Battery Load Tester Shoot Out

Due to Viewer request we are doing a comparison of battery load testers to see which one is better. The old archaic battery load tester puts a load on the battery and see's how much voltage it drops to determine if the battery is still good or weak. The bonus thing with these testers is that if the battery has a bad cell then the tester will tell you right away that your battery is bad.
the foxwell battery tester is a new digital model that once you enter your variables it tells you all sorts of things like battery voltage, what CCA cold cranking amps that's it putting out, state of health of the battery and battery charge. These tester can do a whole bunch more for this test we just did the CCA.

Sound effects by Epidemic Sound
Royalty-free music by Epidemic Sound

Cameras used in My videos

[Patrick_Gray]

I have been working on automotive electrical systems for over 50 years. I was brought up working at my fathers' automotive electric shop starting back in 1962. I ran my own shop for 30 years. Battery load testing with a carbon-pile load tester really tells you how many amps a battery can deliver. I would load test a battery at 50% of it's cold cranking amps for about 15 to 30 seconds and see what voltage it could maintain. The load tester for this I had was a MAC BCH-3 carbon pile load tester. In case some on does not know how a tester like this works. It has a knob you turn clockwise until you reach 50% of the CCA. You are watching the amperage and the voltage. Then you turn the the knob back to no amperage. By the way, look at what load tester your local battery warehouse uses. Mine used a carbon pile load tester.

[StilettoSniper]

I have the modern digital conductance tester, the "toaster" style 100 amp battery load tester, and a 500 amp carbon pile tester. I find that they all have their place. I also have four Fluke DMMs and a Picoscope 4424 kit. For me, the conductance tester is sweet because it allows me to quickly analyze key characteristics of a battery and charging system in a vehicle experiencing issues, giving me more information than I could get with my Fluke DMM alone and requiring a hell of a lot less set up time than my Picoscope. However, I do realize the conductance testers have limitations. That's why even after using the conductance tester, before I spend the money to replace a "bad" battery, I always attempt to charge it to at least 80% of capacity and confirm its status using the carbon pile tester. The "toaster" style tester could also be used for this but it does not put as heavy a load on the battery as the carbon pile tester, and the load is not adjustable. For real world load testing, I would recommend the carbon pile tester over the "toaster" style. If I had just the digital conductance tester, a DMM and a good 500 amp carbon pile tester, I'd feel very well equipped to diagnose most battery faults that your average DIYer would run into.

[abe]

I really enjoyed this video. Going through this right now myself.

I have the large, hot load tester like you. It’s going to hit the battery pretty hard, so I’m not sure a 2nd test with the digital tester is going to give you the results you expect. You might try reversing the order – digital tester first, then the old load tester.

My wife’s Honda CRV is turning over slow. Has a 2-year-old Optima yellow-top in it. My old hot load tester says it’s weak, so I replaced the battery (actually upgraded to a larger size battery.) My receipt for the old battery says “free 3 year replacement” so I took it back to where I bought and had them test it. It’s this test with their test device that’s important. Their device appeared to be a digital tester. Battery passed on their device, so no free replacement.

[viperfukgoogplus]

The old tester will only work on fully charged batteries. Your battery was clearly not fully charged.
How do you compare something when you don't even know how to use it?

[james]

12.06v and 12.6 are kinda a big difference

[charleshodge]

I prefer the actual CCA remaining indication on the new Foxwell tester.

You can know without question that the battery is weak.

[kalfoogatmimi]

Hello, how much model number of the product is written on the back? Please write the model number

[richyrichk]

Left the scienfific method out that Project Farm used in his DC welder car battery saver tests.

Start each method fully charged, then rested without erroneous indications of a surface charge.

Both Carbon Pile and digital testers have their place, both correlated closely in Project Farm's test.

[jospi]

It looks like the old tester drained the batteries significantly before you used the new tester.

[cjmacq-vgum]

so, does the battery have to be fully charged for an accurate load test?
i just went to get my tires rotated and ford service claimed to do a load test without my request. they said the battery is bad but i've never had any indication of a bad battery. also, wouldn't they have to CHARGE my battery before the test? and why would they charge my battery for free just to do a load test a never requested?
i'm suspicious of a scam. should i be?
also, where's the date of installation on batteries? if i knew the date of installation it might give a clearer idea of whether the battery might be in need of replacement.

[Littlelewie]

I would think a good battery should show much more than the CCA rating because the CCA is 0° and your likely showing cranking amps at whatever temp you are in. I may be wrong

[rcarioca]

On the tester the cca is calculated from conductance test. But where does the 12.06 v number comes from for the test ? Surely not from actual physical cca load.

[SteveRobReviews]

Foxwell all the way. Both batteries were not up to full charge and the old toaster should be at 12.6 to start a test where the foxwell can test and display ratings when the battery is not fully charged. Try at both fully charged and see the results . Great batteries to test on.

[ncplantdoctor]

Yes. An expensive month is coming for Jerry, but at minus twenty, if you were not at home, that would be a very bad time for a battery failure. Unless you carry one of the better jumper starters from the bskorner.

[toyotaman]

Nice vid, I have foxwell bt100 pro. What about a review on the Odyssey Extreme battery vs other AGM batteries.

[spaceoddity]

on jeap all 3 meters had a different voltage reading !

[Badgertronix]

The new tech is definitely the way to go. The science behind it is pretty cool

[danielc.]

Nice Vid on the comparison "TESTER - SHOOT OUT!! "
I just happened to be at the Home Depot couple days ago and I ran into some battery jump packs on Black & Decker, and DeWalt, and they looked pretty good, I was thinking if you could maybe do a - VIDEO TEST on those products, just a little FYI - 👍🤔👊😞

[nartshapsough]

Hello, I have a battery deep cycle, but there's no numbers on it. How do I know the size and how to deal with it

[CaptCalgary]

Cool vid Jerry!! makes me want to test mine now