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.
Best simple battery tester
Pros
- Easy to read
- Easy to use
- Quick results
Cons
- Not so much detail
| Battery type: | Suitable for stop/start batteries |
| Dimensions: | 24.4 x 11.6 x 2.2 cm |
| Weight: | 100g |
| Reverse polarity indicator: | No |
Best battery tester for easy readouts
Pros
- Low cost
- Easy to use
- Quick readout
Cons
- Not a very detailed readout
| Battery type: | Suitable for stop/start batteries |
| Dimensions: | 11.9 x 3.1 x 1.5 cm |
| Weight: | 60 grams |
| Reverse polarity indicator: | Yes |
Editor’s choice
Pros
- Easy to store
- Easy to use
- Quick readout
Cons
- Not overly detailed
| Battery type: | All batteries |
| Dimensions: | 1.88 x 8.2 x 1.88cm |
| Weight: | 20 grams |
| Reverse polarity indicator: | No |
Best digital battery tester
Pros
- Plenty of information
- Easy to use
- Accurate
Cons
- High price for domestic use
| 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 |
Best premium battery tester
Pros
- Wide range of batteries
- Plenty of information
- Able to read batteries for more information
Cons
- Overkill for domestic use, with a high price
| Battery type: | A wide range |
| Dimensions: | Not given |
| Weight: | Not given |
| Reverse polarity indicator: | Yes |
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