Midtronics - 12V Advanced Automotive Battery Diagnostic Tool Electrial System Tester, PBT-200 - 200-850 CCA Battery Load Tester Cranking and Charging System - Conductance Testing-Service Diagnostics

Gives me data which I didn't have before, to help avoid making costly mistakes of replacing good batteries. And there really is no need to buy the more expensive version, this one will display measured CCA outside its published range of the 200-850 CCA.

The Midtronics PBT200 Battery Tester CANNOT TEST AGM (absorbent glass matrix) batteries, neither flat plate or spiral wound, nor can it test gel batteries. Nowhere on Midtronics' web site, or on Amazon's, or in the Midtronics user manual does it say that. I learned that fact only by calling Midtronics tech support.The newer car models, those loaded with electronics, are being sold with AGM batteries. The new BMW 5-series, for example, comes equipped with an AGM battery as standard.I paid $198 for the PBT200 because I assumed that the American-assembled tester (assembled from Chinese components) would be of superior quality when compared with the Chinese-made Solar BA7. Color me "sucker."The China-made Solar BA7, currently selling on Amazon for $66, does everything the PBT200 does, plus it CAN test AGM and gel batteries, according to a phone call to tech support at the importer, Clore Automotive.One other thing: Both the PBT200 and the Solar BA7 require that the initial CCA be entered into the tester. Using the up and down arrow keys on the Solar BA7, the inputted CCA can be changed in increments of 5 amps. Using the up and down arrow keys on the Midtronics PBT200, the inputted CCA can be changed ONLY in increments of 25 amps. If the battery you want to test is rated at 440 CCA, you won't be able to enter that number on the Midtronics meter. You could only enter 425 or 450 amps. Grrr!Another difference between the two meters: When beginning to take a CCA measurement on the Solar, the initial CCA displayed on the screen defaults to the value previously inputted during its last use. Thus if I wanted to repeatedly take a measurement on the same battery, I would not need to fiddle with the up and down arrow keys to reset the CCA each time. OTOH, the Midtronics initial display ALWAYS defaults to 500 CCA. This means that if your personal car battery is rated at 750 CCA, with every use of the meter the default CCA of 500 must be corrected to 750. More Grrr!Fortunately for me, Amazon bent its policy on its 30-day limit on returns and emailed me a return-address sticker to return the PBT200. Thank you Amazon. I appreciate that.Midtronics is one company I wouldn't mind seeing move to China. But once there, how could they compete with Solar? The Solar is the better instrument to buy, no doubt about it.

The PBT 200 had no product description for operating ranges. This only tests up to 900 CCA which many batteries exceed. For only $20 more, the PBT 300 has a much wider testing range. No fault of Amazon, the test specs are not even on the Midtronics website. This is an ok product, but the PBT 300 is an all around better product because of its wider testing capabilities.

Used it on over 12 batteries and this tester was awesome.

Perfect for our needs. Quality and price were just what we wanted. Purchase with confidence - I know you will be as happy as we are with this product.

Muy bueno

This is by far the best battery tester that I have ever used. Easy and very accurate.

use it every day,dependable.