A battery load tester measures the power left in a battery. A UPS battery tester can be used for small and large batteries, up to batteries for heavy duty industrial vehicles. A battery tester with adjustable settings is recommended, but you can also purchase battery testers that output a simple pass/fail reading.

To choose the right type of battery load testers for the right situation, refer to manufacturer recommendations. A battery charger tester with manual adjustments may look difficult to use, but you can learn how to adjust these settings to get the proper reading. For battery testers education and training, look for opportunities like:

1. Online training to learn about testers.

2. Seminars that teach procedures for an UPS, 12v, or AA battery tester.

3. Classroom training for learning the basics of a battery tester.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find online courses to learn UPS battery testing techniques

There are many online courses that can teach you how to use UPS and other types of battery testers. Courses often focus on testing a specific type of battery, such as industrial batteries or automotive batteries. Courses also provide training how to use simple and advanced battery testers.

I recommend: Alber provides many training opportunities to learn more about battery testers, including online training modules, classes and seminars. Kevin Sullivan's Autoshop101 provides online training classes that can guide you through using car battery testers.

Attend classroom training for battery conductance tester training

You can also attend classroom training to learn battery testing. This is helpful for many who already know how to use simple battery testers and want to move on to more advanced technologies. Classroom training provides hands-on experience and often continuing education credits as well.

I recommend: The AVO Training Institute offers a two-day course on batteries maintenance and testing. This course is designed for those who already have a background in electricity or battery systems. IDC Technologies provides a course on UPS battery systems that is available both on-site and online.

Train to use a battery load tester at a seminar

Many manufacturers hold seminars to teach people how to use their battery testers. Some seminars are held online, while others are presented in person to those who attend industry events. Both types of seminars teach attendees how to use a specific type of battery tester and troubleshoot issues.

I recommend: Battery Power, Products & Technology Magazine offers webinars and other types of training courses for the battery industry. Classes cover topics like best practices, technologies and equipment training. Battcon, a battery industry trade show, provides three seminars where you can learn more about batteries and technologies used to create and test battery power.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want more training for a specific battery tester, consult the battery tester user guide provided by the manufacturer.

Battery testers can help you save time and energy by providing an instant barometer of the performance and efficiency of your batteries, no matter the size. Battery testers come in many forms, from an AA battery tester to a 12 volt battery tester. Also available is the UPS battery tester, which helps ensure a continuous power supply for places such as hospitals.

Battery testers are sold at a wide range of prices, depending on the type and size of battery to be tested. Investing in a good battery load tester or UPS battery tester is important because you not only want your back-up power sources to work in the event of a power failure, you also want to make sure you are not wasting money that could otherwise be used for more important aspects of your business. Some of the benefits of battery testing include:

1. Determining how much time you have before the batteries die.
2. Planning the timing for replacing batteries.
3. Finding weak batteries or poor connections with regular use of battery testers.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for battery testers online

Find some of the best battery testers at great values from online sites specializing in this type of energy-saving technology. From an AA battery tester to the latest battery load tester, these sites have it all.

I recommend: Thomas Distributing is a great online source for battery testers such as battery load testers, as is Battery-Web.com. Battery Mart also offers a good online selection of battery testers and battery load banks.

Find reputable battery tester producers

The battery testers you buy should come from reputable producers who test and re-test their products for optimum performance and efficiency. Look to these battery tester producers for good quality products backed up by thorough research and testing procedures.

I recommend: Mobile Power Solutions continues to perfect routine testing for cycle life, discharge rate and more. Calright Instruments produces testers that can determine battery performance and remaining life while the battery is in service. Sarel Electronics produces "cell recovery analyzers" made to check batteries for multiple applications.

Use battery testers from an eco-friendly angle

Battery testers help you get the maximum life and efficiency out of your batteries, so they're perfect for those running green-conscious businesses. Look to these sources for environmentally conscious battery testers and equipment, such as products for UPS battery testing.

I recommend: GreenBatteries sells green-approved battery testers, while Living Echo puts its stamp of approval on a number of battery testers and rechargeable batteries.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Battery testers don't just tell you how much juice is left in your batteries. Battery testers can also tell you if your batteries are properly connecting to ensure maximum power efficiency. Be sure to purchase battery testers with these capabilities.

Battery testers determine the condition of batteries with either a load test or a signal analysis of the battery. Electronic battery testers typically provide output values, which the user may use to determine the need for recharging or replacing a storage battery. These values may include parameters such as the battery capacity, charge state and the existence of any battery defects. Modern battery testers draw very small currents and will not weaken the battery to any significant extent. They are frequently hand-held devices that do not require heavy cables.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Ampere-hour

An ampere-hour is the amount of charge that will allow a battery to discharge one ampere of steady current for one hour. One ampere-hour is also equal to 3600 coulombs.

I recommend: TechTarget provides a formal definition of ampere-hour and also discusses the milliampere hour. This value is one thousandth of an ampere-hour, and is a common unit of measure for computer batteries.

Acceptance test

An acceptance test uses a controlled discharge of a new battery to calculate its actual capacity. This is a common test performed by many battery testers.

I recommend: Remy Battery provides a more detailed description of an acceptance test.

Battery capacity

Battery capacity is the measure of a battery's electric capacity and is typically expressed in units of ampere-hours. A battery's capacity may also be given in watt-hours by multiplying the ampere-hours value by the battery's voltage.

I recommend: Rechargeable Phone Batteries provides a more detailed description of battery capacity.

Voltage

Voltage is the difference in electrical potential between two points of a circuit, and is expressed in units of volts. Battery testers frequently provide readings in terms of volts.

I recommend: BatteryEducation.com provides a detailed definition of voltage and also describes several specific types of voltage.

Battery internal resistance

Battery internal resistance is a calculated value that is used to model the internal chemical behavior of a battery. Battery testers frequently use this value to estimate the life of a battery.

I recommend: BK Precision provides a glossary of common terms for battery testers, including battery internal resistance.

Specific gravity

Specific Gravity (SG) is the weight-to-volume ratio of an object. The SG is used by some battery testers to determine the current capacity of a wet cell battery.

I recommend: Energy Technologies defines the SG as it pertains to battery testers and also provides a variety of other definitions related to batteries and electricity.