Basic Battery Testing

diferg

Dan & Ingrid
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Still using the "old style" (had this one for 25 years) with "oven" heating element. The new ones look much more convenient and easier to store.
 

ST Gui

240Robert
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Still using the "old style" (had this one for 25 years) with "oven" heating element. The new ones look much more convenient and easier to store.
Not that it's a must have I like the BT connection. I can connect the meter and start the car. The results (cranking voltage in particular) are captured on the meter. Nobody has to start the car while I watch the meter. This isn't an issue with the bike though the battery clamps are a bit on the big side.

If I already had an old style tester this wouldn't have been ordered. Why kid myself. This seems to do a lot and the bright and shiny always interests me.
 

Gerhard

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I had to buy a new battery this year, they offered a Bluetooth monitor with it so now my phone will show battery health, voltage etc. without having connect anything.
 

ST1100Y

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I had to buy a new battery this year, they offered a Bluetooth monitor with it so now my phone will show battery health, voltage etc. without having connect anything.
hmm... adding parasitic load on both... ;)
 

Gerhard

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hmm... adding parasitic load on both... ;)
Not sure that it is enough to worry about, probably time to change the battery if it is causing voltage to drop to a no crank level.
 

ST Gui

240Robert
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Not sure that it is enough to worry about, probably time to change the battery if it is causing voltage to drop to a no crank level.
The bike has a parasitic load already – the clock. And we seldom blame it for killing our batteries. How long would its battery last if not on a tender? I have no idea and won't research that. As for a load on the phone it's easy enough to disconnect it from the monitor and would probably disconnect on it's own depending on its BT range. That's usually 10m/33ft on a budget device and subject to environment.

On a car battery I'd guess it would be an insignificant load. Most newer cars/trucks have a digital clock as well as other car computer related kit that needs a constant power supply. So yeah probably not enough to worry about.
 

Gerhard

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I have no idea and won't research that. As for a load on the phone it's easy enough to disconnect it from the monitor and would probably disconnect on it's own depending on its BT range. That's usually 10m/33ft on a budget device and subject to environment.
It isn’t a big deal as the device is smart enough to only talk to the phone once a day unless you prompt the phone to connect to the battery monitor.
 

ST Gui

240Robert
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It isn’t a big deal as the device is smart enough to only talk to the phone once a day unless you prompt the phone to connect to the battery monitor.
Even less of an NBD than I might have thought. Good!
 
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