Topdon BT200 Battery Tester Review

When it comes to ensuring the health of your vehicle's battery, we've got a couple of options. We can use a voltmeter to check the static voltage looking for around 12.6V on 100% charge. We can also crank the engine over monitoring that battery voltage and if it drops below 9.6V, that indicates that we've got a possible internal resistance problem.

However, the multimeter method, involving basic voltage diagnostic checks, proves to be rather crude. It doesn't consider essential factors like battery type, size, ambient temperature, or the precise science behind load testing. Simply cranking the engine and checking the voltage might not provide an accurate diagnosis.

Topdon BT200 offers a more accurate and targeted test result compared to traditional methods.

To address these limitations, specialized tools like the Topdon BT200 Battery Tester step in. This powerful device caters to a variety of batteries and sizes, offering a more accurate and targeted test result compared to traditional methods. The device, equipped with robust battery clamps, comes neatly packaged in a foam case, ensuring both durability and ease of use.

Putting it to the Test: Good Battery vs. Bad Battery

Note: For best results, make sure you connect directly to the battery clamps. Some batteries are hidden inside the car, under a seat or in the boot area, and if you test at the jump post points under the bonnet, then you could get mixed results.

Testing a Good Battery

Once we've connected up to the battery, our next step involves identifying the battery details, or its specifications. After searching for the battery details, we determine that this battery adheres to the AGM 680 EN standard.

The battery's health registers at 55%, capable of supplying 505 amps, with a charge of 86 at 12.5V. Additionally, we've got a really low internal resistance of 4.48 milliohms, indicating its robust condition.

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Proceeding with the test, we’ve got good results.

Testing a Suspected Bad Battery

We then connected up the tester to a battery that I suspect of being in not the greatest condition. This is a regular flooded battery. Like what we did before, we need to find the battery details. It seems like finding the details is the most difficult part of doing a battery test on on any of these batteries. So to determine the battery's rating, I had to loosen the clamp and tilt it to access the information on the back. The data reveals that it's a 380 CCA battery. The TopDon battery charge gives us a range of different standards that we can choose from. It doesn't matter which one you use as long as it aligns with the specifications on the battery.

After selecting the appropriate standard, we initiate the test and promptly receive the result indicating a need for replacement. This really isn't a good battery. We can see the battery’s health at 30% health with the ability to supply 210 amps, which is far from ideal. Despite registering a 60% charge, it's evident that voltage alone does not accurately reflect the battery's condition. Additionally, the significantly higher internal resistance of 14 milliohms further confirms its poor state.

Despite registering a 60% charge, it's evident that voltage alone does not accurately reflect the battery's condition.

Crank Test and Charging System Evaluation

Let's proceed with the crank test, and it's no surprise what the outcome will be. As expected, the test results in a failure, with a low voltage of 9.5V recorded over 2.6 seconds to crank the engine. If your battery is failing due to a low state of charge and no other issues are detected, then you would want to find out why.

We've also got the charging test integrated into this battery tester and if we run that, we'll be able to check the condition of the alternator charging system. After connecting and initiating the test, we can see that we’re being asked to increase the rpm to 2500 for five seconds before hitting enter. The results reveal a normal charging system, with a loaded voltage of 14.3V, unloaded voltage of 14.5 volts, and a ripple of 20 millivolts. So no need for us to interpret all of those measurements; the TopDon BT200 just does it all for you automatically.

No need to manually interpret the measurements, as this device provides automatic analysis, simplifying the process.

Final Thoughts

In summary, the TopDon BT200 proves to be an excellent tool. If I had my own workshop, I'd certainly have something like this knocking around the shop. TopDon has established a reputable presence in the automotive industry, evident from various online communities. Compared to traditional methods like using a voltmeter, the BT200 offers superior accuracy and reliability in battery testing. This is particularly beneficial when advising customers on battery replacement, providing them with a dependable assessment rather than guesswork. With the BT200, you have good solid results to rely on and it beats guessing any day.

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