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This is the ANCEL battery tester I got off Amazon. It has several functions, all outlined in the user manual, but let’s be honest: most people are just going to clip it on a battery and run a quick test.
So that’s exactly what I did, on my truck, completely cold.
Quick take
- Clip it on and it powers up. No separate power needed
- Quick Test is all most people will use
- Clear results: health, cold cranking amps, charge level, resistance and rating
- Step-by-step prompts for the other tests
- The catch: you need your battery’s rating off its sticker to enter before the test
What’s in the box
It comes with the tester itself with its battery clips, a USB cable that plugs into the side for data (I’m assuming it’s for software updates), the full user manual and the packaging it ships in.
How the quick test went
I attached the negative clip to the negative terminal, then the positive to the positive, and the unit powered on by itself.
The menu has Quick Test, Battery In Vehicle, Out of Vehicle, Waveform, Review Data, Print Data and System Setup. For buttons, you get enter, up, down and exit.
I hit Quick Test. It saved my last settings from a test I did before filming, but you can adjust the rating. Your battery will typically have a sticker with it on there. Mine was 70 amp hours, so I hit enter to run the test at that.
The result came back at 100% health and 831 cold cranking amps, along with the charge level, resistance and rating. That’s pretty good, because the battery itself is rated at 760 cold cranking amps. The screen showed GOOD BATTERY.
The other functions
I didn’t really read through the manual, because most people aren’t going to. If you go to Battery In Vehicle or Crank Test and hit enter, it tells you what to do at each step. Out of Vehicle asks you which type of battery you’re testing.
Things to know before you buy
- Have your battery’s rating handy. You enter it before the test, and it’s on the battery sticker.
- It remembers your last settings, so double-check them when you switch vehicles.
What I didn’t cover
I only ran the quick test. I didn’t walk through the crank, waveform or print functions, or how it does on other battery types.
Install notes
Clip the negative on first, then the positive. Work with the vehicle off, and keep the clips from touching each other.
Specs from the Amazon listing
These come from the Amazon listing title. I didn’t test them myself:
- ANCEL BA101 12V digital car battery tester and alternator meter
- 100-2000 CCA load capacity
- Charging and cranking analyzer for truck, boat, RV, marine and more
Who it’s for
Good fit if you: want a quick battery health check at home, or keep a toolbox for the car.
Maybe skip it if you: already have a full diagnostic setup in your shop.
Bottom line
Overall, I think this is a really handy unit and a good addition to anybody’s workshop, or just your at-home toolbox, so you can test it yourself if you have any issues with your car.
Price and availability change on Amazon, so check the listing for current details.
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