10 Best Car Battery Testers [Reviews & Buying Guide]
Visiting the mechanic every time your car’s battery needs a routine check-up is not only time consuming, but also expensive. However, failure to maintain a car battery can lead to your car stalling in the most unexpected places and at the most inconvenient times. One of the most cost-efficient ways to avoid such issues is to monitor your battery’s performance in real-time with a battery load tester. The best battery testers have simple plug-and-use designs that are compatible with most types of cells. They are also accurate, portable, and made of heavy-duty materials that last for many years. Here are the best:
Table of Contents
- A List of 10 Best Car Battery Testers
- 1. Schumacher BT-100 100A Battery Load Tester
- 2. TT TOPDON Car Battery Tester
- 3. KONNWEI KW600 Car Battery Load Tester
- 4. OTC 3180 100 Amp Battery Load Tester
- 5. Innova 3721 Battery and Charging System Monitor
- 6. FOXWELL Automotive 100-2000 CCA Battery Load Tester
- 7. ANCEL BST200 Car Battery Load Tester
- 8. AUTDER Car Battery Tester 12V Digital Battery Tester
- 9. TN TONNY 12V Battery and Charging System Tester
- 10. CARTMAN 12V Car Battery & Alternator Tester
- FURTHER READING
A List of 10 Best Car Battery Testers
1. Schumacher BT-100 100A Battery Load Tester
Schumacher is a leading manufacturer of quality automobile products. The best battery testers for six and 12-volt batteries are among their bestsellers, with Schumacher ranked among the best. The Schumacher battery load tester is a versatile product that tests the battery condition and load, provides charging systems diagnostics, and tests starter motor draw. Its housing is steel with a baked enamel finish resistant to dust and shock, to name a few.
The battery load tester also has an insulated rubber carrying that eases its use and transportation, high strength battery clamps, and top-mounted rocker switch. These boost its performance and ease of use. The clamps and rocker switch make it easy to monitor your car’s battery, providing accurate readings. Finally, it has a ventilated design that does not overheat while in use.
- Durable construction
- Insulated handle
- Easy to operate
- Simple traditional design
- Value for money
Our verdict:
Schumacher is a durable battery tester with an insulated handle and heavy-duty clamps that fit most batteries. Even though its cables and short and its readings poorly defined, its value is terrific. Most people can use it to diagnose cells.
2. TT TOPDON Car Battery Tester
The car battery tester from TT TOPDON is popular with most car owners due to its quality, simplicity, and ease of use. It features a large LCD that provides detailed battery diagnostics, including when you need to replace it. It monitors the output voltage of the battery, current charge percentage, and the rectifier diode condition. Also, it displays the actual cranking voltage and the exact cranking time of a battery in an easy to understand manner.
TT has a hand-held, lightweight, and durable design made of solid plastic and copper. The tester is compatible with 12-volt lead-acid batteries of AGM flat plate, regular flooded, AGM spiral gel for trucks, ARVs, RVs, cars, motorcycles, and more. It is accurate and provides results in less than four seconds. You can also connect the versatile tester to your PC if you want a more detailed analysis of the battery, and it comes with printing function and USB connectivity. Besides English, the TT TOPDON tester supports Russian and Spanish.
- Easy to operate
- Affordable
- Versatile system
- Accurate and fast
- Effective LCD
Our verdict:
TT TOPDON is a multi-lingual battery tester that delivers fast and accurate results. It is affordable and has a versatile system that supports most batteries.
3. KONNWEI KW600 Car Battery Load Tester
If you are looking for a quality and cost-effective battery tester that you can use easily at home, you should buy the KONNWEI KW600. Besides having features that are not as innovative as the latest professional battery testers, it delivers the most accurate results in the shortest time possible.
KONNWEI KW600 is compatible with six and 12-volt batteries and can test ATV, RV, motorcycle, car, and boat batteries. Moreover, it supports 100-2000 CCA batteries from AGM flat plate, regular flooded, and AGM spiral gel. The display has a backlight that allows you to read results in the dark.
The KW600 analyzes the internal resistance, cold cranking amp, AH capacity, voltage, and overall charge to establish batteries’ health status. You can also hook the tester to your pc to print out the results for further analysis.
- Easy to operate design
- Delivers accurate results
- Reads findings quickly
- Backlit display
- Compact, easily portable
Our verdict:
KONNWEI KW600 is a compact and portable battery tester that delivers fast, accurate findings irrespective of battery type. It is easy to use and has a large, backlit display that you can read easily. Do not hesitate to order.
4. OTC 3180 100 Amp Battery Load Tester
The OTC 3180 is a simple load battery tester that is easy to use. The unit is suitable for professional and personal use, as it is versatile. Unlike newer testers in the market, the OTC 3180 does not run advanced battery or alternator diagnostics. However, it does a perfect job of checking the status of your battery. It is also compact, easy to transport, and provides accurate/easy to read results.
The LCD monitor displays findings that tell you whether you should replace the battery or jump-start your battery. The extra-large display does not require any adjustments to deliver the readings, while its heavy-duty clamps come ready to use. Once connected to a battery, the load tester takes 15 seconds to measure the charge’s percentage. The inspector works well with 6 and 12 volt-batteries.
- Easy operation
- Compact, easily portable
- Clear, easy to read results
- Quality copper clamps
Our verdict:
While OTC 3180 should improve the length of the battery tester cables, its value is terrific. Results are fast and accurate, while its longevity is notable.
5. Innova 3721 Battery and Charging System Monitor
The Innova battery and charging system is one of the most popular battery testers for motor vehicle owners. It has a simple plug-and-use design that works directly from the cigarette lighter of cars to monitor your car’s charging system, voltage, and battery capacity.
This premium device works the best on 12-volt negative ground systems and includes an easy to read LCD with a bar graph that shows the level of charge.
The color-coded LEDs on the system also help you to identify the charge status of the battery fast. You can change the viewing angle by pivoting the head of the device. Another reason why Innova 3721 is popular with many people is its affordability and accuracy. Its diagnostic results are a true reflection of your car’s status and thus can guide decision-making. You get a 1-year warranty.
- Accurate system
- Four-digit display
- Cost-effective product
- Color-coded LEDs
Our verdict:
Innova 3721 is one of the best battery testers in 2020, as it is accurate, easy to use, and long-lasting. Its color-coded results are easy to interpret.
6. FOXWELL Automotive 100-2000 CCA Battery Load Tester
The FOXWELL battery tester is a recommended tool for diagnosing 12 to 24-volt batteries, rated 100-2000 CCA. Even though simple, you get a novel device that delivers professional results. Its hard plastic shell is durable and non-slip. It also works on most battery types, including AGM spiral gel, deep-cycle batteries, AGM flat plate batteries, and regular flooded batteries. Overall, it provides reliable results via a conductive copper clip and wire. It also measures cold-cranking amps and monitors the state of the battery, giving accurate results.
The FOXWELL Battery Tester also has an LCD screen with a menu-driven system that shows all you need to know before you start to test. It then checks the function of batteries without emitting light, spark, or heat or discharge batteries. The tester has a 7.8-foot tester cable, rubberized sleeve protects, and metal alligator clips. You can print your results using a Bluetooth printer.
- Easy to use
- Easy to read LCD
- Versatile design
- Accurate readings
Our verdict:
The versatile design of FOXWELL not only supports most battery types but also is accurate. It works with most batteries and needs little effort to operate.
7. ANCEL BST200 Car Battery Load Tester
The ANCEL BA101 is a small, compact tester that comes with great features. It has a reliable and accurate display that provides you with the perfect visibility day and night. The battery tester supports a wide testing range of 9 to 15 volts and meets battery standards that include EN, IEC, SAE, DIN, and JIS.
The tester’s superior design enables it to measure cold-cranking actual amps, condition of the battery, and its capability accurately.
The readings on the display of ANCEL BA101 include AH or CCA values, voltage, level of charge, percentage of battery health, and internal resistance. The tester does not drain or discharge the battery because its conductance corresponds to the battery capacity. You can also hook it to a printer to print out a copy of the results. Even though costly, you will get dependable results over the years.
- Versatile system
- Compact design
- Comprehensive/accurate results
- Hooks up to a printer
Our verdict:
This digital tester is accurate, dependable, and requires little effort to set up and use. It supports most batteries and cars and is thus beneficial to most car owners.
8. AUTDER Car Battery Tester 12V Digital Battery Tester
The digital battery tester from AUTDER is an affordable unit designed for 12-volt batteries. The battery tester is simple and easy to use the battery-testing group with a small screen that shows the voltage of your battery. It also shows the status of the alternator and battery using led indicators. The tester also provides fast readings via an in-built high-quality microprocessor. These readings allow you to decide on whether the battery needs replacing or jump-starting.
One of the best features of the AUTDER battery tester is its highly efficient clamps. They are conductive, sensitive, and have a pure copper wire core, which is less susceptible to interference. Overall, you get value for your money.
- Simple, easy to operate design
- Cost-effective tester
- Provides quick readings
- Accurate and reliable
Our verdict:
AUTDER can tell you whether your battery is working at peak power or needs a jump-start to restore normal function. It is easy to use, accruable, and durable.
9. TN TONNY 12V Battery and Charging System Tester
The TN TONNY 12-volt plug-in-car battery and charging system from TN TONNY is another ideal unit to have with you if you want to maintain your battery life. It has a 12-volt capacity to test the battery and alternator conditions, all at the same time. The amazingly unique tester also has a reliable LCD that displays all the test results. The results allow you to know if your battery needs replacing or charging. The tester plugs easily into any cigarette lighter plugs making it one of the most convenient units.
TN TONNY has a pivoting head that makes it easy to read the results. It is compact, lightweight, and portable and has a 1-year guarantee on defects.
- Plug-and-use design
- Swiveling head
- Efficient LCD
- Compact and portable
Our verdict:
If you have a 12-volt battery that requires evaluation, the TN TONNY battery tester is best to use. It supports most types of cells and has a swivel head with a LED for checking results. Its quality/accuracy is terrific.
10. CARTMAN 12V Car Battery & Alternator Tester
CARTMAN is a commercial-grade 100-amp battery tester that works with 12-volt batteries up to 1000 CCA. The battery tester also has a 50-amp test feature for 6-volt batteries, a smart motor draw, and a LED screen that allows you to diagnose the battery charging status. Therefore, you will know when to replace the battery. The battery status can be low, medium, or high.
The CARTMAN 12V battery tester is shock and impact-resistant and has a top-mounted rocker switch that eases its use. To conduct a battery check, all you need to do is connect the clamps to the terminals with the red going to the positive while the black goes to the negative battery terminal with the car off.
If you want to check the alternator, ensure that the car is on before connecting the clamps. The tester is simple to use and affordable.
- Tests batteries and alternators
- Easy to monitor battery status
- Compact portable size
- Accurate led display
Our verdict:
With CARTMAN, you can monitor your car’s performance like a professional, even if you are a novice, as it is easy to use. It is durable and accurate, as well.