CTEK Battery Analyzer

[woodstockva]

Hey everybody

I just reviewed the CTEK Battery Analyzer, and made a video to show you how it actually works. It tests for voltage (like a multimeter) & also tests the actual CCA of the battery.

There is no need to remove the battery being tested from a vehicle, and this creates no heat or sparks since it is not a load tester. In the video I will show you how a battery can read 12.5 volts, but still be bad since the CCA rating is so far off.

Anyway, I figure it is that time of year that we are all going to start dealing with bad batteries again, so this might speed things up for you (at work) or help you maintain your own fleet (at home).

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VjeXCF0SUT8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[pi_guy]

Very happy with my toaster type load tester, has worked for 30 plus years.

 

[d-rive]

Nice review!

 

[Robbie UK]

I have one and it has been pretty good. You cannot use the old carbon pile type on modern batteries!

The only annoyance I have is that you have to preset a different CCA than is shown on AGM batteries. There is no function that does this for you so you have to use a look-up table in the manual to do the conversion before entering the CCA. Given that it is designed for modern batteries this is a bit of a sloppy design oversight from Midtronics/Ctek.

 

[flylow7f39]

Sounds very similar to my SOLAR BA7 100-1200 CCA Electronic Battery and System Tester yjay I bought almost 5 years ago. www.amazon.com/BA7-100-1200-Electronic-Battery-System/dp/B0015PI7A4 Still works as new.

http://www.cloreautomotive.com/uploaded_files/sku/431_841-029-000.pdf

BTW I am very happy with my CTEK Multi US 7002 charger. IMHO CTEK makes great products. CTEK battery analyzer http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COPZ842/?tag=atomicindus08-20 currently sells for $90 on Amazon, Solar BA7 currently sells for $70 on Amazon.

Any comments comparing the CTEK battery analyzer to the SOLAR BA7? Thinking the CTEK battery analyzer is closer to the $46 SOLAR BA5 Electronic Battery Tester? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017R5EQK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Robbie UK]

This product is not made by Ctek but by Midtronics.

Midtronics is a major player in battery analysers and chargers at the pro level.

 

[Rookie2]

I like them but I always wanted an Engineer to explain the design to me. Thanks !

 

[Danglerb]

I have the Solar BA5 and like it, quick and easy to use, go/no go plus actual CCA.

http://www.cloreautomotive.com/sku.php?id=307

How they work has something to do with measuring the resistance or continuity inside the battery. Big advantage over a pile type tester is that it can test batteries that are far from fully charged.

 

[SteadyC]

I have one and it has been pretty good. You cannot use the old carbon pile type on modern batteries!

The only annoyance I have is that you have to preset a different CCA than is shown on AGM batteries. There is no function that does this for you so you have to use a look-up table in the manual to do the conversion before entering the CCA. Given that it is designed for modern batteries this is a bit of a sloppy design oversight from Midtronics/Ctek.

Can "modern" batteries turn traditional starter motors? I thought a load was a load? Back when I was a wrenching for living(quite a bit ago) I recall cold cranking rating divided x 2 = load test. If the battery is amp hour rated the multiplier is 3. battery holds 9.6v point style ignition....10v for hei to current ignition systems equals acceptable/good. My information may be outdated or i'm not getting something anyhow i'm always open to new technology and testing methods.

 

[Robbie UK]

The rules of thumb for load testing are as good today as in the past. As I understand it (I'm not a battery guru) the internal resistance of an AGM battery is a lot lower than a traditional type and can release the energy far quicker. On a pile tester set for a 900CCA battery the load pulled for an effective test is more than the battery appreciates. The AGM batteries I have fitted came with warnings about not using pile/toaster testers; EIS testers should be used instead. EIS testers were eyewateringly expensive, but the price has come down and the little Ctek is probably the first inexpensive EIS tester.

The AGM compensation table I mentioned:

http://www.barden-uk.com/PDFs/Testing_AGM_Batteries_Info_EN.pdf

 

[SteadyC]

The rules of thumb for load testing are as good today as in the past. As I understand it (I'm not a battery guru) the internal resistance of an AGM battery is a lot lower than a traditional type and can release the energy far quicker. On a pile tester set for a 900CCA battery the load pulled for an effective test is more than the battery appreciates. The AGM batteries I have fitted came with warnings about not using pile/toaster testers; EIS testers should be used instead. EIS testers were eyewateringly expensive, but the price has come down and the little Ctek is probably the first inexpensive EIS tester.

The AGM compensation table I mentioned:

http://www.barden-uk.com/PDFs/Testing_AGM_Batteries_Info_EN.pdf

Thanks for the information. Would an optima yellow top be considered the type your referring to? I've had one in the past and didn't have a good experience with it. While I was working the delco 7yr maintenance free was the bees knees.
Cheers

 

[Danglerb]

I think the issue is that newer batteries hold more of a surface charge, so they look fine for a short load test.

Many modern batteries that I have tested seem fine on a pile for 10 to 30 seconds, then die off fast, but by then the pile is smoking hot so many don't test that long and miss a bad battery. Fewer batteries got warrantied, but ended up with a lot of unhappy customers.

New testers also don't need a full charge on the battery, just not dead.

 

[SteadyC]

Great information. Thank you Danglerb.