116 TESTING TIMES...

After gaining an understanding of car maintenance, I was made aware that there are home-use devices that can test battery health.  Battery failure is one of the biggest causes of breakdowns, so my interest was piqued.

A quick Google search revealed plenty of inexpensive devices that checked battery and alternator health. For £15, it has got to be worth a punt, surely? (Yes, it is, and don't call me Shirley - one for all the Airplane fans out there.)

So how does it work? To test the battery's health, connect the black clip to the negative terminal and touch the positive with the probe.

The lights on the front of the device will light up, showing the battery status: 5V - Poor, 12V - Fair, or 12.5V - Good.  To test the alternator, repeat the process with the engine running: 13V - Low Output, 13.5V - Normal Output, or 14V - Strong Output.  

This little device won't make the car run any better, but it should give advanced warning that the alternator or, more likely, the battery needs replacing, which could save time and money in the future. I can also share the love before we go and test JPS and the Kuga for peace of mind.

I know I could do the same with a multimeter, but this is a simple, elegant solution for a relatively small outlay, so I'm okay with it. One for the Grab Bag.