Before you start running your car after a period of hibernation, there are a few things you might want to check out; the state of the battery is one of the first. If your battery needs charging, take a look at one of our favourite battery chargers.
Even if your car hasn’t been in hibernation but has been running the same battery for a while, you might want to keep an eye on its battery health as this can often lead to signs of problems elsewhere, like the alternator, for example.
Having a healthy working battery is one of the small things we can do to keep our car healthy. If your battery is strong and healthy, it’ll put less pressure on the engine during the starting phase. Give it a solid kick to get everything ticking over, but how do you know the life left in your battery? You buy yourself a battery tester, of course. There are different kinds, going from quite rudimentary options to very detailed printouts of your battery life and giving you information and knowledge, allowing you to take appropriate actions.
Streetwize Battery and Alternator Tester
The best simple battery tester
Price: RRP £7.79 | VIEW OFFER
This is super simple and easy to read from Streetwise. While it doesn’t give you information to pour over, it simply tells you all you need to know with a simple LED system. Connect it to a car battery and let it read you on battery levels, if there’s a fault with the alternator and whether it’s okay to charge the battery.
Pros
• Easy to read
• Easy to use
• Quick results
Cons
• Not so much detail
Spec
Battery type Suitable for stop/start batteries
Dimensions 24.4 x 11.6 x 2.2 cm
Weight 100g
Reverse polarity indicator No
Hilka Battery & Alternator Tester
The best battery tester for easy readouts
Price: RRP £12 | VIEW OFFER
A low-cost option, place the connectors on the battery positive and negative, and you’ll get a reading of how your battery is performing. Excellent way of keeping your eye on things. But this isn’t precisely detailed. If you want a quick yes or no, this will give you that. In terms of an in-depth look, this will not give you that. But of course, it won’t. It’s also only £12.00.
Pros
• Low cost
• Easy to use
• Quick readout
Cons
• Not a very detailed readout
Spec
Battery type Suitable for stop/start batteries
Dimensions 11.9 x 3.1 x 1.5 cm
Weight 60 grams
Reverse polarity indicator Yes
Sealey AK500 LCD Screen Battery and Alternator Tester
Editor’s choice
Price: RRP £20.99 | VIEW OFFER
Super convenient to store in your glove box due to its small size, plug it into your 12v DC outlet and press what you’re looking to test, battery or alternator. This will give you a quick readout of whether you’re in trouble. It’s a great way of trying your battery before starting your car due to its small compact size and super convenient 12vDC connection, meaning you don’t even have to open the bonnet.
Pros
• Easy to store
• Easy to use
• Quick readout
Cons
• Not overly detailed
Spec
Battery type All batteries
Dimensions 1.88 x 8.2 x 1.88cm
Weight 20 grams
Reverse polarity indicator No
GYS DBT300 Digital Battery Tester
The best digital battery tester
Price: RRP £86.98 | VIEW OFFER
If you want something with a little bit more information, then maybe this is for you. Clip it to your battery, and it will give you more of an idea of what is going on, battery health and. Tests the 12v starter voltage and alternator output, including no load and charging voltage plus ripple. The backlit screen provides accurate results not affected by surface charge & parasitic load.
Pros
• Plenty of information
• Easy to use
• Accurate
Cons
• High price for domestic use
Spec
Battery type Common lead acid battery types, including gel and AGM, stop/start-up to 150Ah
Dimensions Not given
Weight Not given
Reverse polarity indicator Yes
SIP T11 Battery Tester & Electrical System Analyzer with Printer
The best premium battery tester
Price: RRP £329 | VIEW OFFER
Look at this if you want as much information as possible with a printable readout. Having a SIP T11 Barcode scanner means you can scan the battery’s bar code and get a printable readout of what battery it is. This makes replacing like-for-like batteries extremely easy. Suitable for 12/24v batteries, it’s excellent for motorbikes, cars, vans and trucks.
Pros
• Wide range of batteries
• Plenty of information
• Able to read batteries for more information
Cons
• Overkill for domestic use, with a high price
Spec
Battery type A wide range
Dimensions Not given
Weight Not given
Reverse polarity indicator Yes
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