Well, Saturday was wet, and I had no need to test batteries in the rain, as none are causing issues.
So this morning, with a little time to spare, the BT200 was unboxed, instructions read (yes, really), and off out to do the basic test on 5 batteries. (Too many)
Firstly, the machine does not need its own batteries, taking its power from the battery being tested. That's good. If it does not start up, then the battery being tested is very dead. Also, no risk of dead inernal batteries destroying the machine.
When connected to the battery, it displays the voltage, or gives an error message of the connections are not as good as they should be.
Then you enter the menu, easy to scroll down, if necessary, but battery test is at the top of the list. Press Enter, then choose type of battery, it remembers the last type, which is handy, or not, depending on the type next to be tested. Then choose the rating type, for all mine, it was EN, which is again remembered. Next menu is for setting the Amp rating, and again, it remembers the last test, so easy to scroll up or down from there. It increments in 5A. Pressing and holding scrolls quickly, so it is not tedious.
Once done, press Enter again, and it tests. This takes about 10-15 seconds, and displays the results.
Firstly, into the garage, where there are two to be tested. Both recently charged, but then stood for about a fortnight.
Old Panda battery. (No idea why I keep this, just not got around to taking it to the tip, I suppose)
This was new around mid 2013, and replaced in April 2020, so lasted 7 years, including a period of non-use where it was left discharged for a few weeks. Since April 2020, it has just sat in the garage, and been charged a couple of times.
This is an Exide EB500, 450A EN showing a reasonable 12.44v.
Health: 17% 184A
Charge: 72% 12.43v
Internal resistance: 15.08 mΩ
Result: Replace I don't think this one would revive. This shows, especially whne compared with the next one, that the voltage is not alway sa good guide, although how much this drops on cranking would be a better guide. Can't get such a result for this battery, not going to refit it to anything just to test.
Next, a battery from my brother's 2002 Fabia. No idea how old this is, but it was left for a year, gently discharging, but seems to have responded to charging.
RAC001 520A EN 12.44v
Health: 71% 438A
Charge: 73% 12.44v
Int. Res.: 6.34mΩ
Result: Good battery. When we're ready to try to get the car going, another charge should bring a good result.
Now to the vehicles.
Panda. Exide 540A EN 12.49v Fitted April 2020, but was discharged for a fortnight, early this year. I was surprised it revived, but seems OK.
Health: 67% 442A
Charge: 83% 12.5v
Int. Res.: 6.29mΩ
Result: Good battery
This gets used 2-3 times a week, but mostly for short journeys. A few hours on the charger might do it some good.
2015 Fabia 1.2 Original battery. EFB Stop/start 640A EN
Health: 43% 422A
Charge: 35% 12.21v
Int. Res.: 5.43mΩ
Result: Good charging.
This car gets used usually twice a week, last used on Thursday, for a good run of 40 miles each way. The battery is now just over 8 years old, spent a little time sitting on a garage forecourt, and prior to that was owned by an old guy who only did short runs, a coupleof times a week. I'm impressed at how this battery is still hanging in there, and still operating the stop/start. Perhaps a few hours on the charger might help it, but it does look like it is on its last legs, but bravely carrying on.
2017 Doblo 1.4 95hp petrol. Original battery, 450A EN. Surprisingly, not marked EFB, or stop/start. Perhaps that's why the stop/start is reluctant. As a wheelchair van, it has had light use, still only 13k miles, in 6 years.
Health: 100% 472A
Charge: 50% 12.3v
Int. Res.: 5.88mΩ
Result: Good Charging
Since buying the car, early this year, I have used it frequently, mostly for journeys of about 10-12 miles each way. The state of charge shows why the stop/start is very reluctant, and restarts after about 8-12 seconds, which is amusing. A good candidate for a charge off the car.
I've not carried out the starting tests. Will do that sometime, on each vehicle separately, on a day when they are going to be used. No reason to start them just for a test. Will report them individually.
Sorry for the long post, hopefully of interest to anyone considering the BT200, or any similar tester.