Help with recommendations for a Battery Tester

[Wm.Traynor]

Had to get a new battery for the car today. The RACQ man said to get a charger and look after the battery, as my driving is too infrequent to keep the battery healthy. Therefore I think a tester is necessary to check the thing instead of whacking it on the charger every week. That is my reasoning but if anyone differs, please say so.
Thank you for your help

[deye243]

Just use a multimeter and see if you have a current leak while it's being stored if not just charge it every fortnight .
Now saying that I've only said it because I have no idea what a battery tester is worth

[Wm.Traynor]

Now saying that I've only said it because I have no idea what a battery tester is worth

You see I knew I had to ask you blokes for help I had no idea there was a difference between a multimeter and a "battery tester"
Now I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a battery tester, at all

[GQshayne]

They are not the same thing. A multimeter will tell you voltage, which in a 12v lead acid battery is not a great indicator. As an example of this, a battery with 12v in it may be 50% discharged. A battery tester is a different tool, and the ones I have used are actual load tester, which measure voltage drop as a load is applied.

I think the trickle chargers are excellent. Why let the battery go partly flat before topping it up, or forgetting to do it at all? The trickle chargers/battery tenders are auto voltage sensing to run a charge cylce as required. Works very well in my experience with them.

[Over The Hill]

Buy a smart charger to suit your battery type and leave it connected. It will monitor your battery and only charge as needed. The days of old when you would use a fixed rate charger and overcharge your battery are gone.

[No1_49er]

They're a bit "spendy", but the CTEK battery chargers are by far the best. They're a Swedish company; been in the game for many years.

[Die Judicii]

Trickle charger without doubt,,
I have four of them and wouldn't be without them.
They are relatively cheap (ebay) and definately cheaper than the cost of a new (4x4) battery.
Most of them come with a lead and a plug so you fit it to your battery and leave the plug in an easily accessible position.
The trickle charger itself can be wall mounted or shelf alongside where you park your vehicle.
When you park,, just plug the little plug in and your set.
They can safely be left plugged in for months without any detriment, and your battery is always fully charged.
The biggest enemy of batteries is when they are left unattended and not properly charged.

[str8shutr]

I got myself a MotoPower MP0515A.
Supposedly good for 100-2000 CCA batteries.
Reviewed well.
Easy to find reviews on place like YouTube.
Complements the various chargers I've got - handy to have both.

[jezzab]

They're a bit "spendy", but the CTEK battery chargers are by far the best. They're a Swedish company; been in the game for many years.

^^^ this is the way

[Jorlcrin]

MATSON BT400 Digital Battery & System Tester - currently sell for just over $200
Good for up to 2000CCA.
Unit is only about 5 inches square, and about an inch thick, so easy to carry/store etc.

I'd also give the thumbs-up for CTek trickle chargers for maintenance; worth the money.

[No1_49er]

Strictly speaking, the CTEK is NOT a trickle charger; after the preliminary stages of the full charge, it analyses the battery for efficacy and then maintains a "float" maintenance charge. It has some "cleverness" built into the design.

[Wm.Traynor]

And thank you No1

[str8shutr]

Following on from comments regarding a battery tester, if a charger is also part of discussion, then give some thought to the Victron Energy offerings.

I've grabbed a Blue Smart IP22 Charger that's rated for 30A @ ~14.7 VDC. The extra grunt over the previous 10A unit that I had from Matson is a plus, especially for deep cycle battery maintenance for the auxiliary power system in the back of the vehicle that I've got for going off grid.

[Wm.Traynor]

Thank you str8shutr.
A smart battery trickler has been on my mind for a while but my mind is still not made up.