Very handy. Works on all popular battery sizes. Great way to determine strength of batteries that have been lying around the house for a long time. I have also tested batteries that I use in devices that take multiple batteries and can quickly determine if one or all of them need to be replaced. There are similar products on the market that likely work as well. This was one of the least expensive, is easy to use, seems durable and does the job. SE Battery Tester
This review is for the SE BT20 battery tester, which is a good, low cost, easy to use tester, that provides basic information about the condition of a battery. The tester has three ranges, `Good' (green), Low (yellow), and `Replace' (red). The sliding red contact is adjusted manually.
The tester is designed to work with various types of 1.5 volt batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, disc or button type). Do not try testing a battery of a higher voltage, as you may fry a resistor, blow a fuse, or otherwise damage the tester. There is a separate set of contacts for testing 9 volt batteries.
To precisely measure a battery's actual output, a voltmeter would be used. A tester like the BT20 only provides a rough idea of battery strength. A new 1.5 volt, non-rechargeable battery, delivering the full 1.5 volts, should read at the top end of the green scale. Rechargeable batteries (AA, AAA, C and D size) are designed to produce only 1.2 volts at full output. Because this is 80 percent of the 1.5 volt maximum the tester is rated for, a NiMH battery will normally read somewhere in the middle of the green section. This may lead some to believe that the battery is `weak', when it is actually at its full rated power. While a lower reading is normal for a NiMH battery, a 1.5 volt non-rechargeable battery with the same reading, is actually down about 20 percent from full voltage, and may not have that much useful life left. Rechargeable 9 volt batteries are rated at only 7.2 volts, and would similarly produce lower readings, even at full power.
If you want a basic tester for 1.5 volt batteries, this is a good choice. If you need more precision, look at a voltmeter or multimeter.
This inexpensive device ships FREE! It does exactly what you want a battery tester to do - tell you if a battery is good or bad. No need to interpret a multimeter or fiddle with electrodes. The needle bounces to "good" or "replace." Easy. I don't know what these people need rubber bands for (other reviews). It takes one second to make contact with the battery and read the meter. There is no need to hold it in for more than a split second. You just push the slider to the battery with your thumb and your done. Easy, cheep, and accurate.
This is a very good product. I would agree that it feels a bit flimsy, but it works and hasn't fallen apart. It's also fairly effective at matching battery strenghts for applications that require more than one battery.
The only critical comment I have is interpreting what is a good vs. bad battery. For example, a battery that does not work well in a flashlight (heavy load on battery) may work well in a wall clock(light load). So, before you toss out a battery because it measures in the red area of the scale, test it in a clock, or similar device.
I'm rarely inspired to write a review, but this inexpensive little piece of plastic has improved the quality of my life. No more swapping out batteries with working flashlights or Wii controllers or whatnot to see if they're truly dead. And I've developed a nice green system around it: all batteries that flunk the test are put into a bag that periodically gets emptied at a battery recycling collection spot.
One more thing... FindingKing promised a fast delivery date and the package arrived even sooner than that. And shipping was free. Well done!
Bought this tester because we have a camera that seems to chew up batteries (Nikon P50). Also, have learned that rechargeable batteries discharge even on the shelf. We use the tester to check batteries before putting in the camera and after taking them out when the camera says it needs new batteries. From this practice we have learned where the critical points are on the scale and don't pay attention to the green and red areas. We dont' see a need for a more sophisticated tester.
I bought one that didn't work, they sent another but it didn't work either. I took them to a tech friend and he deteremed the meters are dead. This net site claims they test everything before it is sent to buyers. BUYER BEWARE!!!'
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