SE Battery Tester (AAA, AA, C, D, and 9 Volt)
by SE
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List Price: Our Price: $0.43 You Save: $4.07 (90%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of SE Battery Tester (AAA, AA, C, D, and 9 Volt)
Customer Review: rechargeable batteries produce lower votage . . .
Summary: 4 Stars
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.
Customer Review: Does what it's supposed to do
Summary: 4 Stars
It does what it's supposed to do. Seems like most electronics running multiple batteries don't use up all the juice equally among the batteries. The battery tester helps to find which batteries to throw out (recycle) and which to keep. So it pays for itself fairly quickly, as opposed to throwing out all the batteries in an electronics item when it goes dead, when it might be just one or two batteries are dead and the other two still have a charge.
Not sure of the accuracy of the needle though. There are three sections to the read-out on the battery tester: Replace (red); Low (yellow); Good (green). I've found that dead batteries seem to always be in the yellow, and brand new or fully recharged batteries tend to just barely be in the green section. So it doesn't leave much room for error between a brand new fully charged battery and a dead battery. But it's all relative, I guess, and it still does its job of allowing you to determine which batteries are worth keeping and which ones are time to be recycled (or recharged).
It's a nifty little gadget that's worth $4-$8 or so. I wouldn't spend much more than that on it, but at that price I might pick up a handful for stocking stuffers this year for Christmas.
Customer Review: Great Value.....But One Design Flaw
Summary: 4 Stars
This battery tester does all that any more expensive tester needs to do. And at $5.00 and free shipping, (at the time of this writing), its a bargain by any comparison. The only thing I will mention is that the reviewers here that talked about the battery easily slipping out while you're trying to test it are absolutely correct. The very first two batteries I tested on this little unit slipped out and fell on the floor. Its true that it only takes a second to make contact with the push lever for you to see if the battery is any good or not. But since the inside of the tester where the battery lies next too is flat, and not concaved, it only takes a second for the battery to fall out as well. I think most people will be able to test the battery and see the results before it pops out of place without using any elastic bands as some other reviewers have mentioned. And I recommend this tester since its cheap and ships for free. Just be aware that there is definitely an annoying design flaw before you make any decision for yourself.Customer Review: Absolutely Worthless
Summary: 1 Stars
All the batteries test exactly the same, regardless of whether they were used up, or fresh out of the package. I have a lot of batteries, many which have been used up, and they all had the needle show up between the red and the yellow, which would indicate that they need to be replaced. Fresh Alkaline batteries out of the package test in the exact same place. This product is completely worthless in distinguishing between batteries that are low on charge, and fresh good batteries. I tried both AA and AAA batteries, and they all tested to this exact same spot. Yes, this product was cheap, but it is totally worthless, and will only potentially cost you money as you throw out new good batteries, thinking that they need to be replaced. If fresh, never used Duracells and Energizer Max batteries don't get the needle to go up into the yellow area, much less the green, then there is something fundamentally wrong with this device.
Don't waste your money. What a rip-off.
Customer Review: Actually WORKS WELL for the price!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I half expected that this item was going to be a waste of a few bucks. What I got was just what was advertised: a convientent, versitile, basic tester which shows three ranges (good, low, and replace). It tests all of the most popular batteries. I also don't find the hassel of use reported by other customer reviews. I have ADVANCED ARTHRITIS in both hands, and I can test ANY battery with a little patience. The best way that I found to hold it for testing was in my left hand (readout in lower-left corner). With your fingers extended below the sliding arm, to rest the battery on, slowly slide the arm down while slightly pushing the (cylindrical) battery into position. THAT'S IT!!! No big hassel! This tester is fine for everyday use, giving a very good approximation of battery's condition. No more weak or dead batter clutter - a real space save saver. I just may buy one or two more to have on hand: and it also makes a very practical small gift