Do you need to test the load, CCA value, voltage, and internal resistance of your 12V car battery? If so, you may find this car battery tester a worthwhile investment.
The ANCEL BA101 is a reliable, versatile, and affordable 12V automotive battery tester compatible with multiple battery types and vehicles. It is the perfect vehicle maintenance tool for testing and diagnosing the charge status, internal resistance, cold cranking amps (CCA), voltage, and overall health of your car battery. It can also conduct a full electrical evaluation by checking the starting and charging systems. The fast, accurate diagnostic results will appear on the digital display screen as soon as testing is complete.
Here are some of the features you will find in this device:
Plug-and-Play Design
The BA101 is a user-friendly device designed for beginners and professional technicians to use right away. It features a convenient plug-and-play design with a bright, easy-to-read LCD screen that is easy to read, even under the hood in low-lit conditions. The heavy-duty cable and crocodile clips are long enough to reach the battery while you comfortably hold or rest the device. With its compact, lightweight (5 oz) design, handling the device won’t be a struggle.
Accurate Diagnostic Results in Seconds
The advanced crocodile clips are made of high-quality copper. They will place a firm, secure grip on the battery terminals to ensure maximum conductivity during diagnostic testing. The accuracy rate is 99.6%, so you can definitely rely on the data being presented on the LCD screen. The results typically appear on the screen within seconds after running the diagnostic test.
You will see indicators like “good, recharge;” “good battery;” “bad cell, replace;” “replace;” or “charge, retest.” They will tell you everything you need to know about what to do next regarding your battery’s condition. It is a good idea to refer to the owner’s manual for further clarification on what you should do after getting these readings, but they pretty much speak for themselves.
Power-Free Operation
No power adapter or wall charger is needed. In fact, you don’t even need to plug the BA101 device into the wall or install batteries to turn it on. The BA101 runs entirely on the 12V car battery. As soon as you attach the clips to the battery, the screen will turn on. It saves time and effort by eliminating the need to deal with external parts and wires.
Multi-Language Support
Anyone who prefers a language other than English will be happy to know that the BA101 offers multilingual support. You can choose to receive the diagnostics report, details, and print record in one of several global languages, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, and German. It is one more way in which the BA101 is universally compatible, not just with cars but also with people.
Safety Shield Pro
The BA101 is built with a Safety Shield Pro system that combines four safeguards into one device. It is essentially a series of comprehensive protection layers that safeguard your battery from damage by neutralizing potential polarity reversals, overvoltage, short circuits, or overcurrent. It is precision-engineered to ensure you get the most life out of your battery and battery tester.
Global Standards and Compliance
What truly sets the BA101 car battery tester apart from other testers is its compliance with global battery standards. It complies with the major international battery rating standards and organizations, including IEC, MCA, CA, GB, BCI, SAE, DIN, EN, and JIS. So, whether your vehicle was manufactured in Japan, Germany, or the United States, the BA101 will be compatible with it.
The BA101 Pro & Plus Upgrade Models – What’s Different?
There are two more advanced upgrades to the original BA101 model you can choose if you don’t mind spending a little extra on your tester. They address some of the few limitations of the standard BA101 model. Perhaps one of the biggest limitations addressed is its compatibility with other non-12V type batteries.
For instance, the BA101 Pro upgrade model supports testing for 12V and 24V lead-acid batteries. That means it can help test for cars as well as 24V trucks, boats, tractors, and RVs. You will also enjoy an upgraded 2.8” TFT high-contrast color screen, whereas the standard model only had a smaller monochrome screen.
The BA101 Plus upgrade model supports 12V and 6V lead-acid batteries, including AGM flat-plate, flooded regulator, Gel, and AGM spiral batteries. 6V battery testing lets you test vehicles and devices that typically require less battery power, such as golf carts, security systems, and some vintage cars. The Plus has a color screen and a graphical operating system that graphs the starting cycle and charging system.
The Verdict
The ANCEL BA101 is a wonderful 12V battery tester for the average car owner with a 12V battery in their vehicle, such as a pickup, sedan, or SUV. It is also the most affordable option, as you can usually find it for under $50 on e-commerce platforms like Amazon. Even though it doesn’t have the fancy graphing technology or color screen, it still gives you quick Pass or Fail results. That is the main thing.
All you have to do is remember to enter the correct AH value to ensure you get accurate results. If you don’t enter the AH value correctly, you will get incorrect results. Batteries with less than 30 AH are not supported. You can also enter the CCA value using the battery test feature. You should be able to find the CCA value on your car battery label.
The biggest downside of the BA101 is that it is only restricted to 12V car batteries. If that’s okay with you, then the BA101 is a good investment. However, if you need to test a 24V or 6V battery, you will need to choose the Pro or Plus upgrade models, respectively.
The Pro is ideal for those with heavy-duty trucks, buses, or agricultural equipment running on 24V batteries. The Plus is better if you need to test the batteries of smaller vehicles with 6V batteries, such as motorcycles, jet skis, and golf carts.
