Hope everyone had a great weekend and holiday.

I've searched the archives and know the general consensus is carbon pile is the way to go for testing batteries,but no one mentioned specifically which one to purchase.

I've looked an amazon/eBay but want a decent one and don't think a 60$ OTC will hold up. Seems like they only test to 100 amps which would be only a 200 cca battery....correct?

I know everyone talks about the old snap on vat but those are gone. I saw a few posts mentioned the " minute man" machine by OTC, that was around $2k, not really looking to spend that, unless that's a really solid machine. I read in the archives that a few people had them and did like them, that's was years ago, 2008 if I remember correctly.

I'd like an adjustable load tester, used in shop setting, fairly regularly.

I don't mind paying for quality, I don't like buying the same tool twice because I should have just got the better one to begin with. Took me many years in this trade to learn that. Regret not listening to my dad on that, but I digress.

Thanks for any info or links, carbon pile was on the way out when I was starting.

Right now I use snap on micro vat with attached amp clamp, and a solar tester. I also use my scope in the manner Mr Albin Moore describes, but sometimes don't have time for it. I had an old OTC one that was purple that I loved, but the clamps stopped working. That particular tester worked amazing. Rarely gave me false results.

Don Yocum

Don Yocum
Technician/Manager
Santa Monica Motors
Santa Monica, California, USA