Product Description

The ZTS Mini Multi-Battery Tester (Mini-MBT) provides a comprehensive means of testing more than 15 battery types. The Mini-MBT's microprocessor-based design makes battery testing simple - using a patented, high accuracy pulse load test. After a fully automatic test cycle, percentage of remaining battery capacity is indicated on the LED bar display. Battery types are clearly labeled next to appropriate contacts. There are no settings, and test results are easy to understand. Its small size makes it ideal for the gadget bag, toolbox, or home utility drawer. Negative test lead/probe conveniently stores in seam at side. Tests 1.5v alkaline (AA, AAA, C, D, N), 1.2v NiMH/NiCd, 3v photo lithium, and 9v alkaline. Uses 4 AAA batteries (not included). Advantage of Pulse Load Technology. Battery performance is very important in today's electronic devices. The Mini-MBT computes the battery's actual remaining power capacity using a 2-second pulse load test. This pulse load simulates the real power demand that batteries experience in a high drain electronic device. So battery performance is measured, not just voltage. The load is automatically disconnected, so testing will not harm or drain the battery. Made in U.S.A. Patents 6,823,274 and D515444.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2639 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: ZTS
• Model: Mini Multi-Battery Tester
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Features

• Made In U.S.A.

Customer Reviews

True Load Testing Makes This One of the Best
One of the problems with most (less-expensive) battery testers is that they only check for voltage remaining in a battery. Even an 80% used battery can show nearly full rated voltage, and it is only when a load is placed on the battery that a true assessment is possible. Our college AV department goes through lots of batteries for DVD remotes, wireless mics, etc., and the other cheaper testers were not providing accurate results. This unit (and its big brother model) use an electronic circuit to test the battery for approximately two seconds under an electrical load. While doing this, the LED's light back and forth, and then the tested capacity is displayed. I highly recommend this unit for consumers and professionals alike. it is easy to use and very accurate. If you use a lot of button cell batteries, or lithium batteries (either AA or specialized camera/camcorder lithium ion batteries), you should probably purchase the larger ZTS MBT-1. The MBT-1 costs over twice as much and is larger in size, but consider that model for most versatility.

Questionable Reliability
I like the concept behind this tester, and it performs reasonably well; however, I have encountered two problems that made me give it only three stars. First, I agree with the one reviewer who suggested testing a battery more than once. I have found that to be confident of a reading, you need to test at least three times, because its readings are not always consistent. I have had it give me a zero reading on the first try and 100% readings on the second and third tries. Second, I have no confidence whatsoever in its readings on C123 batteries. I tested three batteries which came out of three separate cameras and got zero readings on all three. Since the batteries were still functioning well in the three cameras, I became suspicious. I have an old Radio Shack analog tester which does not have a specific setting for 3V batteries, so I set the tester for 1.5V. Each battery made the needle fly to the farthest point on the scale, so I figured there had to be more than zero juice in the batteries. When I put the batteries back in their respective cameras, each of the cameras' battery strength indicators showed a full reading for the batteries. Consequently, I do not have any confidence at all for the tester's 123 readings. It has worked well when testing AA alkalines and NIMH batteries (again, as long as I test three times). Although I like the tester, I would hesitate to recommend it because of the problems I have encountered.

Saves me money!
This battery tester has already paid for itself. If a toy (or electronic gadget) is running slow, I remove and test all the batteries. Each time I found that some of the batteries still had 80% life in them, while others were dead. Before I had this tester, I would replace all the batteries. Now I can replace only the dead ones. It is great!