This battery tester reads 12V and 24V systems, covering 11 to 17V DC and 22 to 30V DC, and ships with three different connection methods - crocodile clamps, eye terminals and a cigarette lighter plug - priced at $42.99 with fast Australian shipping. It gives a voltage reading plus LED indication for undercharge and overcharge, is reverse polarity protected, and measures 75 x 48 x 19mm. The reason to own one is that a battery gives almost no warning. It starts the car every morning for two years and then does not start it once, usually somewhere inconvenient, in the cold, when you are already late. A voltage check takes fifteen seconds and tells you which side of that line you are on. It is also the fastest way to settle the question every driver eventually asks - is it the battery or the alternator - because the reading with the engine off and the reading with the engine running are different measurements, and comparing them points straight at the culprit. Specifications Systems 12V and 24V Voltage range 11 to 17V DC, and 22 to 30V DC Readout Voltage reading plus under and overcharge LEDs Connections Battery clamps, eye terminals, cigarette lighter plug Protection Reverse polarity protected Size 75 x 48 x 19mm Suits Car, truck, marine, sealed lead acid and other high-capacity batteries What's in the Box 1 x 12-24V battery tester Why Choose This Battery Tester Three ways to connect - clamps for the terminals, eye terminals for a permanent fit, lighter plug for a check without opening the bonnet Covers 12V and 24V - cars and bikes on one range, trucks and larger machinery on the other Reverse polarity protected - connecting it the wrong way round does not destroy it Reads high and low - it flags overcharging as well as a flat battery, and overcharging is what quietly kills batteries Pocket sized - 75 x 48mm, so it lives in the glovebox rather than the shed What Does a Battery Tester Actually Tell You? Voltage, which is a snapshot of state of charge rather than a measure of health. A rested 12V battery sitting around 12.6 to 12.7V is fully charged; around 12.4V it is roughly three quarters; at 12.0V it is about half and already struggling on a cold morning. Below that it is flat. What voltage alone cannot tell you is capacity - whether the battery can still deliver the current a starter motor demands - which is why a battery can read healthy at rest and still fail under load. For that you need a load test. For everyday monitoring, voltage is the number that matters. Which of the Three Connections Should You Use? The crocodile clamps are the accurate one, because they read the battery directly at the posts with nothing in between. The eye terminals are for a permanent installation - bolt them under the terminal nuts and leave the tester mounted where you can see it, which suits a caravan, a boat or a machine that sits unused for months. The cigarette lighter plug is the convenient one, and it has a limitation worth knowing: on most vehicles the socket is only live with the ignition on, and it reads through the vehicle's wiring rather than at the battery, so it can show slightly low. What Voltage Reading Means a Battery Is Flat? Below about 12.0V at rest on a 12V system, and 12.4V or under is already worth acting on. Two things will mislead you if you do not allow for them. First, surface charge: a battery just off a charger or a drive reads artificially high for a while, so leave it an hour or turn the headlights on for a minute to bleed it off before reading. Second, temperature: a cold battery reads lower and also delivers less. If it reads above about 14.8V with the engine running, that is overcharging and points at the voltage regulator rather than the battery. Buyers are typically people running a second vehicle, a trailer or a boat that sits for weeks at a time, caravanners watching an auxiliary battery, motorbike owners over winter, and anyone who has been caught once and does not intend to be caught twice. See more in our Tools & Hardware range, or browse Essentials for practical everyday gear. Frequently Asked Questions Does it test the alternator?Indirectly, and usefully. Read the battery with the engine off, then again with it running - a healthy charging system lifts the reading to roughly 13.8 to 14.6V. No lift means the alternator is not charging. Will it work on a lithium or AGM battery?It reads voltage on any 12V or 24V battery, but the state-of-charge figures above are for lead acid. Lithium batteries hold a flat voltage curve and need their own reference table. Does it need batteries of its own?No. It draws the small amount of power it needs from the battery it is testing. Why does the lighter socket give nothing?On most vehicles that socket is only powered with the ignition on. Turn the key to accessory and try again. How heavy is it?It is a 75 x 48 x 19mm handheld unit. The supplier's published weight figure is a clear typographical error, so we have left it out rather than repeat it. Can I leave it connected permanently?That is what the eye terminals are for. Check your own installation for parasitic draw if the vehicle sits for very long periods. Is it waterproof?No rating is stated. Treat it as an indoor and under-bonnet tool, not something to leave exposed to weather. Fast Australian Shipping Orders ship from within Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, plus regional addresses nationwide, with tracking on every order. Working on vehicle batteries carries risk. Batteries can vent explosive gas and contain corrosive acid - wear eye protection, keep sparks and flames away, remove metal jewellery, and follow your vehicle manufacturer's instructions. This device reads voltage only; it is not a load tester and cannot tell you whether a battery has the capacity to start an engine. If you are unsure, have the battery tested by an auto electrician. Voltage ranges and dimensions are supplier-stated; the supplier's published weight is a typographical error and is not reproduced here.
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