CONRAD 2588790 VC-BT100 Lead-Acid Battery Tester User Manual

: June 8, 2024
: CONRAD

CONRAD 2588790 VC-BT100 Lead-Acid Battery Tester

Introduction

Dear customer,
Thank you for purchasing this product.
If there are any technical questions, please contact: www.conrad.com/contact

Intended use

This product is a 12 V and 24 V lead-acid type vehicle battery tester.
Contact with moisture must be avoided under all circumstances.
If you use the product for purposes other than those described, the product may be damaged.
Improper use can result in short circuits, fires, electric shocks or other hazards.
The product complies with the statutory national and European requirements.
For safety and approval purposes, you must not rebuild and/or modify the product.
Read the operating instructions carefully and store them in a safe place.
Make this product available to third parties only together with the operating instructions.
All company names and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Features and functions

Battery test
Cranking test
Charging test
Complies with various measuring standards
Applicable to a wide range of vehicles
Reverse connection (polarity) protection

Delivery content

Product
Operating instructions

Up-to-date operating instructions

Download the latest operating instructions at www.conrad.com/downloads or scan the QR code shown. Follow the instructions on the website.

Description of symbols

The following symbols are on the product/appliance or are used in the text:

The symbol warns of hazards that can lead to personal injury.
The symbol warns of dangerous voltage that can lead to personal injury by electric shock.

Safety instructions

Read the operating instructions carefully and especially observe the safety information. If you do not follow the safety instructions and information on proper handling in this manual, we assume no liability for any resulting personal injury or damage to property. Such cases will invalidate the warranty /guarantee.

General information

The device is not a toy. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
Do not leave packaging material lying around carelessly. This may become dangerous playing material for children.
If you have questions which remain unanswered by these operating instructions, contact our technical support service or other technical personnel.
Maintenance, modifications and repairs must only be completed by a technician or an authorized repair center.

Handling

Please handle the product carefully. Jolts, impacts or a fall even from a low height can damage the product.

Operating environment

Do not place the product under any mechanical stress.
Protect the appliance from extreme temperatures, strong jolts, flammable gas- es, steam and solvents.
Protect the product from high humidity and moisture.
Protect the product from direct sunlight.
Do not switch the product on after it has been taken from a cold to a warm environment. The condensation that forms might destroy the product. Allow the product to reach room temperature before you use it.

Operation

Consult an expert when in doubt about the operation, safety or connection of the appliance.
If it is no longer possible to operate the product safely, take it out of operation and protect it from any accidental use.
DO NOT attempt to repair the product yourself. Safe operation can no longer be guaranteed if the product:
- is visibly damaged,
- is no longer working properly,
- has been stored for extended periods in poor ambient conditions or
- has been subjected to any serious transport-related stresses.

Product

People with pacemakers should consult a doctor before use. Electromagnetic fields in proximity can cause pacemaker interference and/or failure.
Always switch the vehicle engine and electrics OFF before connecting the product.
Keep battery contact terminals clean. Contamination can lead to incorrect measurement results.
Risk of eclectic shock! Never use the product with wet hands.
Risk of electric shock! Check the insulation layer of the battery clamps is in normal condition (no damage, bareness, or disconnection).
Use the product in a well-ventilated area. Explosive / noxious gases may be produced / present during use.
Avoid creating sparks when connecting battery leads. Sparking may damage
the vehicle electrical system and/or ignite flammable substances.
Risk of burns! Engines compartments can become dangerously hot after use. Always allow to cool to room temperature before connecting the product.
Risk of eye injury! Always wear eye protection when working around batteries.
Always keep hair, hands, clothing, tester leads, and cords away from the product and vehicle when working.
Always put the vehicle transmission in PARK (automatic transmission) or NEU-TRAL (manual transmission) and make sure the parking brake is engaged.

Product overview

Red (+): Test clamp
Black (-): Test clamp
Display
Control panel
Micro USB: Service port (not for use)

Setting up

Prepare vehicle and battery

Switch accessory loads OFF (e.g. air conditions, lights, radio).
Disconnect / switch OFF items connected to auxiliary power outlets (e.g. GPS, cameras).
Remove the key from the ignition.
Close all doors.
Allow vehicle parts to completely cool down.
Make sure battery terminals are clean.
If the battery has just been fully charged, switch the vehicle headlights ON for approximately 3 minutes to allow the battery voltage to drop to normal value.

Check battery compatibility

The product will test each battery according to the selected system standard and rating marked on the battery.

Check the battery type and CCA (cold cranking ampere) values marked on the battery label.
Check if the battery type is supported by this product.
See section: Technical data.

Connecting and disconnecting the tester cables

The preferred test position is at the battery terminals. If the battery is not accessible, you can test at the battery post.

Important:

Always connect the test leads to battery terminals in the correct order.
If testing at the battery post, the reading may be lower than the actual battery value.

Preconditions

Battery contact terminals are clean.
Vehicle engine and electrics are switched OFF.

Connect the red clamp to the positive (+) terminal.
Connect the black clamp to the negative (-) terminal.
Wiggle the clamps back and forth to ensure proper connection.
If any of the following messages appear, clean the terminals and reconnect the clamps:
“The positive (red test clip) contact is bad, please check”
“The negative (black test clip) contact is bad, please check”
When finished testing, make sure the engine and all electrics are switched OFF.
The engine compartment has completely cooled down.
Disconnect the red clamp.
Disconnect the black clamp.

Operation

Note:

The product will not operate if connected to a completely flat battery.
Only the “Battery test” can be performed on a standalone battery not connected to a vehicle.

Press the EXIT button to enter settings.
Press ▲ / ▼ to scroll through menu items.
Press ENTER to make a selection.

Battery test

Perform this test to determine the overall health of the battery.

Preconditions

(If applicable) vehicle is prepared.
Battery is prepared.
Battery compatibility was checked.
Tester cables are connected.
(If applicable) electrics are switched OFF.

Select “Battery Test”. The battery voltage will show.
Select the vehicle “Type” and “Battery Type.
Select the correct testing standard (shown on the battery rating label).
Select the battery rating values (shown on the battery rating label).
Select the temperature range.
The test results will show.

Battery test results

Result	Description
“GOOD BATTERY”	Continue using battery.
“GOOD-RECHARGE”	Recharge battery then continue use.
“CHARGE&RETEST”

Fully charge the battery and then retest.
Failure to fully charge the battery before retesting may cause inaccurate results.
If “CHARGE&RETEST” appears again after you fully charge the battery, replace the battery.

REPLACE BATTERY|

Replace the battery and retest.
A “REPLACE BATTERY” result may also indicate a poor connection between the battery cables and the battery.
- Disconnect the battery cables,
- Test the battery out-of-vehicle before replacing it.

“BAD CELL-REPLACE”| Replace the battery and retest.

Cranking test

This test indicates the ability of the battery to rotate the crankshaft for engine ignition (time, voltage, and status).

Preconditions

Vehicle and battery are prepared.
Battery compatibility was checked.
Tester cables are connected.
Electrics are switched OFF.

Select “Cranking Test”.
Select the correct battery voltage (shown on the battery rating label).
The test results will show.

Charging test

This test indicates ripple status, loaded voltage, unloaded voltage, and overall charging system status.

Important:

For this test to be effective, vehicle ignition should be ON.
For safety reasons, always perform the setting up procedure before switching engine ignition ON. See section: Setting up.

Preconditions

Vehicle and battery are prepared.
Battery compatibility was checked.
Tester cables are connected.
Vehicle engine ignition is ON, and all electric loads are switched OFF.

Select “Charging Test”.
Select the correct battery voltage (shown on the battery rating label).
Follow the onscreen instructions to test the following states:
“Unloaded”, “Loaded”, “Ripple”.
- The test results will show.

Review data

Review the latest readings for each test.

Select “Review Data”.
Review the last test performed, for example:

Troubleshooting

Problem	Possible cause
Product will not power up when connected to the battery.	The battery is flat.

Recharge or replace the battery.
The test results are not within normal ranges or as expected.|

Check battery rating label data has been entered correctly.
Check any electrical loads / accessories are switched ON / OFF as needed.

Cleaning and care

Important:

Do not use aggressive cleaning agents, rubbing alcohol or other chemical solutions. They damage the housing and can cause the product to malfunction.
Do not immerse the product in water.

Disconnect the product from the power supply.
Clean the product with a dry, fiber-free cloth.

Disposal

This symbol must appear on any electrical and electronic equipment placed on the EU market. This symbol indicates that this device should not be disposed of as unsorted municipal waste at the end of its service life.
Owners of WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) shall dispose of it separately from unsorted municipal waste. Spent batter-ies and accumulators, which are not enclosed by the WEEE, as well as lamps that can be removed from the WEEE in a non-destructive manner, must be removed by end users from the WEEE in a non-destructive manner before it is handed over to a collection point.

Distributors of electrical and electronic equipment are legally obliged to provide free take-back of waste. Conrad provides the following return options free of charge (more details on our website):

in our Conrad offices
at the Conrad collection points
at the collection points of public waste management authorities or the collection points set up by manufacturers or distributors within the meaning of the Electro

End users are responsible for deleting personal data from the WEEE to be disposed of.
It should be noted that different obligations about the return or recycling of WEEE may apply in countries outside of Germany.

Technical data

Product

Operating voltage ……………………. 6 – 30 V/DC
Supported battery voltages ……….. 12 V, 24 V
Supported battery types …………… Regular flooded, AGM flat plate, AGM spiral, GEL, EFB
Measuring range ……………………… 100 – 2000 CCA / 30 – 220 Ah
Reverse polarity protection ……….. yes

Supported battery standards

Measure standard	Test range
CCA	Cold Cranking Amps, specified by SAE & BCI

Commonly used value for starting battery at
-17.8 °C (0 °F)| 100 – 2000 CCA
BCI| Battery Council International standard| 100 – 2000 CCA
CA| Cranking Amps standard
Effective starting current value at 0 °C.| 100 – 2000 CCA
MCA| Marine Cranking Amps standard
Effective starting current value at 0 °C.| 100 – 2000 CCA
JIS| Japan Industrial Standard, displayed on the battery as combination of the numbers and letters.
e.g. 55D23,8OD26| 26A17 – 245H52
DIN| German Institute for Standardization| 100 – 1200 CCA
IEC| International Electrotechnical Commission| 100 – 1200 CCA
EN| European Standard| 100 – 2000 CCA
Measure standard| Test range
---|---
SAE| Society of Automotive Engineers international standard| 100 – 2000 CCA
GB| China National Standard| 30 – 220 Ah

Environment

Operating temperature …………….. -20 to +60 °C
Operating humidity ………………….. ≤90 % RH (non-condensing)
Storage temperature ………………… -20 to +70 °C
Storage humidity ……………………… ≤90 % RH (non-condensing)

Other

Cable length …………………………… approx. 850 mm
Dimensions (W x H x D) …………… 79 x 128 x 28 mm
Weight …………………………………… 290 g

This is a publication by Conrad Electronic SE, Klaus-Conrad-Str.

1, D-92240 Hirsch au (www.conrad.com).
All rights including translation reserved.
Reproduction by any method, e.g. photocopy, microfilming, or the capture in electronic data processing systems require the prior written approval by the editor.
Reprinting, also in part, is prohibited.
This publication represent the technical status at the time of printing.
Copyright 2022 by Conrad Electronic SE.