Topdon BT200 Battery and Charging System Tester: Hands-On Review

The Topdon BT200 Battery and Charging System Tester showed up at exactly the right time. I’ve gotten a couple of sporadic check engine lights from a low-voltage code with no noticeable difficulty starting the car. Since I’ve recently been spiritually sliding from cynicism to pessimism, I braced for the impact of a $400 alternator. But, a couple of quick tests with the Topdon BT200 calmed my fears and assured me that a cheap (relatively) and easy battery replacement was all that was required.

I know eggs, trucks, houses, and coffee beans have all become extremely expensive since 2020 but folks, I was not prepared for the price of a new car battery. I’ve been driving since the 90s and remember feeling like a king upgrading from a regular Diehard to the Platinum Power Titan Torquer and getting change back from a pair of Jacksons. But, it’s still cheaper than an alternator, and thanks to being able to test both, I’m not guessing which one needs replacing.

The Bottom Line

It’s not that I have anything against electrons, I just don’t enjoy working with them. There’s a reason I chose mechanical engineering over electrical. My reaction to an electrical problem is to take it to someone who knows and likes what they’re doing. But, thanks to the Topdon BT200, it saved me the expense of taking it to a shop just to have them tell me I’ll need a new battery in the near future.

The BT200 is above all else, easy to use. Everything is menu-driven and thankfully there are very few choices within those menus. Once attached to your car’s battery terminals, you can choose: Battery Test, Cranking Test, and Charging Test. There are only five buttons on the device and those have large easy-to-read labels. The backlit screen uses large fonts, with high contrast, so it’s easy to read in the dark or sunlight. The BT200 is powered by the car’s battery and can run on as little as 9 volts and will work in temperatures as low as -4°F. I didn’t get a chance to test that.

The BT200’s MSRP is $79.99. If you look around, you can find it for less. Northern Tool has the Topdon BT200 for $64.99. It can save you from making a guess that ends up costing hundreds. The only complaint I have is the short leads on the alligator clamps don’t allow you to take the unit inside the car while testing. The only time that’s an issue is charge testing and needing to hold the engine at a specific RPM. It will test flooded, AGM, Gel, EFB and VRLA 12 volt batteries up to 2,000 CCA, and perform charging and cranking tests on both 12 and 24 volt systems.

Topdon offers battery testers running from $20 and up to $145, but this seems to be the sweet spot for functionality and value. There are Topdon battery testers that also function as chargers; watch for a test on one of those soon. Overall, I’m impressed with BT200 and it did save me a diagnoses charge.

What Are The Specs of The Topdon BT200 Battery Tester

The BT200 is a relatively straightforward battery and charging system tester. If you read my reviews, you know I have mixed feelings about devices that require using a smartphone and an accompanying app. While Topdon makes other battery testers that are equipped with Bluetooth, the BT200 is not. I’m calling that a positive, in this case.

This tester also can’t use an external power source, everything comes from the battery you’re testing. It will function if the battery is as low as 9 volts. If it’s below that, you can be pretty certain you need to replace it. It’s also safe up to 30 volts, as you can test the charging and cranking of 24 volt systems, although it won’t test 24 volt batteries. The cold cranking amp CCA range is 100 – 2,000 for 30 to 220 Ah battery capacities. It’s compatible with flooded, AGM, Gel, EFB and VRLA batteries, so if you have a more modern lithium-based battery, you’ll need a different tester—that probably doesn’t apply to many of us.

The unit itself is roughly 7.25 x 3.75 x 1.50 inches and weighs one pound. The battery leads are 32 inches long, and not removable. The alligator clamps are replaceable and the ends of the leads use an eyelet terminal. They appear to be the only replaceable part on the unit, and I don’t see any way to update the software, but I also don’t see why you would ever need to.

The Verdict

In less than 30 seconds the Topdon BT200 will tell you a battery’s CCAs in terms of an actual number and as a percentage of its rating, how many volts it’s putting out and its internal resistance. It tells me my battery is still charging, meaning I can go a little longer before replacing it. In another couple of minutes, I was able to determine how long it took for my engine to crank over, and it let me know the voltage was low. But, it did confirm my alternator was charging at 14.5 volts; in other words, fine.

Although there are more advanced battery and charging testers out there, even from Topdon, I like the simplicity of the BT200. As a home mechanic, I don’t need a printout on receipt paper. I’m sure there are probably more intricate testes that would make having an app and Bluetooth support a must-have, but I also like having the ability to pull this out and use it as a stand-alone tool.

For $80.00 this is a decent value, but it seems pretty easy to find it for less than $70.00. The voltage tests match the results I get from my multimeter, so I believe its accuracy. I will point out that there are still some auto parts stores that will perform these tests for free. I’ll also point out my multimeter will do the voltage this will do, but can’t do cranking amps. My suspicion is, if you’re reading this, you’ll see the value in being able to do all of this at home yourself. The biggest complaint I have with the BT200 is that I found the leads to be a little short. That’s certainly something I could remedy, but it wouldn’t look particularly neat.

In the same shipment as the BT200, I received a model that integrates a tester and a battery charger in the same unit. From what I can see, it can’t test the charging system. For the relatively low price of the BT200, this tool will find its place in my tool cabinet. Hopefully, I won’t need to touch it for another couple of years when I need another battery.

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