Battery Tester: An Essential Tool for Winter Prep

Getting your car ready for harsh winter driving conditions is important. According to the people at Clore Automotive, one key part of that preparation should be testing your car’s battery using battery tester equipment.

What is a Battery Tester?

A battery tester is a device that measures the charge level and overall health of a car battery. Here is how they work:

• A small handheld unit with clamps attaches directly to battery terminals.
• Sending a small electrical signal tests battery and voltage.
• Built-in gauge or digital display reads out condition.
• Results say if battery needs recharge or replacement.

Battery testers range from simple and inexpensive models for home use to advanced testers used by mechanics. But even basic models provide the essential tests needed by the average car owner.

Why Winter Weather is Hard on Car Batteries

Cars already face more strain in frigid winter temperatures. Starting takes more power, oil thickens, icy conditions cause traction loss, and road salt corrodes. So the last thing you want is a weak battery making winter driving even harder.

Cold weather itself puts extra strain on batteries. Low temperatures make it harder for battery chemical reactions to produce electricity. A battery providing enough power in summer might struggle once temperatures drop.

In addition, batteries wear out faster from frequent winter starts. The battery needs to work harder cranking the engine against cold, thick oil. The extra strain speeds up battery capacity loss over time. Weak batteries that limped through summer often give out when winter arrives.

Using a Battery Tester in Winter Car Prep

Ahead of winter, battery testers help determine if your battery will manage harsh conditions or leave you stranded in the cold. Testing reveals if your battery needs to be replaced.

The stress of winter driving also means more frequent battery tests are needed. Check every 1-2 months instead of normal twice-a-year tests. Keep a close watch for signs of struggling batteries like dim lights or poor starting. Test again right away if you notice those.

With battery tester equipment, weaknesses show up that predict failure later when it would cause bigger hassles. Finding those weak batteries early keeps wintertime motoring trouble-free.

What to Look for in Battery Test Results

When using your home battery tester ahead of winter, watch for a few key things in results:

• Voltage Reading – Should show 12+ volts on a full charge. If it is lower, it may mean inability to start.
• State of Charge – Check if the tester shows the battery charged to at least 75%. If it is lower, there is a risk of it dying in the cold.
• Condition Rating – Pass/Fail or Good/Weak/Bad readings indicate replacement needs.

Low, weak test results mean your battery might leave you stranded somewhere remote or unable to start on snowy mornings.

Tips for Winter Battery Care

Besides regular battery testing before and during winter, a few other maintenance tips will help:

• Recharge any batteries testing low but still operable.
• Clean corrosion from battery terminals to maximize performance.
• Park vehicles in garages, when possible, to limit cold exposure.
• Limit use of electronics during starts to reserve power.

An ounce of prevention goes a long way for winter battery survival.

Conclusion

With a quality battery tester, you can be confident going into winter that your battery will not fail at the worst possible moment. Checking battery health takes only seconds and that small investment of time provides essential peace of mind against being left stranded by a poor battery as temperatures plummet. Use a tester to find and replace suspect batteries. Keep your battery strong and your winter driving worry-free.