Best way to check on battery

[east lake hunter]

What's the best way to check your battery?    I keeping hearing about voltage meters, etc.    But what's the best way.   If it's some kind of meter, what's the best one to get?

[wavery]

What's the best way to check your battery?    I keeping hearing about voltage meters, etc.    But what's the best way.   If it's some kind of meter, what's the best one to get?

It you are talking about checking the condition of the battery, the battery companies use a "Hydrometer" to check each individual cell in the battery. I'm not sure which is "best", all they do is measure the specific gravity of the battery acid.

All of the cells should read close to the same. If you have 5 cells that read "good" and one that reads "Fair" or "bad", you have a problem cell and that cell will continually drain the other cells. It's time to replace the battery.

If you are merely talking about checking the state of charge in the battery, you need a digital volt meter (or multi-meter). Those little things that you plug in the lighter socket are a waste of $ IMHO.

[Old Goat]

What's the best way to check your battery?    I keeping hearing about voltage meters, etc.    But what's the best way.   If it's some kind of meter, what's the best one to get?

I have a cheapie Craftsman  digital multi meter, $9.95 at Sears, that I carry in my pickup TV. It works fine for checking any kind of batteries, auto, flashlite, cordless drill, light bulbs, etc. I also have a Fluke multi meter which is a lot more expensive that I use in my workshop.