A battery tester is an electronic device intended for testing the state of an electric

battery Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

, going from a simple device for testing the

charge Charge or charged may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Charge, Zero Emissions/Maximum Speed'', a 2011 documentary Music * ''Charge'' (David Ford album) * ''Charge'' (Machel Montano album) * ''Charge!!'', an album by The Aqua ...

actually present in the cells and/or its voltage output, to a more comprehensive testing of the battery's condition, namely its capacity for accumulating charge and any possible flaws affecting the battery's performance and security.

Simple battery testers

The most simple battery tester is a DC

ammeter An ammeter (abbreviation of ''Ampere meter'') is an instrument used to measure the current in a circuit. Electric currents are measured in amperes (A), hence the name. For direct measurement, the ammeter is connected in series with the circuit ...

, that indicates the battery's charge rate. DC

voltmeter A voltmeter is an instrument used for measuring electric potential difference between two points in an electric circuit. It is connected in parallel. It usually has a high resistance so that it takes negligible current from the circuit. An ...

s can be used to estimate the charge rate of a battery, provided that its nominal voltage is known.

Integrated battery testers

There are many types of integrated battery testers, each one corresponding to a specific condition testing procedure, according to the type of battery being tested, such as the “421” test for lead-acid vehicle batteries. Their common principle is based on the empirical fact that after having applied a given current for a given number of seconds to the battery, the resulting voltage output is related to the battery's overall condition, when compared to a healthy battery's output.Classic Car Electrics: Tips, Techniques and Step-by-Step Repair, Restoration ... - Martin Thaddeus - Google Books
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References

External links

Power Equipment Engine Technology
By Edward Abdo
Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach
By Jack Erjavec
Wharton on Dynamic Competitive Strategy
edited by George S. Day, David J. Reibstein
The Entrepreneurial Mindset
By Rita Gunther McGrath, Ian C. MacMillan Harvard Business Press, 2000 Electrical equipment Battery (electricity) {{Electronics-stub