ESI 710 500 Amp Carbon Pile Load Tester

by Electronic Specialties

Product Features

• 500 amperes adjustable load carbon pile, tests batteries rated as high as 1000 CCA or 160 amperes hour
• Can also test alternators, regulators and starters
• 500 amp side terminal clamps and heavy duty stranded copper cables
• Meters are color coded for simple pass or fail diagnostics
• 15 second test with audible tone

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 12.1 x 7 inches ; 9.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000JFJLI8
• Item model number: 710
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,799 in Automotive (See Top 100 in Automotive)
  • #12 in Automotive > Tools & Equipment > Diagnostic & Test Tools > Electrical Testers & Test Leads

Product Description

The carbon pile load tester will perform variable load testing on 12 volt batteries rated as high as 1000 cold cranking amps. Use this battery tester to simulate actual cranking loads. Also tests alternator charging voltage and relative starter current draw. It features large dual meters to display the battery voltage and load current simultaneously during the test.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ok, January 25, 2009

By 

wrenchrrr - See all my reviews

Ease of use is low. It arrived with the knob loose so I simply tightened it with a allen wrench. Serves it's purpose.

I wonder what copper stand cables are??

UPDATE: After a few years, it started making a rattling noise inside. I opened it up, and found 4 loose nuts, one fell off and was the rattler. The cheezy box protects it well, but is falling apart.

After using it several times, I finally memorized the instructions. It always does a very good job of telling me the battery's condition. Hook it up, load to half the cca, 15 seconds to test, fairly simple. Just make sure the load knob is all the way off when attaching and detaching or it will spark like mad.

I tried to change from 3 to 4 stars, but it won't let me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK, but not a precise instrument, November 1, 2009

By 

Ryan Michaud - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ESI 710 500 Amp Carbon Pile Load Tester (Misc.)

For the cheap price, it may be good to do the odd battery load test, but adjustment was finicky and it started sparking inside sometimes.

3.0 out of 5 stars Definately Average, November 24, 2011

By 

MightyPawns - See all my reviews

This review is from: ESI 710 500 Amp Carbon Pile Load Tester (Misc.)

The pro's of this tester are the ability to adjust amperage load. Accurate testing of a wide range of CCA are possible with this tester.

The cons: The tester performs it's functions; however, it seems cheaply built. I haven't had it long, but the "carbon piles" seem very fragile and destined to break. I run a mobile mechanic service, and I was afraid to put it in my truck. I move it around real softly afraid I'm going to break it. The adjustment knob seems really cheaply made also. It doesn't seem to adjust real accurately either. After you stop turning the knob, the needle will continue to rise sometimes.

All in all, it seems to be a very capable tester although cheaply manufactured.