01-17-2021, 12:15 AM
After seeing several posts recently regarding battery and/or charging issues, I thought I'd post a quick review of a "Battery Tracker" being offered by Antigravity Batteries. This device is a relatively inexpensive ($36USD) device you attach to the positive/negative terminals of your battery and can then sync with an app on your phone via bluetooth to give you information on current state of your battery and charging system. I got one for my 968 as I sometimes only drive it every couple of weeks, and wanted a way to monitor the battery state, and (hopefully) give me an early warning if something starts to fail in my charging system (or the battery itself). It provides a "percentage state" of the battery, monitors a "crank test" every time you start the car, and does a "charge test" on demand.
You can see more info on the device at Lead/Acid Battery Tracker – Antigravity Batteries. They also make another version for Lithium batteries.
Installation is very easy, it's just a "U" shaped terminal you attach to each of the positive and negative terminal of the battery cables. You then attach the device itself (very small) to the side of the battery with included double-sided "sticky tape". I put mine down on the side of the battery, and it's not even visible at first glance under the hood unless you're looking for it.
Here's a few screenshots of the app on my (android) phone.
Initial read of battery state - this is after the car has sat in my garage around 10-12 days without being started:
Once car was started, the app shows "charging" and shows current charging voltage:
You can also check the "cranking voltage" of the last start at any time:
After this start, I did a "charging test" (performed both at idle, and at 2500rpm):
I then went on a drive for around 26 minutes, which got the car warmed up and gave the battery a chance to charge. After stopping (for some smoked turkey from a local BBQ place - yum!) I checked battery state again - note it had gone from 74% to 84% during that time:
I then drive back home and checked battery state one last time after arrival - up to 95% now - mission accomplished!
Oddly, I just did another check of the app (syncing with the device two rooms away from my garage via bluetooth!) and found battery at 100% now - car hasn't been started since I got home, so I find that change a bit odd:
Seems like a decent device to keep a high level state of monitoring on your battery, and possibly your charging system as well.
You can see more info on the device at Lead/Acid Battery Tracker – Antigravity Batteries. They also make another version for Lithium batteries.
Installation is very easy, it's just a "U" shaped terminal you attach to each of the positive and negative terminal of the battery cables. You then attach the device itself (very small) to the side of the battery with included double-sided "sticky tape". I put mine down on the side of the battery, and it's not even visible at first glance under the hood unless you're looking for it.
Here's a few screenshots of the app on my (android) phone.
Initial read of battery state - this is after the car has sat in my garage around 10-12 days without being started:
Once car was started, the app shows "charging" and shows current charging voltage:
You can also check the "cranking voltage" of the last start at any time:
After this start, I did a "charging test" (performed both at idle, and at 2500rpm):
I then went on a drive for around 26 minutes, which got the car warmed up and gave the battery a chance to charge. After stopping (for some smoked turkey from a local BBQ place - yum!) I checked battery state again - note it had gone from 74% to 84% during that time:
I then drive back home and checked battery state one last time after arrival - up to 95% now - mission accomplished!
Oddly, I just did another check of the app (syncing with the device two rooms away from my garage via bluetooth!) and found battery at 100% now - car hasn't been started since I got home, so I find that change a bit odd:
Seems like a decent device to keep a high level state of monitoring on your battery, and possibly your charging system as well.
