Feeder Battery load tester

[keep]

What do you guys use to check to see if your 6v/12v batteries are still good and what kind of load range they have. I'm tired of going out to find out that only a few pics have been taken because the battery is dead or worse the feeder isn't working.

[Smart]

Voltmeter...some call it an ohm meter..

and yes the cheaper ones below are fine for what you want to do....

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=volt+meter

I use one like this from the same place but I use the clamp a lot around the house and for our vehicles.

http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-clamp-on-multimeter-95652.html

[keep]

I have to but it doesn't give the load that the battery can take only the out put. Correct?

[Mike Murphey]

Check the battery with the ohm meter, but also, with the meter hooked to the battery, test the feeder, (make the motor spin) and at the same time check how much "juice" or volts the battery has....sometimes the battery will show plenty of volts, (either 6V or 12V) until you "put a load" on them then the voltage will drop to close to "0"...

[keep]

Check the battery with the ohm meter, but also, with the meter hooked to the battery, test the feeder, (make the motor spin) and at the same time check how much "juice" or volts the battery has....sometimes the battery will show plenty of volts, (either 6V or 12V) until you "put a load" on them then the voltage will drop to close to "0"...

That's what I think is happening now.

[ballisticbudda]

Do not use the ohm function on a multimeter to test a battery. You can damage the meter. The ohm function measures resistance, the symbol is Omega or the upside down horseshoe.

You can measure the D.C. voltage with the meter, but you are correct, the battery must be under a load in order for you to determine the "health" of the battery. In order to check the battery, you need to measure the current draw or amperage when under load.

[Cotton]

Here

[scotty]

I just carry a spare 12v motor with me. I test my spare batteries with it as well.

[keep]

Here

That's what I'm talking about. Thanks.

[Smart]

Here

Niiice...with that 20% off coupon its even less.

[jb5001]

I realize this thread is really old, but is there any new information out there? I have a lot of ATV/feeder batteries laying around and want to load test them. Does anyone have experience with this:

https://www.amazon.com/CARTMAN-12V-Battery-Alternator-Tester/dp/B00EXIEVO6/ref=sr_1_37?crid=1CFKX8FW39JN&dchild=1&keywords=12v+battery+tester&qid=1629465088&sprefix=12v+battery+tester%2Caps%2C443&sr=8-37

[sharpstick35]

I have a Fluke 787 that i use for work and it still doesn't load test the batteries, it just telld me the voltage. a good battery charger/jump starter should tell you the condition of the batteries.

[J.Shoot]

So I have 2 small light bulbs wired up in series and I will touch them to the battery. This will test the strength of the batteries.... I have had batteries that show good voltage but will have no amps.... If a battery has no amps it will night light up the small light bulbs. We run alot of feeders so I test these when I pull them off the charger. Works great for us. I do still test the voltage with a meter.