PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. NOTE THE SAFE OPERATIONALREQUIREMENTS, WARNINGS & CAUTIONS. USE
THE PRODUCT CORRECTLYAND WITH CARE FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT IS INTENDED. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY CAUSE DAMAGE AND/OR
PERSONAL INJURYAND WILL INVALIDATE THE WARRANTY. KEEPTHESE INSTRUCTIONS SAFE FOR FUTURE USE.
BATTERY TESTER 6/12V HAND HELD
MODEL NO: BT91/10
Thank you for purchasing a Sealey product. Manufactured to a high standard, this product will, if used according to these instructions,
and properly maintained, give you years of trouble free performance.
Danger! Be aware, lead acid batteries generate explosive gases during normal battery operation, for
this reason, it is very important to read and follow these instructions carefully each time you use
the battery tester.
Follow these instructions in conjunction with those of the battery and vehicle manufacturer, and the maker of any equipment you intend to use in
the vicinity of the battery. Remember to review warning marks on all products and on engines.
Refer to
instruction
manual
Wear eye
protection
Explosive
material
Corrosive
material
Use in a well
ventilated area
Wear
protective
gloves
1. SAFETY
Modern vehicles contain extensive electronic systems.
equipment on each vehicle. No liability will be accepted for damage / injury, where this product is not used in accordance
with all instructions.
1.1. PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS9Ensure there is another person within range of your voice and close enough to come to your aid, should a problem arise when
working near a lead-acid battery.
9Wear safety eye protection and protective clothing. Avoid touching eyes while working near battery.9Have fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts skin, clothing, or eyes.9Wash immediately with soap and water if battery acid contacts skin or clothing. If acid enters eye, flush eye immediately with cool, clean
running water for at least 15 minutes and seek immediate medical attention.
9Remove personal metallic items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches. A lead-acid battery can produce a short-circuit current
which is high enough to weld a ring or the like to metal, which would cause severe burns.
9Ensure hands, clothing (especially belts) are clear of fan blades and other moving or hot parts of engine, remove ties and contain long
hair.
8 DO NOT smoke or allow a spark or flame in the vicinity of battery or engine.
1.2. GENERAL SAFETY
8 DO NOT operate the load test switch for more than 10 seconds at a time. (Failure to release the switch after 10 seconds may
result in the switch burning out and invalidating your warranty.)
9 Familiarise yourself with the application and limitations of the tester as well as the potential hazards. Also refer to the vehicle
manufacturer’s hand book. IF IN ANY DOUBT CONSULT AN ELECTRICIAN. 9Ensure the tester is in good order and condition before use. If in any doubt do not use the unit and contact an electrician.9Only use recommended attachments and parts. To use unapproved items may be dangerous and will invalidate your warranty.9Ensure the tester load switch is ‘Off’ before attaching/detaching the power clamps to/from the battery terminals.9Keep tools and other items away from the engine and ensure you can see the battery and working parts of engine clearly. 9Confirm that the battery to be tested is either 6 or 12 volt before attaching clamps to battery terminals.9Should the unit suffer excessive shock, it must be checked by a qualified service agent before further use.
8 DO NOT dis-assemble the tester for any reason. The tester must only be checked by qualified service personnel.
9If the battery terminals are corroded or dirty clean them with a solution of water and baking soda before attaching the clamps.9Keep children and unauthorised persons away from the working area.
WARNING! To prevent the risk of sparking, short circuit and possible explosion DO NOT drop metal tools in the battery area, or allow them to
touch the battery terminals.
8DO NOT cross connect leads from tester to battery. Ensure positive (+/RED) is to positive and negative (-/BLACK) is to
negative. If symbols cannot be distinguished, remember that the negative terminal is the one directly connected to the vehicle
bodywork.
8DO NOT pull the cables or clamps from the battery terminals.8DO NOT use the tester outdoors, or in damp, or wet locations and DO NOT use within the vicinity of flammable liquids or gases.
9Ensure there is effective ventilation to prevent a build-up of explosive gases, and do not cover or obstruct tester ventilation louvres.
8DO NOT use the tester for a task for which it is not designed.
9When not in use, store the tester carefully in a safe, dry, childproof location.
Tests 6 and 12Volt batteries. Applies load across terminals and reads voltage performance. Also checks charging voltage and starter operation.
Fitted with moving coil meter. Extending post clamps for batteries in conned spaces.
3. OPERATION
WARNING! Ensure you read, understand and apply the safety and operational instructions before connecting the tester clamps
to the battery. Only when you are sure that you understand the procedures is it safe to proceed with the testing process
3.1. Preparation
3.1.1. Check battery casing for cracks or leakage and confirm whether 6 volts or 12 volts.
3.1.2. Clean battery terminals.
3.1.3. If practical, check electrolyte levels and top up with distilled water as required.
3.2. Connection WARNING! Ensure the vehicle or battery is in a well ventilated area before starting to test.
3.2.1. Attach the positive red clamp to the positive (+) battery terminal. Attach the negative black clamp to the negative (-) battery terminal. Use
the extended clamps if necessary. To ensure good electrical contact twist the clamps on the terminals two or three times. Correct
connection indication will sweep the pointer clockwise across the voltage scale; if connected incorrectly the pointer will sweep
anti clockwise. If there is no movement from the pointer, it is either a bad connection or a dead battery.
3.2.2. Ensure that the clamp cables are clear of hot or moving engine parts, especially if a starter or charging test is required. Ventilation slots in the
tester casing should not be obstructed and the meter scale easily visible with access to the load switch.
.
LOAD TEST SWITCH
(limit test time to
10 seconds maximum)
3.3. Battery load test
Note! On the first load test, smoke may be emitted from the louvres in the tester casing, this is normal and temporary.
3.3.1. Press the load switch (red rocker switch on the face of the unit beneath the display) and hold until meter reading stabilises, or for a
maximum of 10 seconds. (Failure to release the switch after 10 seconds may result in the switch burning out and your warranty being
invalidated.) Note the meter reading and then release the load switch.
3.3.2. Compare the meter reading with load test chart (3.4) to determine battery condition.
Notes: a) For 12 volt batteries the green sector (fig.1b) border is marked with nominal cranking current from 500 to 1000
amps and stepped in 100 amp intervals. Record this figure and compare with battery manufacturer’s quoted figure to
give an indication of any deterioration.
b) Battery performance falls at low temperatures and quoted cranking amps should be reduced by 50 amps at 20ºF(-7ºC)
and 100 amps at 0ºF(-18ºC).
3.4. Load test chart
Load Test ResultBattery Condition
OK-Green (g.1b - 12V)
(g.1c - 6V)
Weak or Bad -yellow or red, but
pointer reading steady.
(g.1f/g - 12V)
(g.1d/e - 6V)
Weak or Bad - yellow or red, but
pointer reading falling after 10
seconds on load.
Battery capacity is good. May or may not be fully charged. Check electrolyte specic gravity to determine
charge state. If not fully charged, check for charging system fault (section 3.6) or electrical drain.
Battery capacity is unsatisfactory. Battery may be either:- (1) defective or (2) partly discharged.
Check electrolyte specic gravity. If over 1.225, the battery is defective. If under 1.225, recharge the
battery and retest. If cell to cell specic gravity varies by more than 0.025 a cell defect may exist. If
charging does not bring specic gravity to full charge level, the battery is either sulphated or has lost
active material.
Battery may be defective. Release load switch and note the meter reaction. If the voltage recovers to 12
volts (6 volts for a 6 volt battery) or more in a few seconds, then the battery is probably defective. If the
voltage recovers slowly the battery may only be discharged. Check the electrolyte specic gravity and
Open Circuit Voltage Charge %
12 volt/6 volt battery
11.7/5.8 or lower 0
12.0/6.0 25
12.2/6.1 50
12.4/6.2 75
12.6/6.3 or higher 100
3.5. Battery voltage/charge level
3.5.1. If the load test result indicates a battery fault allow battery to stabilise for a few minutes and then read the open circuit voltage - meter reading
with load switch ‘Off’.
3.5.2. Compare the reading with the Voltage/Charge table above right to get an estimation of the charge level.
3.5.3. The battery is considered charged at 75% or more. If it failed the load test with this charge it should be replaced. If the voltage indicates
a charge level below 75% then charge the battery and load test again. If battery fails this second test replace it.
3.6. Charging system (12 volt)
3.6.1. Start engine and allow to reach normal operating temperature. Switch off all accessories.
3.6.2. Run engine at 1200 to 1500rpm and note meter reading, which should be in the green ‘OK’ sector (fig.1h). DO NOT press the load switch.
3.6.3. Switch on headlights and heater fan (highest speed), meter reading should remain in the green ‘OK’ sector .
3.6.4. A reading in the red sector to the left (fig.1i) indicates a fault in the charging system which will cause the battery to be under charged. A
reading in the red sector to the right (fig.1j) indicates a fault which will cause the battery to be over charged.
Note: Although not marked on the meter scale the ‘OK’ range for a 6 volt charging system is 6.8 to 7.5 volts.
3.7. Starter motor (12 volt)
Note: This test requires that the battery is in good condition and is charged to at least 75% capacity.
3.7.1. Disable ignition system (remove fuse or similar) so that engine will not start.
3.7.2. Carry out a load test (section 3.3.), if not already done, and note voltage reading.
3.7.3. Use the table given below to determine the equivalent minimum cranking voltage. Note that for engines of less than 3.25 litres take the
next higher figure. For example:
a) 3.5 litre engine - load test result 11.0 volts, gives min. cranking voltage of 9.7 volts.
b) 1.5 litre engine - load test result 11.0 volts, gives min. cranking voltage of 10.2 volts
Load voltage 10.2 10.4 10.6 10.8 11.0 11.2 11.4
Min. cranking voltage 7.7 8.2 8.7 9.2 9.7 10.2 10.6
3.7.4. Operate the starter motor and note the voltage during cranking.
3.7.5. A reading below the minimum cranking voltage indicates that the starter motor is taking excessive current. This may be due to poor
connections, to a faulty motor or to the battery being too small for vehicle.
3.7.6. After test reinstate ignition system.
Note: For a 6 volt system test as above and note load test voltage. Double this value and determine equivalent min. cranking voltage
as in 3.7.3. Halve the figure to give minimum cranking voltage for the 6 volt system and then proceed from 3.7.4.
Environmental Protection
Recycle unwanted materials instead of disposing of them as waste. All tools, accessories and packaging should be
sorted, taken to a recycling centre and disposed of in a manner which is compatible with the environment.
When the product becomes completely unserviceable and requires disposal, drain off any fluids (if applicable)
into approved containers and dispose of the product and the fluids according to local regulations.
NOTE: It is our policy to continually improve products and as such we reserve the right to alter data, specications and component parts without prior notice.
IMPORTANT: No liability is accepted for incorrect use of this product.
WARRANTY: Guarantee is 12 months from purchase date, proof of which will be required for any claim.