The Automotive Blog

Current Drain Tester – Battery Diagnostics

aide automotive MOT & Car Garage Workshop Equipment

The Current Drain Tester has been specifically designed to assist a technician with a Battery Parasitic Current Drain test. The purpose of the test is to assess and analyse the level of parasitic current drain from a vehicles’ battery during its shutdown and sleep periods. The Vehicle Battery Current Drain Tester is manufactured in the UK using quality IEC61010 components and offers durable performance for the vehicle workshop environment.

A test box that has mounted banana plugs and sockets enabling you to make quick, reliable and repeatable connections to a multimeter, oscilloscope and test leads. The box also contains a fast acting 15A 600V ‘meter saver’ fuse for continual protection of your test instrument and a switchable 15A automotive link fuse enabling a quick check on first connection and the ability to disconnect your instrument without disturbing the vehicles’ electrical system.

Included
A set of 1m black and red banana plug leads (longer lengths available).
A set of black and a red 36A 1000V large jaw crocodile clips.

So why & How….

Analysing the status of a vehicles’ battery is a common procedure to assess the engine start-up function and also determine the working health of the charging system. Battery diagnostics enables accurate fault finding and helps identify a potential component failure (e.g starter motor or alternator). If the engine start-up and charging system are tested and both deemed fully functional, yet the engine start-up issues continue then investigation into battery Parasitic Current Drain is the next step.

Parasitic Current Drain can be defined as any electrical device that draws electric current when the ignition key is turned off. As technology installed in new vehicles continues to develop, the demand on power required from the vehicles battery also increases. The understanding and diagnosis of Parasitic Current Drain is a basic task that can be made overly difficult with the use of insufficient or poor test equipment. Vehicle technology is likely to continue to advance and the Current Drain Tester Kit will ensure technicians are able to perform Parasitic Current Drain tests across all vehicles with improved speed and accuracy.

Voltage drop values are commonly measured with an Automotive Digital Multimeter and Parasitic Current Drain is commonly monitored on an Oscilloscope. A Low Amp Current Clamp can monitor the various stages of the vehicle shutdown period, where all on-board computers carry out functions that ensure working-operation of the vehicle when the driver returns.

Parasitic Current Drain testing relies on capturing current readings whilst accurately simulating the designated working environment of the vehicle.

Benefits Of The Current Drain Tester Kit

Link fuse offers testing versatility – Quickly and safely take a reading with added protection from a large current. Offers the capability to remove the test instrument by switching IN the 15A fuse and perform other multimeter tasks without the risk of disturbing the vehicles’ battery connection or inadvertently waking up the vehicles’ system as it performs the system shutdown.

Provides a reliable method of testing – Better alternative to the ineffective traditional troubleshooting method of circuit fuse removal testing. This type of intrusive testing could increase parasitic drain as disconnecting a memory supply (fuse) and reconnecting will wake the on-board computer, distorting any readings you may have captured.
Inline fast acting fuse to protect the Multimeter or Oscilloscope being used for test.

Uses IEC-610101 certified components and housed in a non-conductive sealed box for technician safety.

Contact aide automotive to purchase  – 0115 8456471

12 Volt Car Current Drain Tester – Battery Diagnostics

Truck Bus, Coach Winter Battery Test
Cold Weather Means Vehicle Battery Tests More Beneficial
Cold weather is especially hard on Car, Van, Truck, Bus & Coach batteries.

According to AAA’s Automotive Research Center, at 0°F, a car’s battery loses about 60 percent of its strength, during cold temperatures starting an engine can take up to twice as much current as needed under normal conditions.

Cold weather inhibits the chemical reaction necessary to make a battery work, which is often the reason you may have trouble starting a vehicle on a cold winter morning! Cold weather together with a lack of vehicle usage, especially over the festive period, every year leads to high numbers of assistance call outs.

During the cold winter months, the last thing is a breakdown due to vehicle battery problems. A vehicle battery’s ability to charge is also reduced in the cold weather.

Charge and test is the recommendation for all garages while service or MOT-ing vehicles this winter.

Charging batteries will replace the lost capacity that modern day gadgets use, a vehicles recharging circuit will only replace the lost capacity through driving. Sat navs, mobiles phones and DVDs for example could slowly discharge a battery and cause a flat battery breakdown.

aide automotive have been marketing the Midtronics Battery Tester for over 10 years, with some great customer response over this period the Midtronics range offer ease of use and accurate diagnose compared to other cheaper models.

aide automotive have a range of new and used Midtronics Testers, with some used testers in perfect condition offering a good saving from a new tester.

To equip a workshop with a excellent tester before the winter hits and keep vehicles on the road contact use by clicking on Midtronics Battery Tester and ask for pricing and specification of 12 volt Battery Testers or 24 Volt System Testers.

Midtronics MDX 655P 24 Volt Truck/Bus/Coach Battery Tester

Truck & Car Battery Tester On Offer – Ex demo

A Midtroincs Inspect 65 Ex Demo battery tester on offer!!

This is a top of the range intelligent battery Tester/Analyzer which also tests starter draw, charge rate and alternator with & without loads including diode ripple test and voltmeter.

Midtronics products have proved to be one of the most accurate battery testers.

The inspect 65 has:
Digital display (battery voltage, condition and available power)
Provide a test code for warranty (BMP version only)
Enable wireless printing to an optional portable printer through a built-in IR communication port.
Offers the option of transmitting test data to a PC through an IR receiver for management and storage.
Function as voltmeters and as quality control devices capable of testing up to 200 batteries in succession.
Integrates the in-vehicle battery test with a starting system test.
Provides a charging system analysis by taking multiple measurements while the charging system is exercised and at idle to determine if it is capable of charging the battery while supplying the necessary power for the electrical system.
Includes a dynamic response test during the charging system analysis for 100% decisive results
Tests 6-12V starting systems and 12-24V charging systems

RRP: £1,627.90

We are looking to offer this tester for just £300 + vat

Excellent condition with the option to add a printer, new or used!
Call aide automotive on 0115 8456471

Truck & Car Battery Tester On Offer – Ex demo

Hybrid Car Safe To Service Kit

Safe To Service Kit Interest Grows

aide automotive have introduced a Hybrid Car Safe to Service Tool Kit to help garages acquire the correct SAFE tools.

With a growing number of enquiries and orders for the Hybrid Car Safe To Service Kit, aide automotive have now created a stock of kits to meet the demand.

aides director Matt Burke commented “When we first introduced the kit in 2013 there was little interest, although with the increasing demand for Hybrid vehicles, hybrid cars now being serviced in local garages, the Hybrid kit has seen increased interest and orders. We now have completed a stock of the kits in our warehouse in Nottingham for immediate dispatch.”

The Hybrid Car Safe to Service Tool Kit contains a CAT III 1000V Multimeter, Cables, Probes & Clips – Hybrid Safe! CAT III 1000V Protective Gloves Warning Sign 8mm & 10mm CAT III Spanners 10mm CAT III nut spinner & Boric Acid Solution.

Please read more by clicking on the link Hybrid Car Safe to Service Tool Kit

The Hybrid Car Safe to Service Tool Kit is supplied as below but if extra items are required such as the protective gloves, we are happy to quote as requested.

Hybrid full kit including: CAT III 1000V Multimeter, Cables, Probes & Clips – Hybrid Safe! CAT III 1000V Protective Gloves Warning Sign 8mm & 10mm CAT III Spanners 10mm CAT III nut spinner & Boric Acid Solution.

Price – Hybrid Safe To Service Kit – £249.00 + carriage & vat
Contact aide automotive to review or purchase your Hybrid Car Service & Test Tool Kit today! Call 0115 8456471

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Tool Kit – enables safe isolation of all high voltage systems

aide automotive Stock A Range of Second & New Midtronics Printers

Midtronics is committed to using there patented technologies to satisfy many customers.

Midtronics products products are carefully crafted and easy-to-use, with an impressive growth and success in worldwide transportation and stationary power markets, Midtroncis Battery Testers are talked about as the Rolls Royce of Battery Testers.

aide automotive offer a range of battery testers for commercial vehicle battery testing, with this we also offer a range of replacement parts, a repair service and new or second hand products.

At present we have a range of 2nd hand printers in a very good condition.

Midtronics Printer Infrared Printer A087

The Midtroncis Infrared printer is used with the following models – EXP-1000, EXP-1000 HD, HYB-1000, MDX-640/650

We can also offer the Charger Adapter for the Midtroncis A087 Infrared Printer & replacement rechargeable batteries.

Prices range from £125 for 2nd hand printers to the RRP of £245 for new Midtronics printers.

If you require a new printer or a back up please call 0115 8456471 or email shoponline@aideautomotive.com.

The Midtroncis Infrared printer is used with the following models – EXP-1000, EXP-1000 HD, HYB-1000, MDX-640/650

This winter maintaining vehicles becomes more important to ensure that everything is working correctly. Employers don’t need stranded vehicles in cold wintery conditions because of issues such as flat batteries. Similarly in winter weather it’s vital to ensure that their vehicles are in top condition, regularly checking the condition of batteries and tyres can prevent accidents in icy conditions. There are a number of  products on the market that assist through the winter.

A vehicle’s battery is not very demanding, and most often only thought about when it fails. But just a small amount of care and mantainence will help insure it doesn’t let you down when you need it most.

Lack of battery care and maintenance combined with cold weather has a way of bringing out the borderline batteries that were fine in the summer, but don’t have the power for a cold weather start. And not just winter, battery care and maintenance is a year round requirement. You want to catch a bad battery before it lets you down, usually on one of the coldest days of the year.

Testing and maintaining a battery is fairly simple and only requires a few basic tools.

If you have a car, van or truck battery, it is highly recommended that you use a good quality battery tester like a Midtronics tester. There are quite a few types of Midtronics testers. The latest MDX665P with built in printer are much easier to read and I don’t have to stand there trying techncial information.

Scania Dealer Keltruck stated “The use of the tester has been excellent on winter service routines and when carrying out vehicle inspections, easy to use and with the benefit of a built in printer we have a hard copy report of the battery state for our records. Winter is a problem time for batteries and poor batteries will cause no starts which is a problem for our customers, testing and reporting healthy batteries will stop no starts and keep our customers vehicles on the road. Furthermore I can add all the products and back up service I have requested from aide automotive has been second to none.”

Midtronics battery tester

aide automotive ltd have promoted Midtronic Battery Testers for many years and have established a great reputation in service and sales.

Testing batteries of any vehicle is a great start to confirm vehicle efficiency. With increased battery technology testing batteries is now a scientific test. Using a multi meter is an unreliable test, and also with testing comes proving.

A Midtronics battery tester is the most up to date and cost effective and easy to use tester. The unique technology makes testing of discharged batteries possible, and once tested, a hard copy print out is available for the customer.

aide automotive ltd have now a range of 12 volt and 24 volt 2nd hand battery testers available.

With the condition of somem of these testers in prime condtion and some looking used prices vary, so please do not hesitate to contact aide automotive ltd on 0115 8456471 or email shoponline@aideautomotive.com

3 In 1 Battery Tester, Charger & Memory Saver

BatteryCheck is a small and compact high performance electronically controlled plug in battery charger and tester, in addition BatteryCheck is also a battery back while repairing or replacing electronic items within a vehicle.

BatteryCheck has been designed from dealer mandated product technology for the everyday MOT or service garage, BatteryCheck’s neat compact design is ideal for a workshop and with microprocessor controlled technology the BatteryCheck offers any workshop a high end product at an affordable price.

BatteryCheck’s will test a battery, the charge status and the functionality of the alternator in one simple process, battery over charging is impossible as the microprocessor controlled technology monitors all functions of the BatteryCheck.

BatteryCheck can be used to test conventional lead-acid, lead-calcium/silver, or sealant type batteries (AGM, MF) as well as maintenance free lead-gel batteries. Able to charge deeply discharged batteries, a reverse polarity protection system is also integrated into the BatteryCheck.

Protective features:

Electronic reverse polarity protection
Thermal overload protection
Safety cut-out
Electronically safe
Short-circuit protection

Charging Capacity:

Charging Voltage 12 Volt
Charging current 6 A
Battery capacity 3-200Ah

BatteryCheck is priced at £159.00 + vat.

Click on 12 Volt Battery Tester for more info.

12 Volt Battery Tester