Your loot of the day

[Gnahp]

On 5/15/2025 at 11:34 PM, Mkl22 said:

Have had this for 5-6years already. Very very good and value for money ancel BA101.

 

I bought this 11 years ago

seldom use it now as I found the test results it produced are not repeatable

meaning when I test a battery 5 times in succession, it will give 5 different readings with big variation

I think I got conned 😅 

[Gnahp]

On 5/15/2025 at 11:37 PM, Mkl22 said:

It’s a Japanese product…. “Feels so Good!”

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16HCAjTkaU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

yeah, the 90 tooth ratcheting action is buttery smooth

the clicks are more satisfying than winding my manual winding watches 

 

I took the ratchet out and put it in my toolbox together with other ratchets 

now don't know what to do with that beautiful double box

too nice to throw away but serve no purpose if I keep it

[Kb27]

I have 2 Midtronics battery tester.

It's the one I trust, although it's expensive.

It's kind of for professional use.

The battery suppliers all used Midtronics, some costing $1k.

Edited May 15 by Kb27

[Lala81]

On 5/15/2025 at 11:51 PM, Gnahp said:

yeah, the 90 tooth ratcheting action is buttery smooth

the clicks are more satisfying than winding my manual winding watches 

 

I took the ratchet out and put it in my toolbox together with other ratchets 

now don't know what to do with that beautiful double box

too nice to throw away but serve no purpose if I keep it

It's a common problem with gift items boxes. Especially nowadays with corporate style gifts. I have to find some funny purpose for it to store something. My preference is always transparent type of daiso shoe box. 

[Tkseah]

Bought from shopee and installed this last night, replacing the traditional door peephole.  Wife hopes this helps to deter pple from stealing packages left outside our door.. damage $57+..

Edited May 16 by Tkseah

[Mkl22]

On 5/16/2025 at 7:55 AM, Kb27 said:

I have 2 Midtronics battery tester.

It's the one I trust, although it's expensive.

It's kind of for professional use.

The battery suppliers all used Midtronics, some costing $1k.

The tool is good but the operator of the tools also need to be properly trained and understand. 
not exactly sure of how the midtronics work. But I see many shops just plug the testor and key in the capacity and then accept whatever result that the tool spits out. 
this is my layman understand of the various terms. 
1. state of charge(SOC). Measures the charge level. This is a function of voltage as well as internal resistance. 
2. state of health  (SOH). This determines if you should change the battery. It takes readings from SOC, internal resistance, size of batt(eg 45Ah), rated CCA.

i see many shops don’t care about CCA but this will determine the SOH. some setting of the batt testor has a fixed CCA when you choose the size option. Some unscrupulous shops even key in larger capacity and show bad batter after testing cause the size isn’t correct and expected CCA is much higher than the brand new spec. 
for my Ancel, I always take into account the manufacturer rated CCA and take a 70% as lowest point. This has proven over numerous batteries that I had tested to be the optimum. I have had shops tell me my battery was bad with their rubbish settings. I doubled check with my ancel and was able to last another year before the 70% threshold than I changed. 
 

im sure you too have changed many batteries over the years as you also provide battery service. Not sure if you concur with my findings. 

[Scion]

On 2/11/2025 at 3:01 PM, Lala81 said:

Every 8 weeks for me! Haha sometimes even longer. Usually when noticed the bulge out is too much liao.

 

me too, every 2 months 😏

my car dun have tyre pressure monitoring, so i go Lazada buy a $20++ bluetooth TPMS

i think the readings quite accurate, just not sure how it will last 

[Scion]

On 2/12/2025 at 3:56 PM, Mkl22 said:

wah lao, buy and put la. so cheap $20. if people steal the external one, just buy again

 

 

or can spend a bit more to buy the internal pressure gauge one

that one cannot steal 😁

[Volvobrick]

On 5/16/2025 at 7:55 AM, Kb27 said:

I have 2 Midtronics battery tester.

It's the one I trust, although it's expensive.

It's kind of for professional use.

The battery suppliers all used Midtronics, some costing $1k.

I have survived many years without battery tester. When the cranking is weak or none existent several days in a roll, the battery is weak and need replacing! 

 

[Scion]

On 3/18/2025 at 10:38 PM, Carbon82 said:

Cheap (<$7) loot which get the job done. Good for quick cleaning of the car and dusty keyboards, gaps which trap dirt.

 

i bought the same one haha

it's quite powerful... good buy

[Kb27]

On 5/16/2025 at 8:53 AM, Mkl22 said:

The tool is good but the operator of the tools also need to be properly trained and understand. 
not exactly sure of how the midtronics work. But I see many shops just plug the testor and key in the capacity and then accept whatever result that the tool spits out. 
this is my layman understand of the various terms. 
1. state of charge(SOC). Measures the charge level. This is a function of voltage as well as internal resistance. 
2. state of health  (SOH). This determines if you should change the battery. It takes readings from SOC, internal resistance, size of batt(eg 45Ah), rated CCA.

i see many shops don’t care about CCA but this will determine the SOH. some setting of the batt testor has a fixed CCA when you choose the size option. Some unscrupulous shops even key in larger capacity and show bad batter after testing cause the size isn’t correct and expected CCA is much higher than the brand new spec. 
for my Ancel, I always take into account the manufacturer rated CCA and take a 70% as lowest point. This has proven over numerous batteries that I had tested to be the optimum. I have had shops tell me my battery was bad with their rubbish settings. I doubled check with my ancel and was able to last another year before the 70% threshold than I changed. 
 

im sure you too have changed many batteries over the years as you also provide battery service. Not sure if you concur with my findings. 

1. SOC - measures voltage level only, no internal resistance reading. You can also put any multimeter on the battery and read voltage. 12.7V is full charge or 100%

2. SOH - reading should be taken when battery SOC is (near) 100%. It should take into consideration internal resistance, CCA per battery spec, (input and measured). However, Midtronics PBT300 does not display internal resistance so it doesn't display SOH.

To change out at 70% is a safety margin. Some change at 50%, but the battery plates/electrolyte may already be in a bad state, so that's taking a risk.

Midtronics PBT300 measures crank and charging voltage. When you crank engine, the heaviest load is applied, the battery instantly drops the voltage. There is a min of 9.7V (I think).

Those analog carbon pile load tester, which some workshop still uses; basically throws a 100A or more load on the battery and then measures the voltage, simulating a crank voltage like this one

To use digital battery tester, you'd need to first select either CCA, IEC, EN, SAE or DIN standard. Then you need to input the factory spec like 500 CCA etc. A way of "cheating" is to set to DIN standard and then press measure. Bcuz the DIN standard numbers are much lower, you'd see like 250 instead of 500. Then the cheating workshop can tell you the battery is bad.

The tester depends on the factory spec number you input, which is mostly CCA spec vs the measured number, and then pronounced whether the battery is good or bad.

Our battery standards here mostly rated by AH, so you might not see the CCA number, but you can roughly guessed it.

AH is another way to measure a battery, but it's not very useful IMO, since what is important is the cranking amperes needed to start an engine.

Typically when you crank start a small petrol engine, the needed amps may range from 150A onwards, depending on the starting motor, gears, and compression ratio, etc.

But a petrol engine is much easier to start due to using spark plugs. A diesel engine is more demanding on the battery since it has a high compression ratio and does not have a spark assist. So the battery warranty reflects this. If we give you 1 yr warranty on petrol engine, you'll get 6 month warranty for usage on a diesel engine. 😁

Midtronics also measure bad cell. When 1 out of 6 cells is shorted, your battery only measures about 10.7V. This is somewhat a risky situation, if you continue using this battery. The alternator charging voltage of about 14.5V is now overcharging the remaining 5 good cells The battery gets superheated. It may vent fumes or crack the casing.

Then what happens is that someone comes along and jump start the car. This is when the superheated battery explode.

[Kb27]

On 5/16/2025 at 3:06 PM, Volvobrick said:

I have survived many years without battery tester. When the cranking is weak or none existent several days in a roll, the battery is weak and need replacing! 

 

Before I was in the battery business, one day my cousin and I took a  trip to MY.

Somewhere along a minor road in a plantation, he wanted to go urine. Switched off the engine, go do his business, and then the battery won't start the engine. It was a terrible experience. We tried to flag down a few cars for help, but none would stop.

Finally, one driver and he told us he'll find a battery shop for us. After more waiting, a guy came on a motorbike with a battery and replace it.

After the trip, my cousin told me he got the battery checked before, but apparently it was not "properly checked".

That was a bad experience.

[Volvobrick]

On 5/16/2025 at 4:31 PM, Kb27 said:

Before I was in the battery business, one day my cousin and I took a  trip to MY.

Somewhere along a minor road in a plantation, he wanted to go urine. Switched off the engine, go do his business, and then the battery won't start the engine. It was a terrible experience. We tried to flag down a few cars for help, but none would stop.

Finally, one driver and he told us he'll find a battery shop for us. After more waiting, a guy came on a motorbike with a battery and replace it.

After the trip, my cousin told me he got the battery checked before, but apparently it was not "properly checked".

That was a bad experience.

I looted a lithium jump starter cum air compressor. Yet to use the jump starter (touch wood!) but use the compressor every few weeks. Don't have to queue at petrol station to pump tyres anymore.

[Lala81]

Usb charged mini washing machine for underwear. Can be used in the toilet. 

Decided to try this for the females in the house. 

 

[Mkl22]

On 5/16/2025 at 6:39 PM, Lala81 said:

Usb charged mini washing machine for underwear. Can be used in the toilet. 

Decided to try this for the females in the house. 

 

For G string only? 🤣

[Lala81]

On 5/16/2025 at 8:11 PM, Mkl22 said:

For G string only? 🤣

single piece of undergarment

works like a top load washer

 

[Jman888]

On 5/16/2025 at 8:15 AM, Tkseah said:

Bought from shopee and installed this last night, replacing the traditional door peephole.  Wife hopes this helps to deter pple from stealing packages left outside our door.. damage $57+..

got people steal parcel outside your house? maybe put a big box/cabinet outside for the delivery guy to place inside. 

[Jman888]

On 5/16/2025 at 6:39 PM, Lala81 said:

Usb charged mini washing machine for underwear. Can be used in the toilet. 

Decided to try this for the females in the house. 

 

I bought this 2 years ago but still inside storeroom