Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $58.30
Sale Price: $35.86
Today's Bonus: 38% Off
This device is a carbon pile load tester.
A carbon pile load tester works by applying a calibrated load to the battery (the load is essentially a large carbon resistor that heats up when voltage is applied).
To properly test using this method, the battery must be at least 75% charged. A good battery should be able to supply half its cold cranking amps (CCA) rating for 15 seconds without dropping below 9.5 volts (if you want to test batteries that are not fully charged you'll need to purchase an electronic tester which tests by measuring the internal resistance of the battery.)
IMPORTANT NOTE: This unit (by design) will get hot and might initially produce some smoke if there is any foreign matter on the resistor element.
*** UPDATE: The rocker switch on my unit MELTED rendering the tester useless ***
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Remember, this unit is a carbon pile testerin other words, uses a thick carbon resistor to apply a heavy load across the battery terminals to load test the battery. Works flawlessly from the first, and I use this unit daily in my lawnmower shop it is a huge time-saver over "test by elimination" methods, and has successfully tested several dozen batteries and going strong. As long as unit is maintained (keep it clean and in a toolbox where dust won't settle on the carbon resistors) you'll be happy to have this unit in your shop. If you leave it out or splatter oil on it, obviously it will smoke as the debris burns off from the hot carbon pile resistor.
It does not test a discharged battery (but if a 12V battery does not have 12 volts, even after charging, it's obviously bad) but a quick charge from a charger and a quick, very brief load test to burn off surface charge easily lets me know whether to continue charging the battery or condemn it right away.
For a small shop that does not need the advanced features of a resistance circuit computerized battery tester, this unit is well worth the investment. (we use different procedures for charging system testing, depending on the equipment being serviced, so it is not always possible to test these charging systems we work with with an advanced computerized unit, so.. )
Only complaint I have with this unit is the cables are maybe a little short, and quite stiff. It'd be nicer if the cables at least had more flexibility to them, or were about 6 to 10 inches longer some places it is a little clumsy to hook it on to the battery, while holding up the tractor seat at the same time, and other places the battery is slightly recessed. smaller clamps to fit in tight spots, and more flexible cables, and this unit would be *perfection*
Best Deals for Schumacher BT-100 100 amp Battery Load Tester
Besides checking batteries on my car and truck I have several other deep cycle batteries for RV and other purposes. This unit provides an easy and quick way to know if the batteries are healthy and expected to last awhile. Yes, the tester did smoke slightly during it's first use, but it's expected to 'burn in' when new, like a muffler on a new car. The BT-100 looks and feels like a quality piece of equipment, is handy to have around and a good buy from Amazon.
Honest reviews on Schumacher BT-100 100 amp Battery Load Tester
I purchased one of these from Amazon about a month ago. My issue...I have an on-board battery charger in my bass boat, so I simply plug in from a remote plug and end up not checking/maintaining my three boat batteries as often as I should. So, when I went to use the boat the first time this year, I did check the water level in my starting battery and found it low (below the top of the plates). I had charged it to put away last year, but wasn't sure if I should trust it this year. So I ordered this, followed the instructions to load test the battery, and found it good. Without this, I would have probably just bought a new battery "to be safe". So save one battery. I have also used it to test the JD lawn tractor battery, the battery for my wood splitter, my trolling motor batteries, and both my vehicle batteries. I also keep a couple spare 12v batteries. One tested bad, so I could dispose of that, otherwise I may have just had that sitting around and kept trying to keep it periodically topped off with a 2A trickle charger.
So, I figure it has already paid for itself, and I'm a light user. Now my brother can check his batteries too. Yes, I recommend!
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Schumacher BT-100 100 amp Battery Load Tester
i have use several like this, my snap-on one broke and was going to cost me 5 time what i paid for this one to fix it !
great in all shops. I use mine on anything that got a battery;golfcarts ,farm tractors, equipment, you name it.
good tool for the money and it is nice to trouble shoot the charging system.
the only bad i wish the cables were a foot longer, but only in some instances.
great tool -great price a++++++
thanks rusty
