proof, sealed design
- Ultra low ESR with more plates provide stronger energy density
- Tightly packed cells for higher voltage under load
- Superior heat and vibration resistance
- Mountable in any position
8. AutoCraft Platinum Battery
If you need a replacement car battery in a hurry, we have two options on our list that you can purchase online and pick up locally. Advance Auto Parts carries AutoCraft’s lineup of car batteries and 2 of them land on our list. The first is the Platinum AGM battery, engineered to provide up to twice the life compared to a standard flooded battery. AutoCraft’s AGM batteries use what it calls PowerFrame grid technology, which is a stronger and more durable positive grid technology. AutoCraft says PowerFrame offers up to 70% better electrical flow than other grid technologies. In addition, PowerFrame virtually eliminates premature failure and is up to 66% more durable and more corrosion-resistant than other grid designs.
As a spill proof battery, it can be installed in any location on your vehicle, while the battery itself has a robust design that offers exceptional high temperature climate performance and reliable starting power in cold conditions. It also boasts a higher level of vibration resistance compared to standard flooded batteries.
The AutoCraft Platinum battery is rated at 60 Ah and 740 CCA. It measures 10.25″ by 7.75″ by 6.812″ and weighs 38.7 lbs.
Product features:
- 60 Ah
- 740 CCA
- Engineered to provide up to twice the life compared to a standard flooded battery
- PowerFrame grid technology – offers up to 70% better electrical flow and is 66% more durable and more corrosion-resistant than other grid designs
- Spill proof
- Can be mounted in any location
- Robust design offers exceptional performance in extreme temperatures
- Higher level of vibration resistance
9. Odyssey Extreme Series Battery
Another brand you really can’t go wrong with is Odyssey. These batteries are made in the U.S. and its Extreme Series is our recommendation, specifically the 34R-PC1500. It’s designed for general automotive use and light trucks, ending up as a popular option for SUV owners. This particular battery offers 68 Ah and 850 CCA with 135 minutes of reserve capacity.
Unlike the lead alloy used in other batteries, Odyssey’s battery plates are made of pure virgin lead, which means it can pack in more plates. More plates result in more plate surface area, providing more power. Odyssey says the 34R-PC1500 has twice the overall more power and 3 times the life of conventional batteries, with up to 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.
This battery uses SAE terminals and is resistant to vibration with flexible mounting options. The company provides a limited 3- and 4-year full replacement warranty.
Product features:
- 68 Ah
- 850 CCA
- 135 minutes of reserve capacity
- Ideal for light truck and SUV owners
- Battery plates are made of pure virgin lead
- Twice the overall power
- Three times the life of conventional batteries
- Up to 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge
- Vibration resistant
- Flexible mounting
- Limited 3- and 4-year full replacement warranties
- Made in the U.S.
10. AutoCraft Automotive Battery
If you quickly need an extremely affordable replacement battery, there’s AutoCraft’s entry-level automotive battery. Available at Advance Auto Parts, which means you can pick it up locally after purchasing it online, this is a fairly basic car battery offering 650 CCA. Aimed at providing starting power at an affordable price, this battery is maintenance free and has a “durable” battery life span.
Given its price, this battery is mainly an option for low maintenance vehicles and for car owners looking for something really cheap. If you need a battery to just get you going temporarily, this is the way to go. Advance Auto Parts also provides a 90-day replacement if the battery is defective.
It’s worth noting that AutoCraft has other battery models as well. So if you don’t need the performance from the Platinum AGM battery earlier on our list and want something a bit more reliable than the standard battery, take a look at the company’s Silver and Gold options.
Product features:
- 650 CCA
- Basic battery
- Extremely affordable
- “Durable” battery life span
- 90-day replacement if battery is defective
Top 10 Best Replacement Car Batteries, 2020 - AutoGuide.com
Don't unexpectedly get stuck on the side of the road. Check out AutoGuide.com's list of the top 10 best replacement car batteries here.
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2
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptoms
The voltage regulator in your vehicle is in charge of keeping the right amount of electrical power flowing consistently to certain parts of your car. This means if the voltage regulator is broken, the components in your electrical system might only work erratically or not at all. That’s a pretty big deal, since you definitely need your car’s lights and battery to be dependable if you want to get anywhere! So if you’re trying to get your car in good working order, checking on this major car part is a start. Here’s how to tell if the voltage regulator is bad.
![]()
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #1: The Battery Is Dead
There are many reasons your car’s battery might be dead, and one of them happens to be a broken voltage regulator. This is because when this part burns out, the battery will no longer charge, meaning it will eventually die. Recharging the battery will allow the car to start, but you’ll find that the battery will be dead again sooner than you might expect if the voltage regulator isn’t working correctly. So if the battery keeps going bad, it’s probably time to take your car to a repair shop to replace the voltage regulator.
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #2: Your Lights Are Dim
Another way you can tell the voltage regulator is bad is when the car lights keep dimming or flickering. After all, the voltage regulator is supposed to keep the power flowing to the lights, so it’s no surprise that those lights don’t work right anymore once this part goes bad. This issue can extend to your headlights, dashboard lights and even your sound system. Basically, if these components seem to be going out or don’t turn on at all, your voltage regulator may be to blame.
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #3: You Notice Engine Problems
A bad voltage regulator can even affect your car’s engine. For example, as this car part stops working properly, you might notice your car’s engine sputters or stalls once in a while. It might also have trouble accelerating as you drive. If you notice this issue, a replacement for your voltage regulator may be in order so you can get the smooth acceleration you’re used to.
![]()
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #4: The Instrument Cluster Doesn’t Work
A car’s voltage regulator is supposed to provide power to the instrument cluster. So if you notice yours isn’t working, it’s likely because the voltage regulator is broken. You might still be able to start the car, but you’ll be missing a lot of information—such as how fast you’re driving, as the speedometer won’t be working. For this reason, it’s best not to drive the car until you get the voltage regulator replaced.
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #5: The Voltage Regulator Readings Aren’t Accurate
If you suspect the voltage regulator isn’t working, you can test it out to see if the readings are accurate. If, after testing the voltage regulator, you notice the numbers on the gauge seem to be changing erratically, you probably need a replacement for this part. Luckily, when you get it, this and any other related issues should be resolved so you’re back to having a car you can depend on.
Of course, just noticing one or two of these symptoms doesn’t mean your voltage regulator is bad for sure. It could be another problem that presents similar symptoms, so look into other possibilities—such as signs your alternator is bad—as well if you want to get to the bottom of the issue.
SOURCE
The voltage regulator in your vehicle is in charge of keeping the right amount of electrical power flowing consistently to certain parts of your car. This means if the voltage regulator is broken, the components in your electrical system might only work erratically or not at all. That’s a pretty big deal, since you definitely need your car’s lights and battery to be dependable if you want to get anywhere! So if you’re trying to get your car in good working order, checking on this major car part is a start. Here’s how to tell if the voltage regulator is bad.
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #1: The Battery Is Dead
There are many reasons your car’s battery might be dead, and one of them happens to be a broken voltage regulator. This is because when this part burns out, the battery will no longer charge, meaning it will eventually die. Recharging the battery will allow the car to start, but you’ll find that the battery will be dead again sooner than you might expect if the voltage regulator isn’t working correctly. So if the battery keeps going bad, it’s probably time to take your car to a repair shop to replace the voltage regulator.
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #2: Your Lights Are Dim
Another way you can tell the voltage regulator is bad is when the car lights keep dimming or flickering. After all, the voltage regulator is supposed to keep the power flowing to the lights, so it’s no surprise that those lights don’t work right anymore once this part goes bad. This issue can extend to your headlights, dashboard lights and even your sound system. Basically, if these components seem to be going out or don’t turn on at all, your voltage regulator may be to blame.
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #3: You Notice Engine Problems
A bad voltage regulator can even affect your car’s engine. For example, as this car part stops working properly, you might notice your car’s engine sputters or stalls once in a while. It might also have trouble accelerating as you drive. If you notice this issue, a replacement for your voltage regulator may be in order so you can get the smooth acceleration you’re used to.
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #4: The Instrument Cluster Doesn’t Work
A car’s voltage regulator is supposed to provide power to the instrument cluster. So if you notice yours isn’t working, it’s likely because the voltage regulator is broken. You might still be able to start the car, but you’ll be missing a lot of information—such as how fast you’re driving, as the speedometer won’t be working. For this reason, it’s best not to drive the car until you get the voltage regulator replaced.
Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #5: The Voltage Regulator Readings Aren’t Accurate
If you suspect the voltage regulator isn’t working, you can test it out to see if the readings are accurate. If, after testing the voltage regulator, you notice the numbers on the gauge seem to be changing erratically, you probably need a replacement for this part. Luckily, when you get it, this and any other related issues should be resolved so you’re back to having a car you can depend on.
Of course, just noticing one or two of these symptoms doesn’t mean your voltage regulator is bad for sure. It could be another problem that presents similar symptoms, so look into other possibilities—such as signs your alternator is bad—as well if you want to get to the bottom of the issue.
SOURCE
3
Replace Your Old Jumper Cables with a Modern Portable Jump Starter
A portable jump starter will make your life much easier
By AutoGuide.com News Staff Nov 16, 2021
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Own a vehicle for long enough and eventually you are going to find yourself in a situation where your battery is drained and you need a little help to get started.
Traditionally this has meant dragging out a set of jumper cables from the trunk or out from under your seat. Then you have to get another vehicle involved – one with a healthy battery – and hook up the cables to try and give your battery a boost. This is tricky at the best of times, but gets even more complicated when if it happens to be dark outside or, even worse, pouring rain.
This is why it’s possible to make a case for getting rid of your old-school jumper cables in these situations. Sure, cables have their places in certain circumstances, but modern technology has advanced to the point where small portable jump starters like the ones from the Hulkman brand pack more than enough juice to jolt even the largest engines back to life. In fact, the company’s most powerful product is rated at a stunning 32,000mAh battery capacity, made from a quartet of lithium batteries good for 8000mAh each, with a voltage of 3.7V.
Those numbers sound great, but how do they translate into the real world? Hulkman plows more than a moment’s notice into its R&D department, finding its largest offering – the Hulkman Alpha 100 – is capable of starting gasoline- or diesel-powered engines up to 10L in displacement. The latter is no mean feat, since diesel engine tend to require a healthy nudge in order to wake from the dead.
![Hulkman Alpha 100 Beauty]()
While wide swaths of gearheads can correctly and safely attach jumper cables with ease, those new to the art – or, some of us who are simply having brain freeze at the end of a bad day – reversing the connections on old-school cables can be ruinous for vehicles and potentially dangerous for humans. Polarity (positive and negative ends of a battery) is critically important to get right, which is why Hulkman places 10 built-in protections designed for a high level of safety.
Reverse charge protection shuts down the connection if it detects the alligator clips have been connected incorrectly, while over-current and short-circuit protections ward off freak accidents. Equally important, the unit protects against overcharging and overloading so the user doesn’t accidentally ruin a battery by trying to force feed too much electricity into the thing.
Batteries, in general, don’t like the cold. That’s why Hulkman has designed smart temperature control into some of its jump starters in an effort to ward off the power-sapping tendencies of frigid temperatures. This pre-heat tech automatically warms the unit to improve battery performance when temps are detected to have dropped below 32°F. As a device, the Hulkman 100 is designed to be operable in conditions as low as -40°F, a figure far below anything at which your author is designed to operate, actually.
All the same, don’t assume these things will last forever if left unattended. Every battery is affected by self-discharge, which is not a manufacturing defect but a battery characteristic. Batteries experience greater discharge in colder conditions, such as your vehicle’s cargo area at winter time. Hulkman’s low self-discharge design enables the battery in their portable jump starters to remain charged for up to 18 months on a full charge when stowed in the recommended temperature range of 32°F to 113°F. In other words, top the thing off with electricity occasionally during the winter if you live in the rust belt, and don’t store it on the top of your dashboard in the blazing sun if Arizona is your home. When it does come time to recharge the unit, the Hulkman 100 is capable of charging to 20% (enough for one boost) from flat in just five minutes. The whole thing can be topped off in about 90 minutes.
![Hulkman Alpha 100 Jump Starter]()
It’s also worth mentioning that Hulkman products are equipped with an easy-to-read LCD screen which displays all manner of user and operational information from state of charge to general readiness. Gone are the days when briefly tapping together the positive and negative alligator clips of the jumper cables, creating a spray of sparks in order to see if things are securely connected to a healthy battery before trying to start the dead car. These days, the jump starter will tell you, via the LCD screen, in no uncertain terms whether or not it is ready for work.
Keeping a jump starter, like one of the units from Hulkman, tucked away in the cargo area of your vehicle is a no-brainer.
Visit Hulkman.com for more information.
A portable jump starter will make your life much easier
By AutoGuide.com News Staff Nov 16, 2021
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Own a vehicle for long enough and eventually you are going to find yourself in a situation where your battery is drained and you need a little help to get started.
Traditionally this has meant dragging out a set of jumper cables from the trunk or out from under your seat. Then you have to get another vehicle involved – one with a healthy battery – and hook up the cables to try and give your battery a boost. This is tricky at the best of times, but gets even more complicated when if it happens to be dark outside or, even worse, pouring rain.
This is why it’s possible to make a case for getting rid of your old-school jumper cables in these situations. Sure, cables have their places in certain circumstances, but modern technology has advanced to the point where small portable jump starters like the ones from the Hulkman brand pack more than enough juice to jolt even the largest engines back to life. In fact, the company’s most powerful product is rated at a stunning 32,000mAh battery capacity, made from a quartet of lithium batteries good for 8000mAh each, with a voltage of 3.7V.
Those numbers sound great, but how do they translate into the real world? Hulkman plows more than a moment’s notice into its R&D department, finding its largest offering – the Hulkman Alpha 100 – is capable of starting gasoline- or diesel-powered engines up to 10L in displacement. The latter is no mean feat, since diesel engine tend to require a healthy nudge in order to wake from the dead.
While wide swaths of gearheads can correctly and safely attach jumper cables with ease, those new to the art – or, some of us who are simply having brain freeze at the end of a bad day – reversing the connections on old-school cables can be ruinous for vehicles and potentially dangerous for humans. Polarity (positive and negative ends of a battery) is critically important to get right, which is why Hulkman places 10 built-in protections designed for a high level of safety.
Reverse charge protection shuts down the connection if it detects the alligator clips have been connected incorrectly, while over-current and short-circuit protections ward off freak accidents. Equally important, the unit protects against overcharging and overloading so the user doesn’t accidentally ruin a battery by trying to force feed too much electricity into the thing.
Batteries, in general, don’t like the cold. That’s why Hulkman has designed smart temperature control into some of its jump starters in an effort to ward off the power-sapping tendencies of frigid temperatures. This pre-heat tech automatically warms the unit to improve battery performance when temps are detected to have dropped below 32°F. As a device, the Hulkman 100 is designed to be operable in conditions as low as -40°F, a figure far below anything at which your author is designed to operate, actually.
All the same, don’t assume these things will last forever if left unattended. Every battery is affected by self-discharge, which is not a manufacturing defect but a battery characteristic. Batteries experience greater discharge in colder conditions, such as your vehicle’s cargo area at winter time. Hulkman’s low self-discharge design enables the battery in their portable jump starters to remain charged for up to 18 months on a full charge when stowed in the recommended temperature range of 32°F to 113°F. In other words, top the thing off with electricity occasionally during the winter if you live in the rust belt, and don’t store it on the top of your dashboard in the blazing sun if Arizona is your home. When it does come time to recharge the unit, the Hulkman 100 is capable of charging to 20% (enough for one boost) from flat in just five minutes. The whole thing can be topped off in about 90 minutes.
It’s also worth mentioning that Hulkman products are equipped with an easy-to-read LCD screen which displays all manner of user and operational information from state of charge to general readiness. Gone are the days when briefly tapping together the positive and negative alligator clips of the jumper cables, creating a spray of sparks in order to see if things are securely connected to a healthy battery before trying to start the dead car. These days, the jump starter will tell you, via the LCD screen, in no uncertain terms whether or not it is ready for work.
Keeping a jump starter, like one of the units from Hulkman, tucked away in the cargo area of your vehicle is a no-brainer.
Visit Hulkman.com for more information.
Odyssey Battery® 2007 Dodge Nitro - Battery - Extreme Series, Direct Fit, Sold individually
Your Vehicle Fit Details
Vehicle Name
Submodel
Engine
Fitment Information
2007 Dodge Nitro
SXT
6 Cyl 3.7L
Drawing/Positive Side Left
2007 Dodge Nitro
SLT
6 Cyl 3.7L
Drawing/Positive Side Left
2007 Dodge Nitro
R/T
6 Cyl 4.0L
Drawing/Positive Side Left
Highlights
Part:
Battery
Brand:
Odyssey Battery
Notes:
1050 MCA; +/- Polarity; SDS Required; 60 (6.8) Side terminal only Torque Spec in-lbs (Nm max); 2.5 Internal Resistance; 3100 Short Circuit; Group 34/78 with tin-plated brass SAE automotive top posts & 3/8 inch threaded side receptacles
Series:
Extreme Series
Rated Voltage:
12V
Group:
BCI Group no. 34/78
Terminal Type:
SAE and Side Terminal
Cold Cranking Amps:
850 CCA
Hot Cranking Amps:
1250 HCA
Nominal Capacity:
68 Ah
Pulse Hot Cranking Amps:
1500 PHCA
Prop 65 Warning:
![Warning Symbol]()
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemical which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Reserve Capacity:
135 minutes
Dimensions:
10.86 x 6.77 x 7.88 in.
Weight:
49.5 lbs.
Battery Type:
AGM
Product Fit:
Direct Fit
Warranty:
4-year Odyssey Battery limited warranty
Quantity Sold:
Sold individually
Fitnotes:
Drawing/Positive Side Left
Your Vehicle Fit Details
Vehicle Name
Submodel
Engine
Fitment Information
2007 Dodge Nitro
SXT
6 Cyl 3.7L
Drawing/Positive Side Left
2007 Dodge Nitro
SLT
6 Cyl 3.7L
Drawing/Positive Side Left
2007 Dodge Nitro
R/T
6 Cyl 4.0L
Drawing/Positive Side Left
Highlights
Part:
Battery
Brand:
Odyssey Battery
Notes:
1050 MCA; +/- Polarity; SDS Required; 60 (6.8) Side terminal only Torque Spec in-lbs (Nm max); 2.5 Internal Resistance; 3100 Short Circuit; Group 34/78 with tin-plated brass SAE automotive top posts & 3/8 inch threaded side receptacles
Series:
Extreme Series
Rated Voltage:
12V
Group:
BCI Group no. 34/78
Terminal Type:
SAE and Side Terminal
Cold Cranking Amps:
850 CCA
Hot Cranking Amps:
1250 HCA
Nominal Capacity:
68 Ah
Pulse Hot Cranking Amps:
1500 PHCA
Prop 65 Warning:
Reserve Capacity:
135 minutes
Dimensions:
10.86 x 6.77 x 7.88 in.
Weight:
49.5 lbs.
Battery Type:
AGM
Product Fit:
Direct Fit
Warranty:
4-year Odyssey Battery limited warranty
Quantity Sold:
Sold individually
Fitnotes:
Drawing/Positive Side Left
The Best Car Battery Tester
The Best Car Battery Tester
Testing your battery regularly will prevent a dead battery from ruining your day.
Jason Siu
Published Mar 21, 2022
![Automotive tire Communication Device Bicycle accessory Gadget Gas]()
Topdon’s BT100 is the top-rated product in the category and replaces the former #2 pick AB101 on our list. It works with all major battery technologies: Conventional and enhanced flooded (EFB); AGM flat plate; AGM spiral; and gel. It can perform a standard battery health test (shown), cranking, and ripple charging system test. You get both a backlit illuminated 128 x 64 LCD readout and green-yellow-red warning lights.
Testing the BT100 Car Battery Tester
We hooked up a BT100 Car Battery Tester to one of our Optima Yellow Top test batteries (note: you must connect it directly to the posts), and the display came on immediately. The opening screen shows a small voltage readout at the bottom, and then you have to select your battery technology, in this case, AGM spiral wound, from the following screen. During several rounds of testing, we noticed that the display gets sluggish in colder temperatures. Getting a battery health reading was easy. We then tried the cranking and charging system health functions in a Mazda with a flat-plate AC Delco Gold battery. The battery health ripple test requires starting the car and holding the RPM at 2,500 for five seconds, which would be a lot easier with two people. But it was possible and gave us useful information (including that wherever our short is, it’s not in the charging system). Our biggest complaint is that it must be connected to a battery for the display to work. With short leads, this could be inconvenient for trunk-mounted batteries. It’s a great battery tester for occasional use, but if we were using one a few times a week, we’d want to upgrade to either a printout or Bluetooth. We would also have liked a case or at least a storage bag with it.
The BT100 has a great 92% positive rating from over 2,000 reviews, the best weighted average in the category. Topdon’s other models of battery testers have similar 90%-plus ratings.
Topdon Warranty and Customer Service
There is a good two-year limited warranty on Topdon battery testers and a brief three-day money-back guarantee on defective items. The company also offers a loaner tool program if your tool requires repairs under warranty. There is a toll-free customer service number for Topdon’s New Jersey headquarters and a number of web forms for technical support and warranty issues. We found high-quality pdfs of user manuals as well.
eBay
If you are looking for a battery tester than can work on everything from your car or truck to your ATV or riding lawn mower, the Schumacher BT-100 Battery Load Tester makes an awful lot of sense.
The Schumacher BT-100 can deliver a 50-amp load test on 6-volt batteries and a 100-amp load test on 12-volt batteries. A simple rocker switch is all it takes for the BT-100 to get to work once you hook up the color-coded clamps to the battery you want to test.
Schumacher products have a well-earned reputation for robust designs that will last for many years, so you can consider this a one-time purchase. It boasts a classic analog readout that you know will never fail you, a rubber handle, and a steel housing that can take some serious abuse. It weighs in at 2.64 pounds and carries a 6-month warranty.
2. Easiest to Use: Innova 3721 Battery and Charging System Monitor
![Innova 3721 Battery and Charging System Monito]()
The Innova 3721 isn't a full-featured battery tester, but performs basic monitoring from a 12V port. Photo credit: Innova.
AmazoneBay
One of the most popular and highest-rated products on Amazon in this category is the Innova Battery and Charging System Monitor. It’s an extremely easy-to-use device, because it plugs straight into your cigarette lighter to monitor battery and charging system voltage. It’s designed for 12-volt negative ground systems and features an LCD display with a bar graph to indicate charge level. There are also color-coded LEDs so you can quickly identify your battery’s charge status. The head of this device pivots so you can easily adjust its angle for better viewing.
This is one of the more affordable car battery testers on the list, and it’s a favorite among its owners since it does its job with little fuss.
Many users praise this unit for its accuracy and the fact that it has a four-digit display, while other meters display up to three digits. There are however, a few users who have experienced failures with the device after a few months of use.
3. Cartman Car Battery and Alternator Tester
![cartman 12v car battery and alternator tester]()
Cartman's tester is easy on your wallet. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBayWalmart
One of the more affordable options on this list comes from Cartman. The company’s battery and alternator tester are compact and easy to read, with an LED display that indicates the condition of a 12-volt battery. When conducting a battery check using the Cartman Car Battery and Alternator Tester, you simply have to connect the red clamp to the positive terminal and the black clamp to the negative terminal of your battery – with your car turned off. The tester will then illuminate the OK light, followed by the battery state. If you want to check the state of your car’s alternator, you simply have to turn the car on before connecting the two clamps.
Battery state is designated by Low, Medium, and High, and the charger will update the status as the battery charges. This device also lets you check the battery’s condition before charging. If it’s a steadily-lit LED, then your battery is in good condition and can be charged. But if the LED is off, then the battery voltage is out of range and could possibly be dead.
![solar digital battery and system tester ba9]()
The Solar tester has an operating range of 7.0-15.0 volts. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBayWalmart
Clore Automotive offers a digital battery and system checker, although it is one of the more expensive products on the list. It’s a 12-volt battery and system tester with 40-1200 CCA testing capacity. It has an operating range of 7 volts to 15 volts and is compatible with multiple battery types, including Conventional Flooded Acid, AGM Flate Plate, AGM Spiral Wound, and Gel Cell.
This device offers quick, easy battery and system analysis and can be used to test against a wide range of rating systems, including CCA, DIN, JIS, EN, and IEC. The front of the device features an LCD display for optimal viewing in all lighting conditions. It’s also easy to use since the display walks the operator through the test sequence with instructions.
While most users do say this device is easy to use, some did say the instruction manual is a bit confusing and not very thorough. Some users also say they had trouble getting good contact with the clips.
![Motopower Digital Battery Tester]()
The red digital readout looks almost retro, but it is very legible. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBayWalmart
Microprocessor-controlled, the Motopower Digital Battery Tester is designed to provide a quick reading to determine if a car’s battery needs a jump or replacement. It’s safe and simple to use, thanks to reverse hookup and over-voltage protection features. The front of the device has a four-character-lighted digital display, making this tester easy to read with accuracy.
Colored LEDs on the device indicate the status of your car’s battery and alternator, while a black rubber, painted body makes it nice and durable. This tester uses 30-amp Alligator Clamps.
The testing range on the Motopower Digital Battery Tester is 4 volts to 20 volts for all types of 12-volt batteries.
Most owners praise this device for being easy to use with clear and concise readings. While it’s a minor complaint, some users did say the cables are a bit short, so you may experience issues if your battery’s terminals are far apart.
6. Ancel Automotive Load Battery Tester (BA101)
![ancel 12v load battery tester ba101]()
The Ancel is relatively costly but has extra features like the ability to connect to a printer. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBayWalmart
Another more expensive option comes from Ancel. This compact tester can be used on a wide range of 12-volt batteries and meets major battery standards, including JIS, SAE, EN, DIN, and IEC. It’s designed to easily, quickly, and accurately measure the actual cold cranking amps capability of your car’s battery, as well as the battery’s health. Each reading will display the battery’s CCA or AH value, charge percentage, voltage, internal resistance, and battery health percentage.
Conductance correlates directly to the battery capacity, and this device will never discharge or drain the battery. It can also be used to test the condition of a discharged battery and its passive testing method is safe to use. No internal batteries are required with this device, as it powers up once it’s connected to posts on the battery you’re testing.
This device can also be hooked up to a printer, so you can print out your test results.
Users who purchased this device praised the comprehensive data it provides while still being easy to use. However, the device is very compact with a small screen which some found difficult to read. There is also a small number of complaints that the screen easily gets scratched.
![foxwell battery load tester bt705]()
The Foxwell BT-705 tester supports several different languages. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBay
The Foxwell Battery Tester is one of the most expensive items on our list, but it’s one of the most comprehensive testing devices you can buy. It will accurately test regular Flooded, AGM Flat Plate, AGM Spiral, and Gel batteries, allowing the user to analyze the battery health status to calculate the actual cold cranking capability of the battery and its aging status. Multiple rating systems are supported, including CCA, BCI, CA, MCA, JIS, DIN, IEC, EN, SAE, and GB.
This tester works on 12-volt and 24-volt charging systems and ensures the output voltage of the generator is normal, that the rectifier diode works correctly, and the charging current is normal. In addition, there’s a comprehensive cranking test to check the starter system, cranking voltage, and cranking time in milliseconds so ensure the starting motor works correctly. Battery tests can be done in as little as 3 to 5 seconds.
The Foxwell Battery Tester features a premium-quality copper clip and wire, so it maintains a stable connection throughout the testing process. There’s a 7.8-foot cable attached, so testing can be done from inside the vehicle. At the end of that cable are all-metal spray gold clamps, which are more solid and durable than normal clamps. A large backlight LCD displays all the information, while the device is fairly straightforward to use thanks to menu-driven operation. It also supports several different languages: English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian.
Safety features on this device include short circuit protection and spark-proof protection.
A car battery tester is a device designed to test the state of your battery. If you’ve taken a look at our list of products, you’ll notice that there are some testers that are extremely basic, while others will offer more data and information on your car’s electrical system. The type you choose to buy is entirely up to you, but it’s generally recommended to have a basic tester handy so you can replace your battery before it’s entirely dead.
More complicated testers will do a more thorough job and can even test your car’s alternator for potential issues.
Why Do I Need a Car Battery Tester?
You want to purchase a car battery tester so that you can routinely check the state of your car’s battery. This way, you know exactly when your car’s battery is on its way out, allowing you to get it replaced before it completely dies and can’t hold a charge. Most testers are affordable and they’re a minor investment to save you from a potential headache of being stranded unexpectedly.
How to Check Your Car's Battery
Once you’ve purchased a car battery tester, it’s time to see what condition your battery is in. Most testers will come with detailed instructions on how to operate the specific device, but here are some general steps and tips to follow.
The Best Car Battery Tester
Testing your battery regularly will prevent a dead battery from ruining your day.
Jason Siu
Published Mar 21, 2022
Topdon’s BT100 is the top-rated product in the category and replaces the former #2 pick AB101 on our list. It works with all major battery technologies: Conventional and enhanced flooded (EFB); AGM flat plate; AGM spiral; and gel. It can perform a standard battery health test (shown), cranking, and ripple charging system test. You get both a backlit illuminated 128 x 64 LCD readout and green-yellow-red warning lights.
Testing the BT100 Car Battery Tester
We hooked up a BT100 Car Battery Tester to one of our Optima Yellow Top test batteries (note: you must connect it directly to the posts), and the display came on immediately. The opening screen shows a small voltage readout at the bottom, and then you have to select your battery technology, in this case, AGM spiral wound, from the following screen. During several rounds of testing, we noticed that the display gets sluggish in colder temperatures. Getting a battery health reading was easy. We then tried the cranking and charging system health functions in a Mazda with a flat-plate AC Delco Gold battery. The battery health ripple test requires starting the car and holding the RPM at 2,500 for five seconds, which would be a lot easier with two people. But it was possible and gave us useful information (including that wherever our short is, it’s not in the charging system). Our biggest complaint is that it must be connected to a battery for the display to work. With short leads, this could be inconvenient for trunk-mounted batteries. It’s a great battery tester for occasional use, but if we were using one a few times a week, we’d want to upgrade to either a printout or Bluetooth. We would also have liked a case or at least a storage bag with it.
The BT100 has a great 92% positive rating from over 2,000 reviews, the best weighted average in the category. Topdon’s other models of battery testers have similar 90%-plus ratings.
Topdon Warranty and Customer Service
There is a good two-year limited warranty on Topdon battery testers and a brief three-day money-back guarantee on defective items. The company also offers a loaner tool program if your tool requires repairs under warranty. There is a toll-free customer service number for Topdon’s New Jersey headquarters and a number of web forms for technical support and warranty issues. We found high-quality pdfs of user manuals as well.
- Pros/Easy to use and read, charging and cranking testing, compatible with all 12V vehicle batteries
- Cons/Display only works connects, no way to export reports
eBay
If you are looking for a battery tester than can work on everything from your car or truck to your ATV or riding lawn mower, the Schumacher BT-100 Battery Load Tester makes an awful lot of sense.
The Schumacher BT-100 can deliver a 50-amp load test on 6-volt batteries and a 100-amp load test on 12-volt batteries. A simple rocker switch is all it takes for the BT-100 to get to work once you hook up the color-coded clamps to the battery you want to test.
Schumacher products have a well-earned reputation for robust designs that will last for many years, so you can consider this a one-time purchase. It boasts a classic analog readout that you know will never fail you, a rubber handle, and a steel housing that can take some serious abuse. It weighs in at 2.64 pounds and carries a 6-month warranty.
2. Easiest to Use: Innova 3721 Battery and Charging System Monitor
The Innova 3721 isn't a full-featured battery tester, but performs basic monitoring from a 12V port. Photo credit: Innova.
AmazoneBay
One of the most popular and highest-rated products on Amazon in this category is the Innova Battery and Charging System Monitor. It’s an extremely easy-to-use device, because it plugs straight into your cigarette lighter to monitor battery and charging system voltage. It’s designed for 12-volt negative ground systems and features an LCD display with a bar graph to indicate charge level. There are also color-coded LEDs so you can quickly identify your battery’s charge status. The head of this device pivots so you can easily adjust its angle for better viewing.
This is one of the more affordable car battery testers on the list, and it’s a favorite among its owners since it does its job with little fuss.
Many users praise this unit for its accuracy and the fact that it has a four-digit display, while other meters display up to three digits. There are however, a few users who have experienced failures with the device after a few months of use.
- Pros/Convenient, very easy to use, affordable, LCD display, color-coded LEDs, four-digit display
- Cons/Possible quality issues
3. Cartman Car Battery and Alternator Tester
Cartman's tester is easy on your wallet. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBayWalmart
One of the more affordable options on this list comes from Cartman. The company’s battery and alternator tester are compact and easy to read, with an LED display that indicates the condition of a 12-volt battery. When conducting a battery check using the Cartman Car Battery and Alternator Tester, you simply have to connect the red clamp to the positive terminal and the black clamp to the negative terminal of your battery – with your car turned off. The tester will then illuminate the OK light, followed by the battery state. If you want to check the state of your car’s alternator, you simply have to turn the car on before connecting the two clamps.
Battery state is designated by Low, Medium, and High, and the charger will update the status as the battery charges. This device also lets you check the battery’s condition before charging. If it’s a steadily-lit LED, then your battery is in good condition and can be charged. But if the LED is off, then the battery voltage is out of range and could possibly be dead.
- Pros/Price, battery and alternator tester, easy to read, compact size
- Cons/Clamps are small and difficult to use on some applications, no display means no detailed information
The Solar tester has an operating range of 7.0-15.0 volts. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBayWalmart
Clore Automotive offers a digital battery and system checker, although it is one of the more expensive products on the list. It’s a 12-volt battery and system tester with 40-1200 CCA testing capacity. It has an operating range of 7 volts to 15 volts and is compatible with multiple battery types, including Conventional Flooded Acid, AGM Flate Plate, AGM Spiral Wound, and Gel Cell.
This device offers quick, easy battery and system analysis and can be used to test against a wide range of rating systems, including CCA, DIN, JIS, EN, and IEC. The front of the device features an LCD display for optimal viewing in all lighting conditions. It’s also easy to use since the display walks the operator through the test sequence with instructions.
While most users do say this device is easy to use, some did say the instruction manual is a bit confusing and not very thorough. Some users also say they had trouble getting good contact with the clips.
- Pros/Extremely compact, accurate results, easy to use, compatible with multiple battery types and rating systems, LCD display
- Cons/Price, instructions aren't very thorough, clips may not work great on some applications
The red digital readout looks almost retro, but it is very legible. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBayWalmart
Microprocessor-controlled, the Motopower Digital Battery Tester is designed to provide a quick reading to determine if a car’s battery needs a jump or replacement. It’s safe and simple to use, thanks to reverse hookup and over-voltage protection features. The front of the device has a four-character-lighted digital display, making this tester easy to read with accuracy.
Colored LEDs on the device indicate the status of your car’s battery and alternator, while a black rubber, painted body makes it nice and durable. This tester uses 30-amp Alligator Clamps.
The testing range on the Motopower Digital Battery Tester is 4 volts to 20 volts for all types of 12-volt batteries.
Most owners praise this device for being easy to use with clear and concise readings. While it’s a minor complaint, some users did say the cables are a bit short, so you may experience issues if your battery’s terminals are far apart.
- Pros/Price, easy to use, four-character display, colored LEDs, rubber painted body
- Cons/Cables are a bit short
6. Ancel Automotive Load Battery Tester (BA101)
The Ancel is relatively costly but has extra features like the ability to connect to a printer. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBayWalmart
Another more expensive option comes from Ancel. This compact tester can be used on a wide range of 12-volt batteries and meets major battery standards, including JIS, SAE, EN, DIN, and IEC. It’s designed to easily, quickly, and accurately measure the actual cold cranking amps capability of your car’s battery, as well as the battery’s health. Each reading will display the battery’s CCA or AH value, charge percentage, voltage, internal resistance, and battery health percentage.
Conductance correlates directly to the battery capacity, and this device will never discharge or drain the battery. It can also be used to test the condition of a discharged battery and its passive testing method is safe to use. No internal batteries are required with this device, as it powers up once it’s connected to posts on the battery you’re testing.
This device can also be hooked up to a printer, so you can print out your test results.
Users who purchased this device praised the comprehensive data it provides while still being easy to use. However, the device is very compact with a small screen which some found difficult to read. There is also a small number of complaints that the screen easily gets scratched.
- Pros/Compact, versatile, comprehensive results/data, can be hooked up to a printer
- Cons/Price, screen may be difficult to read and easily gets scratched
The Foxwell BT-705 tester supports several different languages. Photo credit: Amazon.com.
AmazoneBay
The Foxwell Battery Tester is one of the most expensive items on our list, but it’s one of the most comprehensive testing devices you can buy. It will accurately test regular Flooded, AGM Flat Plate, AGM Spiral, and Gel batteries, allowing the user to analyze the battery health status to calculate the actual cold cranking capability of the battery and its aging status. Multiple rating systems are supported, including CCA, BCI, CA, MCA, JIS, DIN, IEC, EN, SAE, and GB.
This tester works on 12-volt and 24-volt charging systems and ensures the output voltage of the generator is normal, that the rectifier diode works correctly, and the charging current is normal. In addition, there’s a comprehensive cranking test to check the starter system, cranking voltage, and cranking time in milliseconds so ensure the starting motor works correctly. Battery tests can be done in as little as 3 to 5 seconds.
The Foxwell Battery Tester features a premium-quality copper clip and wire, so it maintains a stable connection throughout the testing process. There’s a 7.8-foot cable attached, so testing can be done from inside the vehicle. At the end of that cable are all-metal spray gold clamps, which are more solid and durable than normal clamps. A large backlight LCD displays all the information, while the device is fairly straightforward to use thanks to menu-driven operation. It also supports several different languages: English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian.
Safety features on this device include short circuit protection and spark-proof protection.
- Pros/Versatile tester, compatible with wide range of batteries and rating systems, works on 12v and 24v, quick testing, multi-language support, long cable
- Cons/Price, menu can be a bit confusing
A car battery tester is a device designed to test the state of your battery. If you’ve taken a look at our list of products, you’ll notice that there are some testers that are extremely basic, while others will offer more data and information on your car’s electrical system. The type you choose to buy is entirely up to you, but it’s generally recommended to have a basic tester handy so you can replace your battery before it’s entirely dead.
More complicated testers will do a more thorough job and can even test your car’s alternator for potential issues.
Why Do I Need a Car Battery Tester?
You want to purchase a car battery tester so that you can routinely check the state of your car’s battery. This way, you know exactly when your car’s battery is on its way out, allowing you to get it replaced before it completely dies and can’t hold a charge. Most testers are affordable and they’re a minor investment to save you from a potential headache of being stranded unexpectedly.
How to Check Your Car's Battery
Once you’ve purchased a car battery tester, it’s time to see what condition your battery is in. Most testers will come with detailed instructions on how to operate the specific device, but here are some general steps and tips to follow.
- Before you start to do anything, it’s always recommended to wear a pair of rubber gloves and goggles when working with your battery. Gloves and goggles will protect your hands and eyes from acid.
- Start by making sure the ignition of your vehicle is off and all the lights on your car are turned off.
- Connect the positive lead on your battery tester to the positive terminal on your battery.
- Connect the negative lead on your battery tester to the negative terminal on your battery.
- Check the voltage of your car’s battery. If it reads somewhere above 12.6 volts, then your battery is in great condition (100 percent). A voltage reading around 12.4 volts means your battery is in good condition – approximately 75 percent. A value of 12.2 volts is about 50 percent, which means readings of 12.2 volts and lower indicate a bad battery.
- Once you’re done checking your battery state, remove the negative terminal first. If the clamps aren’t coming off easily, you will want to use a battery terminal puller to remove them.
UPDATE
The ODYSSEY battery I installed in my Wife's 2010 Ford Taurus Limited way back in 2016 is being replaced today! Yes within 2 days of SEVEN YEARS OLD. Took her vehicle in for 90,000-mile Maintenace and the Service Manager said it needed to be replaced. Hopefully he is right since we have not had any issues and the car has been really dependable. Did not want to take any chances so it was replaced with Ford's best 36-month battery that was on sale. As I posted before these batteries may last 8 to 10 years, so 7 may be O.K. He could not believe ANY battery would last this long.
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